“… Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history…”
“The Universal Call to Holiness” finds its origin in the life of Jesus and his call to follow Him as His disciples and to His new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 13:34-35). Many credit the Second Vatican Council and its “Dogmatic Constitution”, Lumen Gentium, quoted above, for having “renewed” that call to holiness, emphasizing that all Christians, from the moment of their baptism share a “common vocation,” that each of us is called to holiness, called to be a saint.
The French Catholic novelist, Leon Bloy, it could be said, put it more succinctly, when he wrote: “The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint”— La Femme Pauvre (The Poor Woman)
“National Vocations Awareness Week” is an opportunity for us to be reminded that Jesus is calling each of us to live a life of holiness and to prayerfully discern how He is calling us, day by day, to follow Him and to commit ourselves to “lay down our life” as His disciples. As He taught us at the Last Supper, “No one has greater Love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” (Jn. 15: 12-13).
In a statement for National Vocations Awareness Week, Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations said:
The week “reminds us of the beautiful witness of those who have responded to God’s call to serve in ordained ministry as priests and deacons, and men and women who serve in consecrated life. This National Vocation Awareness Week, we thank God for all vocations and pray for a deepened spirit of joy in marriages, in the priesthood and diaconate, and in all forms of consecrated life.”
USCCB highlights National Vocation Awareness Week
Here, in our Diocese, in what I believe is a combination of good planning and providence, we will be celebrating a “full week” (eight days) of reflection, prayer, gratitude, and invitation, offering many opportunities for us to reflect on our own vocation and invite others to consider theirs.
Many years ago, when I served as Vocation Director in Brooklyn, National Vocations Awareness Week, was in early or mid-January, beginning on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, at the conclusion of the liturgical season of Christmas. Eventually Vocation Directors and other leaders realized that “Vocation Events” were not easy to plan in parishes and especially in schools if they occurred immediately after the “return from Christmas break. I believe that part of the reason for moving National Vocations Awareness Week to early November is so that it could be “connected” with All Saints Day – when the Church invites us to remember the examples of holiness in our lives, reminding us of our call to holiness.
It was especially appropriate and wonderful to celebrate our annual Diocesan Gold and Silver Anniversary Mass on All Saints Day (and to “kick off” Vocations Awareness Week) by gathering in prayer with married couples and their families, celebrating 25, 50, and 60 years of marriage.
“Vocations come from families” — whether someone is called to marriage, priesthood, consecrated religious life, or to the single life, so often an awareness and openness to that call comes from our parents, our “first catechists,” from our grandparents and the formation received in a “family of faith.” In a recent presentation to members of Parish Vocations Committees, Mrs. Eni Honsburger, Director of our Diocesan Office of Marriage and Family, gave a presentation in which she offered statistics that showed, over the past 50-plus years in our country, marriages in Church are down by more than 60 percent. Eni showed us how strong and faithful marriages promote and nurture all vocations.
I am very grateful to Eni and all of our diocesan and parish leaders who are dedicated to supporting young adults, preparing engaged couples for marriage, and accompanying married couples from the first, early years of marriage through 50, 60 and more years of living the beautiful vocation of marriage. Please see coverage here.
I am also very grateful to Father Charlie Lana, our Diocesan Vocation Director and Mr. John Cammarata, Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry, along with many others, for their work in promoting vocations and engaging and inviting all young people to be open to God’s call. Working with pastors, priests, religious, parish vocation committees and seminarians, Father Charlie has organized a number of events for National Vocation Awareness Week, including Vocation Holy Hours in parishes (see below) and one of our monthly “Project Andrew” Vocation evenings, on Friday, Nov. 6 at St. Padre Pio Parish, Paterson (Office of Vocations).
Although National Vocation Awareness Week will officially conclude on Saturday, Nov. 7, we will hold our annual Diocesan Youth Day on Sunday, Nov. 8, at St. Elizabeth’s University. For more information, see Youth Conference.
The theme of this year’s Youth Day is “Made for More,” which will surely encourage all the young people who attend to know and believe that God has created each of us for a reason and purpose and that Jesus is calling each of us to holiness, whatever our individual vocation may be — in other words, we are all called to be Saints.
