Be passionate about your calling, and seek guidance.

That was the advice from Fr Joseph Harris CSSp as he spoke to participants April 19 at a Vocation Awareness Day at the UWI Catholic Chaplaincy, St Augustine.

Fr Harris, who is the archdiocese’s Judicial Vicar, said a vocation or calling is part of Christian living and that everyone has a calling in the Church whether it is as a religious, as a married person or living the single life. “Call and mission go hand in hand… Every vocation has a sacramental quality.”

Speaking about a religious vocation, Fr Harris, a priest of the Holy Ghost congregation, said it must reflect a total dedication to the kingdom of God. “Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom with his life and all his dedication was for the kingdom”.

Fr Joe Harris speaking at the Vocations Awareness Day

Sr Julie makes her presentation during the post-lunch panel discussion. Other panelists are, from left, Fr Espirit, Sr Ann and Fr Black. Desmond Durham photos

Focussing on the priesthood, he said such a religious vocation involves chastity, poverty and obedience, and as a priest one has to stand in the person of Christ (in persona Christi).

He further explained that vocation must be for the right reason and that it was not easy to decide. To choose a religious vocation, one must be passionate about it and get the advice of wise people or a spiritual director who knows your gifts and talents and who can direct you. He cautioned,
“Many temptations would pull you away from the path that God has marked out for you”.

Fr Harris joked he wanted to be either a priest or a jockey. He became a priest because the horse could not handle his weight! On a personal note Fr Harris said that 40 years of priesthood had given him a lot of happiness and fulfilment.

Sr Jean Tranel OP, coordinator of the Vocations committee, welcomed everyone at the beginning of the seminar. Among those present were Abbot John Pereira OSB; Fr Vincent Esprit FMI, Fr Gerard Tang Choon O Carm, Fr Dwight Black OP, Sr Julie Peters SSM, and Sr Anne Bradshaw, OP.

Attorney-at-law Ian Benjamin spoke to the 50-odd young men and women about Centering Prayer.

He said that Centering Prayer is about silence and that it affords a way to spend time and deepen one’s relationship with Jesus.

He invited everyone to practice Centering Prayer for about 20 minutes every morning and evening by following these steps:
- Listen and be still and be open to God.
- Focus by choosing your favourite word e.g. “Love”, “Jesus”, “Lord” and allow God to speak to you
- Dismiss any negative thought and let go to Jesus. At the end of 20 minutes, recite the Our Father slowly. He said it might be difficult in the beginning, but with perseverance, it can become an easy habit.

After lunch, Sr Julie, Sr Anne, Fr Esprit and Fr Black participated in a panel discussion about their vocation. A question-and-answer segment was part of the discussion.