Christian Life Center at 31 Gilford Avenue, Laconia, NH 03246-2829 US - VOCATIONS-Discernment and Life Choices

The Promise to Become

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become.  Your Vision is the Promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.  The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream.  The oak sleeps in the acorn;  the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs.  Dreams are the seedlings of realities.  -James Allen

Vocational spirituality involves soulfully responding to each and all three vocational calls, sustaining the commitments we make to these calls, and adapting to the challenges that put our vocational lives at risk.
Here is what we've learned about vocational spirituality:
.  Vocational spirituality is a journey.  But it isn't a painless or easy journey.
.  Vocational discernment is a two-step dance;  that is, identifying which of the three calls are being sounded and from where:  the voice of God from outside us, from within us, and in others.  Discerning the call is essentially a spiritual practice of prayer.
.  Vocational spirituality can be risky.  You place yourself and your commitments in plain sight before friends, family, colleagues, supervisors, God, and everyone.
.  Vocational spirituality includes cultivating the ability to handle our own human flaws, compulsions, and contradictions.
.  Vocational spirituality includes a deepening and growing capacity to accept the truth of who we are and who we are not.
.  Vocational spirituality is not really about the pursuit of happiness;  it's more about having "eyes to see and ears to hear."  Vocational spirituality is all about your life, but not about a life that's all yours.
.  Vocational spirituality is approached with a sense of curiosity, and it requires that we come to fully accept Mystery without ever getting fully comfortable doing so.
.  Our vocations "come to life" as we respond to the call we discern from the voice of God from outside us, from within us, and in others.  It is the cyclical process of "venturing and abiding" wherin we respond to the opportunities and respond to the opportunities and responsibilities found in the call of work, relationships, and faith.  Every so often we return "home" to share stories and to evaluate the congruence of our responses with the vision contained in our "Promise to Become."
.  Vocational spirituality is all about determining how well a role within work, relationships, and faith aligns with our soul.  It is about noticing when the role needs adjustment, and when we may need to adjust the way we care for the soul.
.  Vocational spirituality is, by its nature, a private matter.  Walk gently and respectfully in vocational conversations and decisions.
.  Sustaining a vocational spirituality is an intentional endeavor requiring discipline and the use of certain practices, some of which are thoughtful and some of which are courageous.
.  Sustaining the Spirit is something we do both alone and together.  It is the constant adventure of addressing matters related to one call while being conscious of the effect such efforts may be having on each of the other two calls.  It is living whith and through the times thate one call is hurt by the responsibilities and commitments we maintain in another call.

The three vocational calls of work, relationships, and faith invite all of us on a common journey and destination to fulfill our soulful dream and heartfelt "Promise to Become."  Sustaining the Spirit in these matters and in these ways is really the Work of Our Life.

Perhaps now it is easier to see that vocational spirituality is not reserved just for those who have accepted the call to ministry or public service.  It is alive in each person committed to the faithful, fearless, and authentic pursuit of who we are and whose we are.

May grace be with you as you respond to the call to fulfill your "Promise to Become."

Single Person
A single person is a woman or man who:

Has come to the realization that the single life is the best way for them to live out their baptismal call, and that this vocation gives them the unique opportunities to love God and serve others.
Nourishes and fosters his/her relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and service.
Has unique, graced opportunities for personal and  spiritual growth.
Lives Christian Values, sharing Jesus' love with family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, in a variety of ways.
Wherever time, personal talents, resources and personal responsibilities allow, lives the Christian call to serve, in a variety of roles-in both the local parish community, and/or further afield, within the wider community.


Married Person
A married person is a woman or man who:

Is called by God, through the Sacrament of Marriage, to vow faithful love to a husband or wife.
Shares a relationship with a wife or husband.  This, ideally, is self-giving-for both
Is committed to helping the spouse grow to human and Christian maturity.
Nourishes and fosters his/her relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and service.
Models and teaches Christian faith and values to the children of the family.
Whereever time, personal talents, resources and family responsibilities allow-lives the Christian call to serve, in a variety of roles-in both the local parish community, and further afield, within the wider community.

Priest
A priest is a man who:

Is called by God to be an ordained minister of the Church.
Nourishes and fosters his relationship with God through prayer and service.
Joyfully proclaims and preaches the good news of Jesus Christ, and the faith of the Catholic Church.
Leads the Catholic community in worship and celebrates with them the sacraments of the Church.
Works to build up parish and other church communities in union with the bishop, other priests and the people of his diocese.
May serve as a chaplain to universities, hospitals, prison, schools and the armed forces.
If a diocesan priest, promises to live a life of celibacy.
If a religious order priests, vows poverty, chastity and obedience in a religous community.

Sister
A sister is a woman who:

Is called and committed to sharing in the life and mission of her religious congregation.
Nourishes and fosters her relationship with God through personal and communal prayer, and service.
Lives a vow of chastity, living celibately, which means choosing a different way of loving-which allows her to be available to many people, loving and caring for them deeply, but non-exclusively.
Lives a vow of poverty, living simply and sharing her personal gifts, time and resources with her community and those with whom she ministers.
Lives a vow of obedience, listening attentively for God's call to respond to the neeeds of our world, which she discerns through prayer, through dialogue with her community and with other people.
May serve as a missionary to people of other cultures.
May serve ineducation, health care, parish or youth ministry, social work, spirituality, media, aged care...Some sisters choose to live as comtemplatives.
May be commissioned by her community to serve wherever there is any need, especially among those who are the most disadvantaged.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Gentle God,
You call us by name and lead us to life.
Through baptism you commission us
to proclaim the Good News.

Bless and strenghten all men and women,
lay and ordained,
who serve in the Church.
Guide and give wisdom
to those discerning their vocation.
Enrich our Church
with dedicated married and single people,
with deacons, priests and religious.

Filled with joy and your Holy Spirit
may we follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
now and always. Amen
c2004NCCV     www.nccv-vocations.org

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