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"Come Follow Me"
To preach God's message of justice, peace and mercy
to all people and lead the
Catholic community in prayer and faith.
A Priest for the Diocese of Bathurst
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- Giving people dignity through the Gospel message of Jesus' love.
- Bringing peace, healing and forgiveness through the Sacraments of Reconciliation/Confessions, Eucharist and Annointing the sick and elderly.
- Celebrating the significant events in peoples' lives such as baptisms, marriages, funerals and anniversaries.
- Working with the old, the sick, the young and all age groups during various gatherings of the Parish Community.
- Working in hospitals, aged homes, schools - wherever there is the opportunity and need for priestly ministry.
- Working for justice and peace amongst all races and creeds.
- Bringing the compassion of Jesus to others in moments of grief, loss, worry, illness and crisis.
- Opportunity to do missionary work in another country as a volunteer for a period of time, if desired.
- We are serving people in 20 cities and towns in central NSW and people on the land and in small villages.
- Prayer is an integral part of our lives, through the Prayer of the Church, the Scriptures, mass and personal meditation.
- We make a Retreat each year to renew our spiritual energy and enjoy fellowship with priests of the Diocese.
- We read and keep up to date on theology, spirituality etc. through journals, magazines, books and tapes.
- We attend seminars and in-service meetings annually to grow in faith and understanding, for our good and that of the Church and the people we serve.
- We play sport, enjoy various recreational activities, become part of the local community and the lives of familieis on a social level, and have fellowship with clergy from other Christian Traditions.
- We have annual holidays of one month (and a day off every week).
- Training for the priesthood involves six years of study at the Tertiary level in a Seminary. Philosophy, theology, spirituality, scripture and Church history are amongst the areas of knowledge which are studied. There is a period of pastoral experience in a parish of the Diocese included in the years of preparation.
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Vocations, Vocations, Vocations..
which road will you take?
by Sr Mary Ryan, Exeuctive Officer
Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia
God's call is always an invitation to "Choose Life" (Deuteronomy 30:13).
God calls many people, in fact, the majority, to "choose life" within the vocation of marriage. Others are called to "choose life" through the single vocation, while others - a relative few - are called to "choose life" as sisters, brothers and priests. From an early age, most of our young people have been programmed to presume that they will be married. Thus, they leave school with questions around 'who' and 'when' will I marry?, rather than: "Am I called to be married?"
Is this really choosing their vocation? The married vocation can, and should be, life-giving and fulfilling for those who choose it because they have particular personalities and gifts. However, we know that not everyone has what it takes to be happily married - and the current fallout from marriage in terms of separation and divorce surely testifies to this!
There are other choices, other vocations, which could be really life-giving, and these need to be considered! No decision can be a truly informed one unless all possible options have been acknowledged and explored, and, sadly, the majority of young people approaching adulthood are blissfully unaware of the vocational options available to them. This is where 'vocations ministry' needs to come into play, right across the spectrum!
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For many, if not most, of our present-day adult Catholic population, 'vocations ministry', is a relatively new concept that is unfamiliar. Presumptions have been made that its agenda is solely about recruitment to seminaries and religious orders. Vocations ministry must never be reduced to recruitment to just one vocation! It is actually about recruitment to all vocations! Its focus must be broad spectrum offering the range of possibilities - equal possibilities - that need to be considered if a young person is to come to an informed vocational choice, and thereby find fullness of life.
To be really effective, vocations ministry needs to happen across the board: in family and school circles, within parishes, on university campuses, and across dioceses. parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, neighbours, chaplains, friends, youth ministers, priests, brothers, sisters are all potential "vocations ministers"!! If you are vocationally aware, you will be able to capitalise on precious moments with young people. Get them talking thinking, reflecting and praying for guidance about their future! Challenge them! If they wish'to grow into happy, fulfilled, productive adults, there's homework to be done, for they must come to find the answer the question: "What is MY vocation?" Explore with them: What are their God-given gifts and talents? Are they aware of all the vocational options? (i.e. marriage, single life, religious life or ordained ministry)...... Have they ever thought about them? Which vocational path might bring them real peace, happiness and fulfillment enabling them to be their best self?
Get them to imagine that they have made a decision to spend a lot of money in the near future: on some land ... a computer ...overseas travel... a car ... a sound system....whatever! Would they race straight out and buy the first thing they see? Not likely - unless they have just won Tattslotto! Money, for most of us, is a scarce commodity, and a big financial outlay is generally preceded by a lot of homework on our part: we read up on our topic, we talk to those who are in the know, and we shop around for the best price. They would know from experience that impulse buying generally leads to regret or dissatisfaction. Consider: If they will to go to this length before spending money on mere material things (important though they may be!), what are they willing to do before they invest their whole life? What value do they place on their future happiness? Just like impulse-buying, an uninformed vocational decision is, inevitably, a recipe for unhappiness, disillusionment and, often, disaster!
Jesus has a dream and a promise for each one of us ... "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10 ). If we are ever to attain that fullness of life, there is a need for us to do a lot of homework, so that we can discover and choose the vocation or lifestyle that best fits our gifts, talents and personalities. Experience has shown us that people blossom when they are in the right place. Those who are alive and happy in their vocation, and who have a sense of being called, become life-bringers who are able to contribute much more fully to life around them than those who are the square pegs in round holes. Sadly, there are too many of these limping around in our world! Jesus dreams of round pegs in round holes - and vocations ministry can provide those who are searching for the right path in life, with tools that should make this possible, for it is about:
Taking seriously Jesus' dream for every person;
Creating and fostering a vocationally aware climate in homes, schools and parishes, and offering young people encouragement and support as they take the time and space needed to reflect upon ALL of the options available to them, before responding to the vocational call that is right for them.
Freeing young adults from stereotypical expectations about their future that are, so often, foisted upon them by society in general, and often, by older adult family members ("Just wait till you're a parent!" ...."You don't want to end up on the shelf!" etc.)
Preventing people from drifting, or blindly stepping into a particular lifestyle without having considered all of the alternatives, in the light of their personal gifts and story.
Options can only be options if people are aware of them - all of them! Our world needs the gift of people who have really considered all possibilities, who have discerned their vocation, and who, having discovered God's call for them, are in love with life, and thus exude that peace and contentment which comes from knowing, deep down, that they are round pegs in round holes! Vocations ministry, where embraced by our Catholic adults, has the potential to make a huge impact on the lives of today's young people, and hence, our world.
You are called to be a vocations minister within your own family, parish and local community! You can play a crucial part in helping the younger generation to discover God's call for them!
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Understanding Vocations - Some Definitions
Married people share a relationship that is self-giving, love-giving and life-giving with a spouse. They live their marriage vows by helping each other to grow to human and Christian community. They are faithful to each other and work at their relationship in good moments and bad moments. They live a life of faith and prayer so that their relationship with God may grow and develop. Together they seek to form a home. With each other they are the first teachers of their children in Christian faith and values. They may serve the parish community as lector, catechist, musician, liturgist, or minister of the Eucharist, and they may share their gifts and talents by contributing to a variety of parish ministries and projects. The husband may be a permanent deacon. They may serve the wider community in a variety of ways, depending on what their personal talents, resources and family responsibilities will allow. A Christian marriage is really a marriage of three: the two partners and their God!
Single people are men or women of all ages who have come to believe that being single is the way for them to faithfully live their baptismal call to holiness, and to attain fullness of life.They may live alone, with family, or in a Christian community with others who are also single. They may use their chosen career to express their love through their ministries in fields such as social work, education, and healthcare. Singles often devote their time and energy to the service of others, especially those most in need, and they are often key volunteers in community projects.They may serve their parish community in any number of ways. Many single people have chosen to serve for a time as overseas missionaries or volunteers with aid projects. Those whose call is the single vocation are called by God to live a life of faith, prayer and generosity.
A Sister is a woman who is committed to sharing in the life and mission of a religious community, which may be contemplative or involved in active ministries. She lives her vow of poverty by living and sharing her personal gifts, time and resources with others. She lives her vow of chastity by living celibacy as an expression of her love for Jesus and all people. She thus chooses not to live in an exclusive or physically intimate relationship. She lives her vow of obedience by being attentive to the voice of God through personal and communal prayer as well as through the needs of other people. A sister may serve in a variety of ministries including education, health care, youth ministry, social work, spirituality, media and pastoral care. Such ministries may be in her own country or she may serve in other countries. She may choose to live in a contemplative religious community, which has a more intense focus on prayer. As a member of a contemplative community she takes solemn vows and is then called a nun.
A brother is called to live in community at home or overseas as a missionary. He may be a contemplative or an active religious. As a member of a contemplative community he takes solemn vows and is sometimes called a monk. He is called to live his vow of poverty simply and share his gifts, time and resources with others. He lives his vow of chastity by living celibacy as an expression of his love for Jesus and all people. He does not have exclusive nor physically intimate relationships. He lives his vow of obedience by being a man of prayer so that he can listen to God's voice. He also listens to God's word spoken through others. He may be involved in a variety of ministries including education, health care, youth ministry, social work, spirituality, media and pastoral care. His community may also include men who have been called to the priesthood or to the diaconate.
A priest is a man who is an ordained minister of the Church. He is called to proclaim and preach the Good News, to teach the Catholic faith. He leads the community at worship and ministers the sacraments. He lives a life of faith and prayer so as to grow in his relationship with God. He works, in collaboration with many other people, to build up parish and other Church communities. He may be a diocesan priest who promises celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, and obedience to his bishop. Or, he may belong to a religious community and vow poverty, celibacy and obedience. He may choose to live in a contemplative community. Religious Order priests may serve in a variety of ministries, or they may choose the contemplative life.
A permanent deacon is a man who is an ordained minister of the Church. He assists the bishop of his diocese, to whom he promises obedience, and may assist priests in their parish ministry. He lives a life of faith and prayer, promising to pray the Prayer of the Church each day, so as to grow in his relationship with God. He proclaims and preaches the Good News and serves and cares for those who are poor, or wherever the needs of the Church or people are greatest. He ministers at baptisms and funerals, witness marriages, and assists at worship. His ministry may be full or part time. He may be married, or single and celibate. If married, he is assisted by his wife in his ministry. (The majority of permanent deacons are married.)
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