{"id":2983,"date":"2020-05-29T20:00:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-30T03:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/?p=2983"},"modified":"2020-06-04T16:27:51","modified_gmt":"2020-06-04T23:27:51","slug":"pray-and-work-for-vocations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2020\/05\/29\/pray-and-work-for-vocations\/","title":{"rendered":"Pray and Work for Vocations"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Fr. John Roche, SDB
\nCoordinator for Vocations<\/p>\n

For the last six weeks, while so much of the world has observed shelter-in-place, I have reached out to more than 100 persons who have contacted me in the past three years.\u00a0 A vast majority of these men have been directed toward our Congregation as part of the Vocation Network \u201cVocation Match\u201d test.\u00a0 I went through every single contact and reached out with an email about discernment at this desperate time on the advice of Andres.\u00a0 Andres found some interesting resources that some Congregations put on their websites.\u00a0 It was ironic that he made that suggestion while I was in the middle of crafting our own outreach.\u00a0 I sent a copy of that email to every Salesian in the Province.<\/p>\n

In the email, I connected directly with the inquiring individual identifying the date on which I received their \u201cVocation Match.\u201d\u00a0 In the back of my mind, I wondered if this effort was worth all the fuss since for many, in three, two, or even one year I had never received any further sign of interest.\u00a0 But I reached out hopefully drawing attention to this precarious moment in history and asked each one if discernment was still on their mind and heart.\u00a0 Then I gave them guidelines for discernment during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Never have a received such amazing response as I have in the last few weeks.\u00a0 I have received emails, phone calls, and texts with re-awakened interest.\u00a0 Many indicated that they had been in college and, now graduating, wanted to get back on track.\u00a0 Even now, there are at least two young men who are very interested.\u00a0 They have their four year college degrees and are at a point where they feel the need to investigate this calling more closely.\u00a0 I ask all of you to pray for these young men that they will have the courage to step forward.<\/p>\n

There are many more who have begun open dialogues with me and are at varying levels of growing discernment.\u00a0 As I had promised in the email, I did write to every single individual on that list with a personal hand-written letter that echoed back for many of them their \u201cVocation Match\u201d experiences of God, their desires for service, and some of their own dreams.\u00a0 This letter, too, had an amazing result.\u00a0 I have received many hand-written responses, emails, and phone calls.\u00a0 I have been continually at this desk day and night on the phone, sharing the process of application with many, and checking my emails and messages constantly.<\/p>\n

I have also shared with each of them our Entrustment to Mary, Help of Christians Prayer which has also drawn much support and appreciation.\u00a0 These inquiring adults range from 17 to 36 years of age with varying backgrounds of work and experience.<\/p>\n

At the moment, I am engaged with the Formation Commission in the designing of a Candidacy Program for such possible applicants.\u00a0 There are currently three men in process for next year.\u00a0 One has been accepted by the Assessment Team.\u00a0 Another is being prepared for ZOOM Conference Interviews by the Assessment Team.\u00a0 And another is preparing his document and weighing his options.\u00a0 There are still others, but they are still on the edge of making\u00a0 a move but not quite there yet.<\/p>\n

So, much prayer is needed for these young men\u2014both those applying and those seriously considering such a move in the near future.<\/p>\n

Please include these men in your prayers in every community.\u00a0 I will not offer names until there is a firm commitment and the process of admittance is underway, but I hope to offer two or three or four names very soon.<\/p>\n

Juan Carlos Montenegro has shared with me that Fr. Vaclav Clement has picked up the original email I sent for discernment during the pandemic and is using it to display vocation efforts in the world that are effective.\u00a0 That\u2019s good news.<\/p>\n

And if you know a young person in a parish, youth center, or school who should enter into this dialogue about serving as a Salesian, be sure to let me know!<\/p>\n

I end by sharing the main points of the first email:<\/p>\n

What should you do in the meantime?<\/p>\n