The word “vocation” has assumed a wider meaning since Vatican II. Before Vatican II when one spoke of vocation, one meant priesthood or religious life. Today any genuine calling in life is regarded as a vocation.

One can feel “called” to be a doctor, lawyer, politician, teacher, artist, social worker, housewife or single adult. All these are examples of vocations even though the call to the priesthood or religious life will always remain special.

In his last message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations, John Paul II urged that each called person “put out into the deep”. This is a rich expression with many meanings.

“Putting out in the deep” immediately conveys the idea that a vocation must be taken seriously; there must be depth to it. It must not be guided by the superficial concerns of a materialistic world – money, power, prestige, popularity etc.

Instead it must be grounded in God and the person so called must “cultivate a deep spirit of prayer nourished by a daily listening to the Word of God”. From this prayerful spirit flows a life of virtue marked by justice, compassion, understanding, patience and a desire for peacemaking.

A vocation therefore subscribes to a set of moral principles; it cannot claim to have a morality of its own or else it will self-destruct due to its own moral indifference.

In our Church today there are many faith communities “putting out into the deep” and they are catching a variety of fish. In Africa , Asia and India the catch of priests is plentiful; in North America and Europe the catch of priests is very small.

CULTURE OF VOCATIONS

However, there are other fish in the net we must learn to appreciate, people who have answered a call to give themselves to the Church in a deeper way – catechists, youth leaders, parish administrators, finance experts, musicians, artists, lay and Eucharistic ministers, lay theologians and communications specialists.

In wealthier countries many of these are full-time paid positions; in poorer ones these services are given voluntarily. This rich involvement of various gifted people testifies to the fact that “ the harvest is rich but the labourers are few ” applies only to priesthood and religious life.

We too in the Caribbean are experiencing a decline in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. There has been no research done locally or regionally to explain why this is so but one can suggest reasons why.

One reason is that vocations need a culture from which to arise. While our culture remains basically religious it is also becoming increasingly secularised. The easy flow of commodities from different parts of the world as a result of globalisation has created an insatiable desire for material things.

The impact of Cable and Direct TV has brought offensive music and language into our homes on a daily basis. Even our proud tradition of “clean” humour is being undermined by those who call for more “explicit language”.

It is hard to see how vocations can come from this kind of culture unless some attempt is made to stem the negative effects of globalisation that assail family life.

As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, let us renew our commitment to family life and be participants in “an extensive plan for vocational promotion” ( Novo Millennio Ineunte , n. 46) in our homes, schools and parishes.