What is a Christian Vocation?

by Fr. Christian Woerz, SDB, D. Min.

A Christian Vocation
is a call from God to each baptized person to live life as a faithful disciple of
Jesus Christ.
Vocational choice starts when we are very young. Parents, teachers, and
other interested adults ask the child, "What do you want to be when you
grow up?"
A child thinks about and pretends to be many things. That is what children
do. It's fun.
As the young person gets older he or she begins to focus more seriously on
the possibilities that experience, education, and personal preferences bring.
Discovering one's call is a very natural but deliberate process. Choosing a
vocation in life is really about listening to God's voice and making a number
of choices.
Could God Be Calling Me?
YES! God calls each of us to life, to wholeness, and to service. The task of
the young adult is to discern what path God wants him or her to follow.
The Lord calls most people to marriage and family. For the Christian young
adult this is a very important decision. Choosing to marry is not just a
romantic response, but also a very specific process that includes prayer,
investigation, involvement, and experience.
God calls some people to religious life as a Sister, Brother, or Priest. A
religious vocation follows the same process. We call this the discernment
process.:

The Discernment Process:

1. PRAY >> Spend a few moments each day in thoughtful
conversation with the Lord. Ask the Lord, "Lord, what do you
want me to do with my life?" Use the same prayer after
Communion at Mass.
2. INVESTIGATE >> Talk to people whose opinion you respect.
Read. Check out the web. If you are thinking of a religious
vocation, talk to a Brother, Sister or Priest. Ask questions. Talk to
a vocation director.
3. GET INVOLVED >> A great way to understand how you
would enjoy ministry is to get involved in ministry by
volunteering. The Church needs the energy of dedicated young
people. This is a "learn by doing" process.
4. EXPERIENCE >> Visit religious communities, your parish, or
a seminary. See how they live and work. Seminaries and
religious communities are always ready to host people
interested in spending a few days with the community to see
first hand the life and ministry of a Sister, Brother or Priest
5. DECIDE >> The Church needs dedicated Sisters, Brothers
and Priests to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can
answer that call. After prayer, investigation, involvement and
experience go with your heart. The bottom line question is, "Can I see
myself as a religious, a church minister? If the answer is yes, it is time to
act. It is time to talk to a vocation director.