Questions to Ask When Discerning a Vocation
Thoughtfully considering the questions below can help you in the process of discerning whether you are being called to religious life as a priest, brother, or sister. Writing down the answers in a journal often helps one to reach clarity, as does discussing your thoughts with your spiritual director.
· Name the two top motivating factors for your interest in a religious vocation.
· What excites you at the prospect of ministering with and for others? Explain each.
· What, in your estimation, is the number one “mission” of the Catholic Church?
· What is the difference between serving God and being in love with God?
· What does a “personal relationship” with Jesus mean to you?
· What major events, changes, or traumas in your life trigger your attraction toward a religious vocation:
· Are you flexible and open to others of different thought, theology, practice, piety or devotion?
· Who has been a mentor or someone you would like to imitate in your ministry and why? If there are several list them all.
· Do you think the Catholic Church needs to address issues that you feel are important? What are your solutions?
· What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Church in the 21st century and what has given you this impression?
· Please explain your idea of what” collaborative ministry” entails. Have you ever worked in this fashion (give concrete examples)”
· We face obstacles and resistance with any major decision in our lives. Name the obstacles which at present are hindering you from making an informed or a confident decision towards a religious vocation. How have you been addressing these obstacles or areas of resistance?
· Do you prefer to spend time with others or do you consider yourself a private person?
· What is the difference between being alone and being lonely?
Lord, Are You Calling Me?
How do I know if God is calling me? How can I tell? Who can help me? Where do I go? When will I know? What will I do?
Step One: Ask yourself, first of all, how am I doing with my very first vocation: my Baptismal Call. Am I really a loving and faithful daughter or son of God? Do I actively participate in the Mass, keeping the Lord’s Day? Do I use my gifts to pray, to read, to serve, to sing, to play music, to be a greeter, usher, sacristan, etc.? Is Jesus alive in me? Am I alive in Him? Am I living His Gospel? Does my life give witness to His presence in me? Do I take pride and find joy in my union with Jesus Christ? Am I a true dwelling place of the Holy Spirit? Is prayer important in my life? Do I really try to love others? Forgive them? Speak well of them? Pray for them? Do I enjoy learning about my faith and religion? Am I involved in things that help people?
Step Two: Do I have a desire to serve? Do I have an attraction to doing something with my life? Have I always wanted to be like someone I admired and respected in ministry or religious life? Do I feel driven to help people or to make the world a better place? What do I see myself doing with my life? What do other people think I would be good at?
Step Three: Pray over your calling and talk to God about it and LISTEN. Make a retreat, spend a weekend in a seminary, a convent, a monastery, or a vocation awareness program. Also talk about it with others: friends, parents, your pastor, sisters, priests brothers, teachers, mentors, your own sister or brother – anyone you trust and who knows you well. Learn about how other people have found their calling.
Step Four: Take a deep breath. Pray, then call, write, or email the vocations director in the religious community or diocese in which you have an interest.
Step Five: Give it a try. You will never know if you have a vocation to be a priest, a sister, a brother a deacon, or lay minister unless you actually test and try it. Application and acceptance into a diocese, a seminary, a religious order or a formation program is essential to discovering what your true calling is. Do you really want to come to a moment later in your life and wonder if God was calling you to serve the Church back then?
In all of this you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The experience of pursuing your true vocation, whatever the outcome, will be a rewarding and grace-filled blessing for your entire life.