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The Holy Spirit Must Be Working Overtime
May 21, 2010
| vocation presentations, vocation directors, limited access to schools/parishes
Recently, I had a conversation with a group of vocation directors from various congregations. We were discussing what we enjoy about giving vocation presentations, where we give them, how connections are made, and where we are invited to speak. Many in the group have had the experience of not being welcomed into some schools or parishes. It seems they have been told that only certain types of religious communities were invited to come share the story of their charisms and gifts to the Church.
As vocation directors we assist those exploring a call with a genuine interest to help the person find the place to which God is calling him or her ... the "best fit" so to speak. In years past, there may have been competition for inviting new members. Now, perhaps we have grown up in a sense. Any vocation director who wants to invite a person into a community simply for the sake of having a new member and ignores whether or not that person is called to that particular community is doing a disservice to the person and the community.
My advice to someone thinking about a call to religious life is to pray, be open and explore different communities. Also, find a mentor who encourages this and be wary of someone who directs you to look at only one option. In my experience, those who have looked at other options during their time of discernment have felt strengthened and more confident at the point of making a decision.
One last thing as we approach Pentecost. My understanding is the wonderful gift religious life is (and has been for centuries) to the Church is that each congregation has a unique charism (a gift from the Spirit!), each carries out the Gospel through specific works, and together, all - of equal value - contributes to build up the reign of God. How sad that some people in our Church are limiting the exposure of certain charisms. It is almost as if some charisms are being put into a box and stored away for safe-keeping. Since a charism is a gift of the Spirit, I wonder what the Spirit makes of all this. The Spirit must be working overtime to figure out a way to get out of the box. How can all of these charisms be shared? How can part of the Spirit be recognized and part of it remain closed out? If the Spirit engages in strategic planning, I am sure It is in the midst of a very creative process. No doubt the outcome will be innovative and a surprise to us all. Isn't that how the Spirit works? When a door closes, a window opens... when the Spirit is put in a box, ... you finish the sentence!
As vocation directors we assist those exploring a call with a genuine interest to help the person find the place to which God is calling him or her ... the "best fit" so to speak. In years past, there may have been competition for inviting new members. Now, perhaps we have grown up in a sense. Any vocation director who wants to invite a person into a community simply for the sake of having a new member and ignores whether or not that person is called to that particular community is doing a disservice to the person and the community.
My advice to someone thinking about a call to religious life is to pray, be open and explore different communities. Also, find a mentor who encourages this and be wary of someone who directs you to look at only one option. In my experience, those who have looked at other options during their time of discernment have felt strengthened and more confident at the point of making a decision.
One last thing as we approach Pentecost. My understanding is the wonderful gift religious life is (and has been for centuries) to the Church is that each congregation has a unique charism (a gift from the Spirit!), each carries out the Gospel through specific works, and together, all - of equal value - contributes to build up the reign of God. How sad that some people in our Church are limiting the exposure of certain charisms. It is almost as if some charisms are being put into a box and stored away for safe-keeping. Since a charism is a gift of the Spirit, I wonder what the Spirit makes of all this. The Spirit must be working overtime to figure out a way to get out of the box. How can all of these charisms be shared? How can part of the Spirit be recognized and part of it remain closed out? If the Spirit engages in strategic planning, I am sure It is in the midst of a very creative process. No doubt the outcome will be innovative and a surprise to us all. Isn't that how the Spirit works? When a door closes, a window opens... when the Spirit is put in a box, ... you finish the sentence!
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