Vocations stories

The call of the heart

Celebrating the big moments and seemingly little moments in life are so important for our wellbeing and our life together.  They give us the opportunity to become more aware of what is important to us and to develop our relationships with one another. The joie de vivre of what celebrations offer, helps us too, to share in and express what it is that we truly value.

In our global and local Church this year, we have celebrated some of the essential relationships that are important to us: the Family Year 2021-2022 of Amoris Laetitia, the World Days of Prayer for Consecrated Life in February and of Vocations in May, the World Meeting of Families in June and the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in July.

This month we celebrate National Awareness Vocation Week from August 7 to 14.  The first weekend will focus on the unique vocation and call of us all as baptised Christians. We celebrate the wonder and beauty of the gifts of the vocations of marriage and family life, and the lay ministry. On the second weekend, we celebrate the wonder and beauty of the lives less travelled but vital to the complementarity of us all, namely the lives of our consecrated sisters and brothers in Religious Life and other Institutes as well as the lives of deacons and priests.  We celebrate and pray for an increase in all these vocations of the baptised as reflections of the God who is love in our midst!

Whatever our call, a wholesome life can be lived if we listen to and follow the movements of our heart.  Whatever our call, we are on the journey together to complement each other and to make present the God who is Love. Whatever our call, we pray that our fellow travellers will find the space to truly listen, discern and respond to the God-of-the-call who draws them forth. Whatever our call, we journey forward and with great respect for each other as missionary disciples who endeavour to bring the unconditional love of God to others!

So, in this spirit let us, for the sake of our children and their future wellbeing, nurture the gift of discernment in their lives.  In this way they will be enabled to listen to the true desires of their heart and respond fully to the movements of the Spirit who brings joy, happiness and vitality whatever life’s call.  Together, let us continue to move forward and strain ahead towards all that truly matters as we endeavour to follow Christ, our true north.

Can you hear the call? For any further enquiries or upcoming events, please contact jenny.seal@olshaustralia.org.au

Sr Jenny Seal fdnsc is coordinator of the SA Vocations Network