Day-long event brings 1,600 youth for prayer, worship, and vocation stories
Having a vocation is a lot like being on a mission from God.
No, not that kind of mission from God — as the Blues Brothers embraced through a life of crime to save their former orphanage — but instead listening to what God is calling you to do for the rest of your life, Seton Regional Catholic School sixth grader Harper Hayes explained.
“It’s where you dedicate your life to something and you’re on a mission to do something,” she said.
Harper was among 1,600 middle school youths from 31 Catholic schools who explored the topic of vocations at The Summit, an event to encourage them in discerning a vocation — including priesthood, consecrated religious life, marriage and single life — and to grow closer in their relationship with God.
Sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry and Vocations Office, the daylong event, held Nov. 7 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, included talks, prayer, praise and worship music, time to interact with priests and men and women religious, Mass and eucharistic adoration.
It’s important to learn more about growing in a relationship with God so that we discover our identity and learn how God is calling us to live our lives, said Sister M. Karolyn Nunes, vocations director for the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George.
“It’s for you to start asking the question: ‘Lord, how have you made me to love?’” she said. “But if you’re asking a question, He wants to give you an answer, and you gotta learn how to receive and listen to what He has to say to you.”
Sister Karolyn joined archdiocesan vocations director Father Tony Ritter and Caitlyn Sextro in sharing personal stories, stories from Scripture and practical tips on how to pray and develop a relationship with God.
Sextro, a former youth minister and now a wife and mother of two young children and parishioner at Sacred Heart in Florissant, connected the love she experienced on her wedding day to her baptism, a sacrament in which God chooses us as His beloved.
Drawing parallels from biblical stories such as the prodigal son and the woman at the well, Sextro also encouraged young people to embrace their identity in God and to see how God’s love transforms lives and calls individuals to live out their true purpose.
“We are not the sum of our weaknesses, we are not the sum of our failures,” she said. “We are the sum of the Father’s love for us. We are His beloved sons and His beloved daughters. And if we can start to live out of that identity, it will change everything.”
Sharing a childhood story of how he feared a big blue slide at the neighborhood pool, Father Ritter illustrated how we often face fears in our relationship with God. But with His love and encouragement — much like a parent’s motivation — we can overcome our fears and embrace our future vocation and spiritual growth.
Father Ritter encouraged them to ask these questions: What are my fears about God’s plan for my life? Do I really think that He actually has a plan? What vocation is the scariest for me? And how much do I trust Jesus?
This is the second year Seton Regional Catholic School has brought students to The Summit. Eighth-grade religion and middle school science teacher Leslie Welchco said the experience gives students the opportunity to practice their faith in a setting with students from other Catholic schools.
“I hope this strengthens their faith and that they have a deeper relationship with God,” she said. “And for them to just know that above all that God loves them and will be with them on their high school journey and beyond.”
The word vocation is something relatively new for students at Sacred Heart School in Troy, but they saw the day’s events as opportunity to learn more about what they might want to do with their future.
Several seventh graders, including Emma Streicher and Lillian Davis, said having a vocation is an opportunity to follow God’s call. “You’re opening your heart to God and accepting God’s will,” fellow seventh grader Brooklyn Nanney said.
Eight religious communities represented at the event shared information on their charisms and exploring a vocation. Sisters Carol Jean Dust and Francine Koehler from the School Sisters of Notre Dame were eager to meet with young attendees, handing out stickers, brochures and inviting them to play a “Plinko”-style game set up at the table.
“I hope they get their voice, what they are called to be in mission to the world,” Sister Carol Jean said. “They are called to bring whatever they’ve been given of an experience of God to others. The kingdom of God is among us — it’s not just when I’m in church, it’s not just me and my prayer … I’m learning more about God by being in relationship with (others). So that’s my hope is that they will see the mission of Jesus in a bigger picture that will send them out to be that mission of God in the world.”
>> Practical ways to start thinking about your vocation
A vocation is the understanding that God has created each person with gifts and talents oriented toward a specific purpose and way of life. Every person is called to a vocation, which includes marriage, priesthood, consecrated men and women religious or the dedicated single life.
Prayer: Spend time in daily prayer with God. Start with just five minutes a day, set aside any distractions and talk to Him. Let Him know how you’re doing and listen to what He is saying to you. Look for those words, phrases or questions that come to you in prayer — those could be how God is speaking to you.
Sacraments: Going to Mass and receiving the sacrament of reconciliation are important elements in discerning a vocation. The sacraments are an opportunity for God to reveal His grace and mercy as you consider where He might be calling you.
Community: Having people around you who want to grow as disciples and in holiness also is an important factor. Seek out friendships with others who will encourage and help one another.
Service: It’s important to open our eyes to the people around us and find ways to serve them. Ask God: How can I help? Small actions such as helping with a small task or being there for a friend in need add up to be something big — living a life as a disciple of the Lord.
>> Serra Club of St. Louis
Also present at The Summit were members of the Serra Club of St. Louis, which promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious life and supports those who are answering their vocational call.
The local chapter has about 200 members, who promote vocation awareness through behind-the-scenes help with scholarships and other financial aid, event sponsorships and other activities and events, such as a chalice program at parishes and schools, an annual essay contest for sixth and 11th graders and materials to support vocations at parish donut Sundays.
And perhaps most important are their prayers for an increase in vocations and those who are discerning a vocation. They also take turns praying for the current vocations director, said James Miller, past president and member of St. Clement of Rome Parish in Des Peres.
“I firmly believe that prayer matters,” he said. “And through the history of the Catholic Church, prayer has always been a very powerful tool to help the Catholic Church in our faith.”
“There are many seminarians that we’re praying for, and some told us it meant the world to them, knowing we were there meant a lot to them,” said Suzanne Smith, also a past president and member of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood.
The Serra Club of St. Louis was formed in 1944 and is part of Serra International, which has more than 12,000 members in more than 30 countries. Formally recognized by the Vatican as the global lay apostolate for vocations in the Church, Serra is known for the sense of community its members receive from knowing that they are not alone in supporting the men and women who have dedicated their life in ministry and service to the Church.
For more information on the Serra Club of St. Louis, visit www.serrastl.org.
