Our Lady & St. Sebastian's Catholic Church

 What is a Vocation? Vocation is God’s will for you The word ‘vocation’ comes from the Latin word that means ‘calling’. For the Christian a vocation is not just something that God calls us to do, it is also the person God calls us to be. When Jesus called his first disciples by the Lake of Galilee it wasn’t just so that they could help him in his work, it was so that their lives could be transformed through his friendship and love. We have been called to follow Christ, the Son of God, the eternal Word of the Father, who came as one of us to save us for eternal life. He has sent his Holy Spirit so that we can share in his divine life even now, and express that life by trying to love him and to love our neighbour. The Christian vocation is a call to share in the life of the Most Holy Trinity. Vocation as a call to holiness One way of expressing this is to say that the fundamental human vocation is the call to holiness, the call to be a saint. The saints are not just heroic people who live in history books. They are ordinary Christians who have tried to live their faith without holding anything back – to love God with their whole hearts, to love those around them without counting the cost, to work at what is worthwhile with dedication and purpose, to be people of joy and kindness and prayerfulness. All of us are called to be saints – however weak or sinful we feel. This is not so much a command as a promise that God makes: he promises us, by giving us his Holy Spirit, that he will help us to find our true happiness in following him, and that he will give us whatever we need for the journey. You already have a vocation The vocation to holiness is already a part of your life, given to you at your baptism, and it is so important to remember that. Whatever situation you are in now, however unsatisfactory it seems, you already have a vocation. You might be working, studying, travelling, unemployed, or caring for someone at home; you might be very content, or utterly miserable; full of hope, or close to despair. Whatever your situation, you can trust that God is with you, and that he calls you to be holy in this very situation. Things may well change – and perhaps they need to. But at this moment you must have the confidence to believe that even now there is a meaning and a purpose to your life; and that you can begin to fulfil that by everyday acts of love and kindness and patience. Living well in the present This call to live well in the present is the ‘Little Way’ recommended by St Thérèse of Lisieux – the importance of simply doing your duty, saying your prayers, loving your neighbour, bearing your sufferings; and doing all this with a generous and loving heart. It is not very dramatic, but it is the secret of holiness, and it reminds us that your first and fundamental vocation is not something to be discovered in the future – it is living the Christian life in the here and now. Perhaps this is all God wants of you for the moment. You must avoid the temptation of thinking that your Christian life can only properly begin in the future, when everything is crystal clear. And if you do not discover a more concrete vocation, or if you are to die young, then you should not feel that you have wasted your life, or that your life is unfinished or unfulfilled. Vocation as a call to a concrete ‘state of life’ Christ has always called some people to follow him in concrete ways, by giving them a more specific vocation. In previous generations, the word ‘vocation’ would only have been used to describe the lives of priests and religious – because these people had in some sense been called ‘away’ from an ordinary life to a life of celibacy and service in the Church. But today the word ‘vocation’ is rightly used also of marriage, permanent diaconate, consecrated life, and some forms of single life – because each of these is a wholehearted commitment that we make in response to an invitation from the Lord. These concrete vocations are also known as ‘states of life’, because we make a lifelong commitment to living our Christian faith in a particular context. This lifelong commitment becomes the place in which we live out our fundamental vocation to holiness. God calls us all to be saints; and sometimes he calls us to be saints in a particular way – as husbands or wives, as priests or deacons or consecrated persons. Vocation as a call to be the unique person you are made to be There is yet another level to ‘vocation’. Each saint is unique, and you are called to be holy not just in a general way, but in the particular way that God has made you to be. God created you as a unique individual, and calls you by a name that no-one else has been given. You reflect Christ’s love and show something of his face in a way that no-one else can. This is your ‘personal’ vocation – the call to be the person you are meant to be. The more you discover who you are, and the more you discover what lies deepest in your heart, the more you will be able to discern what God’s will is for you and what direction he wants you to take in life. Your lifelong vocational commitments and the particular path of holiness that you are called to follow will inevitably grow out of the person God created you to be. 

 How to form our vocations We can forget that formation is necessary if we are truly to live out our lives and vocation to the full. Formation can be divided into several areas: Human, Spiritual, Professional, Apostolic and Doctrinal all of which are necessary if we are to be disciples and communicators of the Faith we ourselves have received. HUMAN God’s Grace does not suppress our human nature, rather Grace improves and enhances our humanity. We need to keep on developing our human nature if are to fully cooperate with God’s Grace in our lives. SPIRITUAL alongside developing our human nature we need to develop our spiritual lives. We do this through developing the supernatural virtues infused in us by God at Baptism. The theological virtues of: Faith, Hope and Charity and the Cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance all of which are given by God but need to be developed and practised. Overall these we need to practice the virtue of humility which enhances and perfects the virtues. Development of our spiritual lives is obtained through prayer, spiritual reading, and the reception of the sacraments. Both spiritual and human formation are interrelated. PROFESSIONAL a large part of a lay person’s life is spent in the workplace. Work is an integral part of the lay vocation, as our work is our contribution and service to society, and therefore to God. If we are to be examples of Christian Faith and to attain holiness then it requires sanctification of all aspects of our lives, including work. (“Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men” Col 3:22) We need formation to be best we can be, whether an employer or employee, involving responsibility, thoroughness and excellence which needs formation in the form of professional development and training. APOSTOLIC All Christians are called to be apostles, taking the faith we have received and sharing it with others. In order to do this effectively sometimes we need to think about and learn the most effective way to share our faith. DOCTRINAL We all need doctrinal formation in order to articulate and give a good account of our faith. Doctrinal formation keeps us true to the Faith in all its richness and fullness, so that when we transmit the content of the Faith, we do so in the knowledge that what we share is faithful to the teaching of Christ and his Church. Formation for many lay people comes through the days and courses run in the local parish setting and by the Department for New Evangelization and Formation. 

 Permanent Diaconate Vocation to the Permanent Diaconate A Specific Grace The permanent deacon, who may be single or married, dedicates his life to serving others. His ministry of service focuses on three areas: assisting at the altar in the celebration of the sacraments; preaching the Word of God and leading people in prayer; and reaching out in loving service to the practical and spiritual needs of others, especially of the poor and those outside the normal confines of the Church. Traditionally the permanent deacon works closely with his diocesan bishop. Most permanent deacons, in practice, serve the greater part of their time within their home parish. But there are many who work as chaplains in schools, prisons, hospitals, etc. Others are in full-time employment where their work is itself ‘diaconal’: teachers, social workers, nurses, doctors, etc. Their ordination brings a specific grace that allows their life of service to be consecrated in a special way. 

 What are the signs of a calling to the permanent diaconate? The permanent diaconate is open to both single and married men in some dioceses. Where there is the practice, then some signs of a calling to that life are discernible. Discussion with wife If a married man is thinking about the permanent diaconate it is essential that he discerns this vocation with his wife, so that it is a decision made within the unity of one’s marriage. For the married man ordination to the diaconate is meant to grow out of and complement his marriage. These are just some signs that God might be calling you to the permanent diaconate, some of the ways that God might be guiding you in your life. It is the overall pattern that is important. The paragraphs about marriage obviously apply only to those who are married. If you are interested in finding out more about the permanent diaconate then talk to your parish priest or get in touch with the Director for Permanent Deacons in the diocese. A stable and supportive marriage No marriage is perfect, but you and your wife must have a solid and supportive relationship. There are no major issues in your marriage that make it hard for you to communicate with each other or live your Catholic faith with integrity. You are able to make this decision about ordination together in a mature way. You both believe that the commitment to the diaconate, in the time of formation and in the ministry itself, will not be an unnecessary burden for your marriage and family, but rather an enrichment. A commitment to your Catholic faith and to your prayer life You love your faith and it has been an important part of your life for a long time. You treasure it for yourself, you have made time to grow in your understanding of the faith, and you long to share it with others. You try to pray within the circumstances of your working life. You value prayer. You appreciate in a personal way the importance of the sacraments, especially of the Mass. A commitment to family and work You love and care for your wife and family, despite the inevitable struggles. You are faithful to your responsibilities at work and you are able to give generously of your time and yourself whenever there is need. A desire to serve You have already shown a commitment to serve others in different ways, in the parish or in other voluntary situations. You have the time and energy and proven capacity to work for others and to work willingly. You have a desire to serve others more wholeheartedly, as a vocation. You are drawn especially to the service you see in the lives of deacons: assisting at the altar in the sacramental celebrations, preaching and teaching God’s Word, leading people in prayer, and serving others in the ministry of charity. This will extend especially to the poor and the marginalized; and one of your particular responsibilities as a deacon will be to bring their needs to the notice of your parish and the wider church. Human qualities You have all the human qualities that will allow you to be a worthy minister in God’s Church. You have the emotional and psychological maturity to take on a new and demanding role. You are able to take the lead, and you have experience in different leadership roles. You can work well with others and win their respect. The encouragement of others Other people in the parish encourage you to think about the diaconate, or support you when you discuss the idea. They can see you in this ministry; they can imagine that you would do it well and that you would find happiness in it. The encouragement of your parish priest A key person in your discernment and in supporting you will be your parish priest. If he believes that you are being called to the permanent diaconate, and if he supports you in your application, then this is a very positive sign. The place of celibacy A single man commits himself to lifelong celibacy from the moment of his ordination as a permanent deacon. A married man does not he continues to live the fullness of his marriage but he makes a promise that if his wife dies before him he will remain celibate and will not remarry. This is a very serious commitment, especially if there are young children in the family and there is an anxiety about how they might be brought up or cared for should their mother die. 

 What is God intending for me? Each vocation is a call to follow Christ. The lifestyle and demands of each particular vocation are very different, but there are some common threads. Each vocation is a commitment to love in a certain way, and to draw closer to others – whether that closeness is through marriage or service or prayer. Each vocation challenges us to live our faith more deeply and to follow Christ more closely. Each vocation, if it is lived generously, will involve times of deep happiness and joy. Each vocation, if it is lived faithfully, will almost inevitably involve moments of great suffering and sacrifice. We should not think that one vocation is easier than another. Genuine love always costs a great deal, and brings great rewards. In one sense, to make a commitment to lifelong as a priest or consecrated person seems like a more radical choice, because it pulls us away from the natural joys of family life. But to live an authentic Christian marriage today, and to uphold Christian values in family life, requires enormous courage and commitment. It is not wise to compare the value of different vocations, but to appreciate the value of each one, and to discover which one is right for you. The important thing is to set out for yourself and see. (Photo: mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk) 

 How Do I Make a Decision? ecoming clearer so as not to drift… Usually our vocation becomes clearer over time. If you are living your Catholic faith, and being open to the Lord and to all that is happening in your life, you should gradually feel a pull in one direction, a growing conviction that one way of life is right for you. This process of discernment takes time, and it is much more than simply trying to make practical decisions. Yet there are two reasons why you might come to a time in your life when you need to make a decision of some kind. First, because things have become clearer, and you feel you are ready to take a step in a certain direction. Second, because things are not at all clear, and you have been going round in circles about your vocation for a long time, and you don’t seem to be getting anywhere. In this case it can be helpful, with the support of a wise person you trust, to try and make some kind of provisional decision about where you are going. There is a risk that you could drift through life without making any decisions; always looking for signs that will tell you what to do, without actively taking responsibility for your own choices. You could become a ‘serial discerner’ and fall prey to ‘paralysis through analysis’. Sometimes God lays before us different possibilities, and wants us thoughtfully and prayerfully to come to a decision about what seems best. It is not a final decision (we don’t make a final decision until the day of our marriage or ordination or solemn profession), it is simply a decision to test the water instead of hovering at the edge, to start down one particular path instead of standing at the crossroads. We shouldn’t be surprised that God sometimes invites us to make a choice. Sometimes, but not always, we learn more about God and about ourselves by acting than by waiting. We are often looking for certainty, for objective signs. But one of the ‘signs’ of a vocation can be our willingness to try a particular path and see where it leads. He leads us partly through our choices. You don’t have to be certain about the choice, you just have to make the best choice that you can. If you wait for 100% certainty you will be waiting forever. Here are some tips about how to make a decision when the time comes. You don’t need to use them all, like a checklist – they are simply ideas in case you are stuck. Wait God’s call usually becomes clearer over time. Often we just need to wait patiently – living our Catholic faith, doing all we can to be open to God’s will, praying for his help and guidance. Don’t force the issue. Something will happen – in your own heart, or in the circumstances of your life. But if it doesn’t happen then… Weigh up the pros and cons Take some extra time to reflect on your life and on all the factors that seem significant in this choice. What are the options before you? Write down the pros and cons of each option. Think about them. Weigh them up. Put the list away and come back to it a few days later. What seems to be most important for you? What seems best? Imagine that you have made a decision It can sometimes help to imagine that we have made one particular choice (and then to imagine that we have made an alternative choice). Be very concrete. Imagine telling your friends and family; imagine taking the next step. Imagine changing your life accordingly. Imagine where you will be in a few weeks, a few months. What feelings does this stir up? What hopes and fears? Excitement? Relief? Despondency? Regret? These feelings can sometimes reveal what is deep in our heart. Another idea is to imagine you are at the very end of your life, looking back on all that might have happened as you followed this path. Can you be proud of such a life and pleased to offer it to God? Or would you be disappointed or sad? Talk to someone Not just anyone, not just a friend who will say what you want to hear. It should be someone you trust, a committed Catholic, who is wise, and who will be honest with you. It might be a friend or relation or a priest you know; or someone you don’t know who has been recommended by, for example, your parish priest. They might give you some good advice and encouragement. But even if they don’t say much it is enormously valuable to talk about our hopes and fears in this way. It forces us to put into words the vague thoughts and feelings we have; and it gives us new courage and clarity simply because we have been brave enough to open our heart to another person – our hopes and worries about vocation are no longer just a ‘secret’, they become more real, more urgent. Pray Pray to God for guidance and help. Pray especially to the Holy Spirit for wisdom. Make a particular prayer each day for help as you make this decision. If you are about to make a big decision, ask a priest to offer Mass for your own personal intentions (which are that you will make a good decision – you don’t have to explain all this to him). To offer Mass for an intention in this way brings great graces to any situation. But don’t pray too much! Sometimes, especially if you are feeling desperate, you might think that you have to pray more and more, as if you are forcing God’s hand. It can become a kind of superstition, and you half-worry that God will not help you unless you pray for hours every day and turn your life upside down with devotions. This is simply not true. God loves you and cares for you and wants the best for you. He certainly wants you to pray, but in whatever way is right for you as a layperson studying or working in the world. Listen to your heart Sometimes, when we make time to think about one course of action or one possibility, it brings with it a deep sense of peace and joy; not just a passing mood or emotion, but an inner feeling that something is right, a contentment and quiet excitement, a sense of reassurance and freedom, of being on the right track. At other times, when we stop to reflect in this way, an idea brings with it feelings of fear and panic and worry and insecurity; a sense of heaviness and imposition and unnecessary obligation. The spiritual peace (or ‘consolation’) can be a sign that one path is right for us, a sign that it fits with who we are and who God calls us to be. The fear and panic (or ‘desolation’) can be a sign that one path is not right for us, that it is pulling us away from who we are and who God calls us to be. But some fears and doubts, natural fears that we are bound to face when we make big decisions, are not signs of anything deep – and they simply need to be faced and overcome. Take a single step If you are still unsure what to do and feel paralysed and unable to make a big decision, it can help to make a small decision instead. Decide to take just one step down a certain path, the next step – so that you can see how it feels and how it turns out. You don’t need to find certainty that this is the final step for you; you simply need to have some confidence that it is a good and worthwhile step in itself at this moment. For example, if you have never talked to anyone about your dilemmas, then decide to talk to someone. If you are unsure about a vocation to the priesthood, then at least go and speak to your vocations director. If you are fond of someone but unsure about marriage, then at least try to get to know them better. If you would love to be a nun, but feel pulled in different directions, then make a decision to visit a convent and even arrange to stay for a few days. If you are seriously considering a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life, but still unsure of how to find certainty – then why not consider making an application and see how you feel? You can always change your mind in the next few weeks. Or you can leave after the first few months. Often simply making one decision helps us to see that it is the wrong decision – and nothing is lost, but great clarity is gained. Or perhaps you won’t be accepted, and that will certainly be a sign that this is not for you. Make a decision The English language is instructive. We don’t find a decision – we make one. Sometimes we imagine that a vocation is something we have to find: if I can only find the answer, read the signs, discover the path – then I will happily walk along it. There is some truth to this, and the title of this booklet is all about ‘discovering’ your vocation. But as well as this, a vocation is also something you have to choose. With all the signs in front of you, with all that lies in your own heart, there is a moment when you will need to weigh everything up and simply make a decision. Not a final decision you are certain about, but the best decision possible at this time – a ‘provisional’ decision. Looking for infallible signs can paradoxically be a way of avoiding the responsibility and risk of making a decision. There are not many moments of decision like this, but there are some. You can trust that God will help you to make a wise decision now; and above all that his plan for your life will unfold through the consequences of your prayerful decision. If it is the ‘wrong’ provisional decision, and you are meant to be somewhere else – he will make that clear before too long. If it is the ‘right’ provisional decision, and you are meant to continue along this road – he will confirm that for you and make it clearer and clearer. Only when you are at the stage of making lifelong promises or vows will he ask you to make an irrevocable decision – and by that stage you will have had many reassurances that this is the right path for you. Trust in Providence Above all, you can trust in God’s Providence. If you are not yet at the point of making decisions, then trust that God will guide and enlighten you. If you are about to make an important decision, trust that God will help you to make a wise one. If you have made a decision, trust that God will lead you to know if it is indeed the right one. He loves you more than you love yourself. He cares for you with an unbounded tenderness and affection. His power is greater than any other force in creation, and his Providence is guiding everything and will put right even the mistakes you may make. So be at peace. Do all that you can; but trust in the Lord. (Photo: mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk) 

 Obstacles Many factors can get in the way of our vocation; they can make it difficult to discern or difficult to make a commitment once we have discerned. There is no space here to look carefully at all these difficulties. Sometimes it is enough just to flag them up, so that if they are present in your life you can notice them more easily and face them more honestly. Here are some of the common difficulties that arise when people are discerning their vocation, together with a single thought about each one to encourage you or help you. If you meet a real difficulty, pray about it, and talk to someone about it, so it does not become too much of an obstacle. Try not to worry. Be at peace. Trust that God is more powerful than all your worries. Tell him your honest anxieties, and put them in his loving hands. Lack of trust You may have a distorted image of God. You may think he is like an absent parent who doesn’t love you, or a kind uncle who will never make any demands on you, or a vengeful tyrant who is punishing you for something, or an unpredictable boss who wants to force you into a vocation that will not be right for you. Instead, trust him. He is a tender Father who is both loving and demanding. He cares for you more than you care for yourself. Sometimes he might challenge you and call you to something unexpected but it will always be for your ultimate good and happiness. Noise, busyness, overwork Perhaps you can’t hear God’s call because you never make any space to listen to him. Every hour is full up, and your mind is constantly cluttered with work, noise, music, and other distractions. Make space for God and for at least some moments of silence in each day. Not praying, not living your faith You will never know yourself properly or know the call of the Lord if you are not making some space for prayer each day and trying to live your Catholic faith. Sin, worldliness If you are trapped in some habitual sin or caught up in a completely worldly lifestyle, it may be impossible to listen to your own heart or to God. Be honest with yourself; go to confession; try to make a new start even if you are still struggling. Addictive behaviours Alcohol, drugs, pornography, sex, gambling; even activities that are harmless in themselves like work, sport, texting, the internet, gaming, Facebook – they can become like addictions that cover up our deepest needs and cut us off from true selves. Try and break any addictive patterns of behaviour your are trapped in. And if you can’t – then get help. Avoiding the question of vocation If the question of vocation is nagging at you, don’t just run away from it. It will come back whether you like it or not! And in the meantime you will make yourself more and more unhappy. So face it honestly, in prayer and in conversations with someone you trust. Fear of commitment We rightly value freedom, but in the Western world we confuse freedom with being able to choose from an endless variety of options. Commitment to anything, let alone for life, seems like a limitation, even a loss of oneself. But to have a series of endless options is actually to have no options – because you never embrace any one of them with your whole heart. God may be inviting you to make a lifelong commitment, to put down roots so that you can truly flourish, to build one concrete life rather than to fantasise about innumerable possible lives, to take responsibility for your own life. It is sometimes better to do one thing with your unreserved commitment than to drift through life without any firm sense of purpose. Desire for certainty It’s unlikely that you will ever be 100% certain about any significant choice – of course there are doubts and questions. But you can be sure enough that this is a reasonable step to take, when things come together and the time is right. Yes, it’s a risk. But it’s also a risk not to make a choice. Life is full of risks. God is always with us, supporting and guiding us – even if we make a decision in good faith and things seem to go wrong. Fear of your own inadequacy Perhaps you fear you are not the right person for this vocation, even though you feel attracted to it. You worry that you are not holy enough, not intelligent enough, not qualified enough, not loving enough, too shy, too sociable… Perhaps you are right. But perhaps you are underestimating yourself or underestimating God. He chooses the weak and makes them strong. Sometimes he invites us to do what seems impossible, and only later on gives us the strength to do it. Why not take a step anyway – and let God decide further down the line if it is really not for you. Attachment to personal ambition or lifestyle Any lifelong commitment will involve some sacrifice and cost, giving up something you are attached to now (lifestyle, habits, income, pleasures, people), letting go of what could have been (freedom, dreams, ambitions). Sometimes we have to move on – it’s inevitable. Trust that if this is really your vocation, it will be a treasure that will be worth any sacrifice, and that God will ‘reimburse’ you in other unexpected ways. Remember that our minds usually exaggerate the difficulties; and God will help you to deal with the ones that remain. And be honest if the real reason you are reluctant to follow your vocation is simply selfishness. Fear of failure If this is the right step for you, then God will sustain you. If he wants you to flourish and find happiness here, then you will. If he is actually leading you somewhere else, and it seems like you have failed in your provisional decision to try a vocation – then trust that this will be part of his loving plan. He writes straight with crooked lines. What matters is not success or failure, but whether you have tried to be faithful to his call at each moment. Conflicting desires You are trying to listen to your heart, but you find that there are many conflicting desires there, and not one of them seems to be more important than the others. Then follow the advice in chapter 6 above: Pray, wait for as long as you need to, and if everything is still unclear, then take a step in one direction just to test the water. The Lord will gradually show you whether this is the right step or whether you should go back and try another. Desire for perfection Perhaps you want to be a religious brother or sister but you can’t find an order that is good enough for you; you want to be a Diocesan priest but don’t like the bishop in your Diocese; you want to be married but no-one matches up to your standards. It may be that you haven’t found the right person or diocese or congregation yet; but it may be that you need to settle for what is ‘good enough’. No person or congregation is perfect, and if you are looking for perfection you will never find it. The search for perfection might strangely be a way of avoiding a vocation. Try the 80% rule: If 80% of what you are looking at is good – then that’s pretty good! Perhaps you can live with the other 20%, or see it in a new light, or change it. Age You fear you are too old to get married or become a priest or consecrated person. You fear you have missed the boat. But the Lord wants you to accept that this is the age that you are. Give thanks to God for who you are and where you are, instead of regretting what has not happened in the past. If you are pulled towards a certain vocation, whatever your age, then take a step and test that vocation. If God wants you to follow it, he will make things possible. Opposition from people you love Your family or friends are against you taking this step. It may be true that they have some insight that you don’t have, and you should certainly listen to them respectfully. But it may be that they are unable to support you in your vocation because of their own lack of faith or personal fears. Sometimes you need to be strong and do what you feel is right, even in the face of opposition or misunderstanding. If you have carefully discerned that this is the right step, then explain it as best you can to those you love, and take it courageously – trusting that God will help them to understand or at least to accept it some time in the future. Opposition from the culture and society Some vocational choices, even Christian marriage, will sometimes be misunderstood or mocked by contemporary society, and perhaps by friends or colleagues. Recognise that to be a Christian will involve some misunderstanding and even persecution, especially if you make a lifelong vocational commitment. Be as loving and kind as you can, and explain your choices gently to people if they ask. Don’t stir up opposition and seek controversy. But if it comes, don’t be deterred. A long-term relationship that is drifting If you have been dating someone for a long time, and the relationship is not deepening and drawing you in the direction of marriage, and if you are in effect going out with someone simply for the sake of it – then this can make your own discernment of vocation very difficult. The relationship is taking up your time and emotional energy and taking away your freedom to discern properly. You can’t be properly open to other vocations; you can’t even be open to meeting other people. Even though there may be a real love and commitment between you both, if you are drifting, then it is usually better to make a proper decision about marriage, or draw things to an end – so that each of you can be free to discover what is God’s plan for you. Fear of not having a family If you are considering priesthood or consecrated life then you may well be anxious about the idea of not having a husband or wife and a family. This is quite understandable. And perhaps you should indeed get married! But this anxiety might stem partly from the fear that a celibate life will be a life without love. You need to believe two things. First, the celibate life is a life full of love – of the intimate love of Christ, and the love of all those you will meet and work with and live with. And you will, God willing, discover an aspect of ‘spiritual fatherhood’ or ‘spiritual motherhood’ in your vocation – loving and nurturing those in your care – that will be deeply fulfilling. But second, there are certainly sacrifices made in a life of celibacy, not least in letting go of the possibility of the love of marriage and family. But there are also huge sacrifices made in marriage, and sometimes much loneliness. The cost of loving is high in any Christian vocation. What matters is that you find what is right for you – and trust that God will give you all the love you need, through prayer and through others, to sustain you in this vocation. (Photo: mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk) 

 Training St. Sebastain's has online training for those trying their discernment to the Diaconate/Priesthood. we have a theology course where you will be asked to create a portfolio. HOLY ORDERS Clerical progress within the Church involves appropriate and relevant studies, to be accomplished according to the requirements and standards of the Church. seminaries are grounded in theology and liturgy they will undertake distant learning course on ‘Dimensions of Christianity’. Also, the liturgical rites of the seven sacraments of the Church. If you are interested in Holy Orders Why not contact us by visiting Archbishop Kieran on Facebook. 

 Prayers for those discerning their Vocation Loving God, Is it I, Lord? Are you calling me to a vocation of ministry in the Church as Priest, Brother or Deacon? Or if I am already living out a life’s vocation, are you asking me to help call others to the ministry of leadership in the Church? We need men and women to help lead us as Church, Lord. We are your people of St. Sebastian's ICC Speak to us Lord. Open the minds and hearts of many men and women to live your Word and build your Kingdom. Speak to me Lord. Plant your Word within me so that whatever you call me to be or do I may say Yes, Here I Am Lord. Lord here I am! What would you like me to do with my life? Loving God, your Son, Jesus, has shown us that an open heart finds the way. Help me to find my way in this world. Keep my heart open to following Jesus’ way of serving others in love. Give me the courage to accept the guidance you offer me through my family, my friends, and my parish community. Through the Holy Spirit, you call me to a particular way of life. If it is the way of a Priest, Religious Sister, Brother or Deacon, then help me to walk it in joyful service to your people. With you, my God, I know I can find my way. Amen. Gracious God, You have called me to life and blest me in many ways. Through Baptism You have sent me to continue the mission of Jesus by sharing my love with others. Strengthen me to respond to Your call each day. Help me to become all You desire of me. Inspire me to make a difference in others’ lives. Lead me to choose the way of life You have planned for me. Open the hearts of all to listen to Your call. Fill all with Your Holy Spirit that we may have listening hearts and the courage to respond to You. Enkindle in my heart and the hearts of others the desire to make the world a better place by serving as Priest, Deacon, Brother, Sister or Lay Minister. Amen. Prayer for an increase in Vocations Father, we’re your people, the work of your hands. So precious are we in your sight that you sent your Son, Jesus. Jesus calls us to heal the broken-hearted, to dry the tears of those who mourn, to give hope to those who despair, and to rejoice in your steadfast love. We, the baptised, realize our call to serve. Help us to know how. Call forth from among us priests, sisters, brothers and lay ministers. With our hearts you continue to love your people. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. (Photo: catholicrelics.co.uk)