Vocations: A
Family Affair
In a few weeks I will conclude my work
as the diocesan vocation director and become a parish
pastor. It has been a joy to serve Bishop Joseph L. Imesch
and the people of the Joliet Diocese as vocation director,
even through the difficulties of the past few years. It has
been a special satisfaction to journey with the seminarians
and newly ordained priests who have given God a chance with
their lives in priesthood. I am grateful for the warm
receptions I have received in our parishes and schools. I am
thankful for all of the prayers and actions that are offered
to further the cause of vocations.
Sometimes people will ask me about the
vocations crisis that they hear about. The usual inference
is they are interested in knowing why the numbers of priests
and religious continue to drop. After these many years of
promoting vocations, screening candidates, and working with
seminarians, I am more convinced that the real vocation
crisis is not with priesthood and religious life. The real
vocation crisis is in our homes and with our families. The
first sense of vocation—that God has a plan for our
lives—needs to be fostered first and foremost in family
life.
In the past several months I have had
the opportunity to share the “Beatitudes for Nurturing
Vocations within our Families” with several groups. These
eight simple ways for family blessing seem to resonate well
with many people today. I would like to share some personal
reflections on four of these beatitudes.
The first is probably the most
important: Blessed are the children of parents who witness
love for their spouse, their children, their neighbor and
the world. When children see their parents live in such a
way as they find meaning and purpose through marriage,
children learn that they too have a purpose and reason for
being here. My brothers and sisters first learned the
importance of love not from the church but from our mom and
dad. We call marriage “holy matrimony” for a reason;
marriage should lead couples and children to greater
holiness and love.
Another beatitude: Blessed are the
children of parents who remind their children that they are
loved by God and have been given gifts to serve others. All
of us need to know that God loves us no matter what, and
knowledge of this blessed assurance comes first from our
parents, not from priests. Also parents teach us to say
“Thank you” and to share what we have. Within the context of
our spiritual life, gratitude and sharing gifts lead to a
deeper awareness of the blessings and graces we need to give
back to God in some form of service or ministry.
A third beatitude: Blessed are the
children of parents who lead their family in prayer. I saw
my dad get on his knees to pray each night long before I
realized what the priest was doing at church. His actions
taught me that getting on one’s knees to pray is not just
for little boys and girls, but that prayer is a life-long
conversation with God. He also taught me not to be afraid to
sing at Mass. My mom continues to be a daily communicant and
an inspiration for faithful commitment to the Mass. Praying
as a family and bringing children to church for Mass and
devotions are important factors in raising a blessed family.
The final beatitude: Blessed are the
children of parents who encourage their children to consider
priesthood and religious life, as well as marriage. One
might think that this would be the first beatitude, but it
is the last. It only makes sense to introduce the notion of
a life-time commitment to a consecrated life as a priest,
sister of brother, once the foundations of vocation, prayer
and generosity have been laid. This beatitude also addresses
how we talk about their futures with our children. Do we say
things like, “When you get married … ,” or “When you have
children …”? Perhaps it would be better to use “if” instead
of “when.” As we talk about the positive aspects and hopes
for marriage, we also need to talk about the positive
aspects and possibilities of priesthood and religious life
with children. Regardless of the decisions children might
make concerning their futures, they will know that their
parents are generous with the Lord if they are simply open
to the possibility of their son or daughter answering the
call to priesthood or religious life.
If we are able to reclaim and build up
the sense of vocation within our families, we will benefit
not only from a more vibrant church and more priests to
serve her, but our families will be blessed indeed.
This list of beatitudes
was developed by the National Religious Vocation Conference
and is printed on cards that can be distributed in parishes.
The phone number for NCCV to order the cards and to request
a catalog of many other vocation resources is
1-800-671-6228.
Father John Regan
Joliet Diocese Vocation Director
May 25, 2006
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