VOCATION Brisbane team leader Nick Kelly was talking to a dozen young men at the Quo Vadis for Men weekend recently and told them it was important not to get hung up on the “what” of a vocational call – priesthood, diaconate, religious life, married life, single life.
The specifics of your call are important and are revealed with time and discernment as you seek out the will of God in your life, he said.
The more important part is the “who”.
“So long as you are faithfully following the calling of God, the ‘what’ of your vocation will follow,” he said.
This week is National Vocations Awareness Week, a time when the Church in Australia prays together for an increase in the uptake of vocations and for those living out vocations to think about them more deeply.
With thousands of young Catholics returning from World Youth Day Lisbon, Mr Kelly said it was a great time to be talking about vocations.
He said for those returning from Lisbon on fire with their faith, now was the time to be honest and ask yourself if you are open to the will of God.
“All young men and women are called to the service of the Church, and that’s going to look different for each person,” he said.
“What’s important is to follow the Lord faithfully in your life.”
But this week was not just about young people discerning their vocation, he said.
At the core of every vocation is the baptismal call, Mr Kelly said.
“Each of us has a baptismal vocational call to follow God and seek holiness in our lives,” he said.
“That’s our core business as Christians.”
And for those who have been living out their vocation for some time, this week is a time to reflect on how it is going and to re-centre on God.
“Vocation awareness week can sometimes feel like it is only a promotion opportunity for new people to enter into their vocation, and that’s certainly true to some degree; it is important,” Mr Kelly said.
“But discerning (a vocation) is a small part. Living your vocation is the key.
“For those of us who are ordained, in religious life or married living out family life, living that call to the best of our ability is important.
“Each of us are called to ministry within our vocation.”
To find out more about living out your vocation, please head to: vocationbrisbane.com
