My column last week examined some of the signs the Church looks for in candidates for ordination. The context for the analysis was my homily for the diaconal ordination.

In the introduction to the column, I stated that for the next two weeks I would use my column to consider the issue of vocation recruitment and then conclude with a column devoted to the Regional Seminary.

The concept of vocation recruitment

It is clear that the fundamental choices believers have about how to live the one life God has given them to live are:
1) the chosen single life,
2) the married life,
3) the consecrated life and
4) the clerical life as a permanent deacon or a priest.

The Church needs each of the vocational options that are available to God’s People. In each of the fundamental vocational choices, there are also other possibilities. There may be invitations from the Holy Spirit to consider some additional ministries of the Church that are compatible with one’s fundamental vocation. These decisions fall into the category of “calls within the call”.

 For example, many married people serve the Lord very generously in the many ministries of the Church but they understand clearly that their married life is their primary vocation.

This column deals basically with the fourth category of vocational choices: the clerical life with some indirect references to the consecrated life.

Remote preparation for vocational decisions

Most people give insufficient attention to the importance of remote preparation for making vocational choices. Long before a person thinks about or decides to pursue a particular life direction as a believer, they are conditioned by the context in which they live.

If they live in a family in which God, Scripture, Church, Prayer and Worship are an important and regular part of the family lifestyle, they have the background to be able to include spiritual vocational choices along with secular vocational choices in the decision they must make about how they intend to live their lives. In fact, it would be natural for them to do so. Without such a family background, spiritual vocation choices are usually not even on the agenda.

Because the invitation of the Holy Spirit is operative in many ways and because the search for God and meaning in life are very common, influences distinct from family can also be very influential.

For example, prayer groups, chaplaincy programmes on university campuses, pastoral service programmes in parishes and ministerial peer groups can also provide remote support for vocational decisions.

The community dimension is so important in the remote preparation process for vocational discernment. In his message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Holy Father reminded us that the Church is a communion and that vocations are necessary to serve the communion.

He also stressed that those who live in a community marked by prayer, love and harmony are, in truth, constantly being educated for listening to the voice of God.

Proximate preparation for vocational decisions

In discussions with communities of the consecrated life and with the vocation directors for the clerical life, I have asked that a greater visibility of the lifestyle and ministry of religious and clerics be made to the people along with a greater intensity of effort at recruitment. I am pleased that my request has been given a positive response. 

The communities of the consecrated life now have a functioning vocations committee, regular advertising of vocational discernment programmes have been introduced, communities are celebrating important events for their communities publicly with the people and the Archdiocese is giving significant coverage to ordinations and to the Regional Seminary.

Individual priests and members of the consecrated life are personally inviting the young and middle aged to consider the consecrated life and the clerical life. Personal invitations are quite helpful. For example, statistics indicate that 73% of priests who have persevered in their vocations and are happy with their life choice were specifically invited to be a priest by another priest who was happy with his vocational choice.

Encouragement in families and among peers is also a key factor. When a person expresses an interest in a vocation to the consecrated life or the clerical life, the faith of the family or peer group is tested. It is natural for families to want the best for their children.

However, sometimes, without realising it or intending it, parents can understand what “the best” for their children means in exclusively secular terms. Even when some families pray for vocations, their prayer is for the young people of families other than their own.

Peer groups are also important. The time a young person spends with her/his peer group is significant. The influence of group thinking can be decisive.

The system of the archdiocese

The archdiocese has seven priests who form the Archdiocesan Vocation Recruitment Team. They have developed a flexible vocation discernment plan. It is flexible because the needs of those discerning are quite different.

The five priests meet with young and middle aged people, encourage prayer for vocations in varied ways e.g. the Vocational Blessing Cup Programme, host weekend retreats for candidates, visit schools and parishes, facilitate collaborators in vocation recruitment throughout the Archdiocese and provide ongoing support for those in discernment.

There are three possibilities for entrance into the Regional Seminary in the archdiocesan system
1) Direct Admission. While rarely used, it is a possibility for older vocations whose educational background, spiritual maturity and professional experience indicate readiness for the Seminary;
2) The Pre-Seminary. The Pre-Seminary Programme, which is attached to the parish at Carapichaima, is a residential programme of no more than two years in which candidates continue to work and/or study, but live at the Pre-Seminary to discern through prayer and spiritual direction;
3) The Aspirancy Programme. This programme is a three-month programme which is designed to create an environment for clarity and discernment. It entails a commitment of three weekends each month for three months – one weekend at the Pre-Seminary and two weekends in a specialised programme at the parish in Mayaro.

The archdiocese presently has 21 candidates who are in dialogue with the vocation directors as they consider these programme options. There is no pressure on them from the archdiocese. They are “journeyed with” by the vocation directors so they can discern whether the call they hear is authentic.

Conclusion

I encourage the people of the archdiocese to reflect on this column and to pray for vocations in the way recommended by the Holy Father i.e. “intensely.” I also encourage everyone to collaborate with the leadership of the vocation directors in family, at school, in ministry, at work and in the normal socialisation processes of living.