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Growing a Vocation Culture
 Many people
ask, “Why are there not more priests, sisters, and brothers?” There are all sorts
of answers people come up with, and many of these are valid. However, one of the
most overlooked reasons, and perhaps one of the most important, is that you just
never hear about people becoming priests, sisters, or brothers anymore. The fact
is that there are people who follow the call to “Church vocations” all the time,
but no one knows about it. Therefore, many people who are called never think about a life serving the Church as an option. It does not seem to be what “successful”
people do, or it seems like too much of a sacrifice.
If we trust that our God is caring for His Church, then we should have faith that
God continues to call people. The problem is that we are not listening. In this
regard, the Vocation Office is striving to create a Vocation Culture
here in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. This means that every Christian will realize
and respond to their role in promoting vocation awareness in their place in the
Church. Pastors, parents, teachers, ministers, mentors, siblings, supervisors, co-workers,
and friends all have a responsibility by baptism to build up the Kingdom of God.
Part of this building effort is helping God’s people realize their call in life,
so that each of the many functions of the Body of Christ will be served by faithful,
passionate, well formed members (cf. 1 Cor. 12).
How do you live your call to help guide others to their vocation, their God-given
mission, in this world? How much have you thought about, prayed about, your vocation
in life? These are vital questions if we are to be responsible members of the Body.
So, next time you wonder why there seem to be so few Church vocations, maybe it
is time to contact the Vocation Office and see what you can do to learn and get
involved.
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your
welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope”
(Jeremiah 29:11).
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