Vocations

 WHAT IS A VOCATION?

“Each baptised person is called to be a disciple, which is accompanied by a responsibility to share in the Church’s mission.”

A vocation is God’s unique invitation, addressed to individual persons in which a free response is expected. This response is not a single act, but a life long process, a journey of faith. We do not “have” a vocation; we discover how we “are” our vocation as we journey through life led by the Spirit.

An individual discovers their vocation at various stages of life and in relationship with others:

• When a person is loved and appreciated by others
• When a person is attracted by the example of others
• When the person becomes aware of the needs of others
• When the person prays and meditates on the word of God

As baptised Christians each of us is called to assist others to discover their vocation as we have been assisted on our own faith journeys. Each of us is called to help make others aware of their personal richness, talents and human value, opening their eyes to the variety of lifestyles and then ministries within the Church.

“Scripture narrates the history of salvation as a history of vocations, in which the Lord’s initiative and people’s response have become entwined. In fact every vocation is born from the meeting of two freedoms: the divine and the human. Every vocation is a personal and unique event, but also a community and an ecclesial event. No one is called to walk alone.”

Pope John Paul II, World day of Prayer for Vocations, 1997

AM I BEING CALLED? Recognising the call

As in the past God is calling people today. In the Rosminians some members are brothers, others are priests.  All of us seek to develop a relationship with Jesus and to be part of the upbuilding of God’s Kingdom.

Discerning a vocation is a challenge, no doubt about it. In the world of the third millennium, many are hungry to find greater meaning in life, eager to discover some purpose for their life. Perhaps God is calling you.

In the Irish American Province we are happy to discuss whether you have a vocation to the Rosminians.  Our guideline is men between 25 and 45.

STAGES OF FORMATION

In the Irish American Province there are three formal stages to the Formation process: Postulancy, Novitiate and Scholasticate.

1. Postulancy is the first formal stage in formation.  A person is not usually admitted to the Postulancy without some familiarity.  That familiarity may already exist in the case of someone who is, for example, a member of our parish or it may have to be developed over a period of time.  Postulancy is a period of mutual discernment, i.e. a ‘getting to know you’ stage – we get to know them and you get to know us.

2. The Novitiate is a 2 year period of spiritual formation.  This is a time of some intensity when Novices are helped to acquire human and Christian virtues.  The Novice will become more familiar with prayer, the liturgy, the vowed life, the Institute of Charity, Blessed Antonio Rosmini, the life of the Church etc.  At least 12 months of the Novitiate must be spent in the Novitiate community.

3. At the end of the Novitiate a man may be admitted to temporary vows and then begin studies for the Priesthood or another suitable training.  This time, which we call the Scholasticate, lasts usually in the region of 5-8 years. Studies for the Priesthood in the Irish American Province are usually taken in Rome.  At the end of the period of studies or training, a Scholastic may be admitted to final vows and/or Priesthood.

To find out more about Vocations with the Rosminians contact: