Vocations Awareness Week

“If you see something…say something!” With respect for the Port Authority’s efforts to forestall acts of violence, its slogan can have several useful applications. One has to do with encouraging vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life.

Parents, in particular, are positioned best to notice in a son or daughter the seeds that may grow into a positive response to a call from God for their child to live in service to Christ and His People as a priest or religious Sister or Brother. Others in the community of faith – including grandparents and other family members, neighbors, teachers, parish priests, coaches and all who have the opportunity and privilege to observe young people in action – share a responsibility to help them discern God’s call, because we all depend on the ministry of those in Holy Orders and the vowed religious life.

What to look for? Signs of a sound awareness of God’s love, a personality open to people and their needs, an attitude of hopefulness and positivity: these can be ‘markers’ of the type of person who may find priesthood or religious life a fruitful and joy-filled way to spend their lives. Encourage someone you know who shows evidence of these gifts to consider the possibility that God may be calling. Suggest that he or she speak with a priest or Sister about it. Remember: “If you see something… SAY SOMETHING!”