About

Ministry

Vocation Brisbane is the office responsible for the promotion of vocations within the Archdiocese of Brisbane, working to empower, encourage and accompany young people who are called to discover their vocation to priesthood or religious life.

Vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means ‘to be called by name.’ In the Catholic context, living your vocation is the genuine intention to do God's will by loving and serving Him and others. Each baptised person is called to a vocation: to love and be holy like Jesus. God uses our gifts, talents, and holy desires to help us live this out.
Each baptised person is also called to a specific vocation or a “state of life.” Through these life states, as an ordained, religious, married or single person, we are able to bring God’s love to the world. No state of life is above or better than another; they are each designed to help us live out our primary vocation and bring forth God’s Kingdom.
Primarily, we work with people to help them discern God’s call for their lives. We do this by connecting with local ministries, schools and parishes to promote the call that Vocation has in our lives, providing opportunities for young people to attend discernment retreats and run men’s and women’s groups in which people are supported in their journey of discovering their vocational calling.
We believe in beginning with an authentic relationship with Jesus and with each other. In doing so, we are able to journey with those who are on the path towards the specific way they will serve God in their lives.
We believe that listening and being able to accompany young people in their journey without having any premeditated outcomes is important if we are to speak clearly and more authentically about God’s vocational calling for each person.
The recent synod on Young People, The Faith and Vocational Discernment (2018) reminds us that “Young people seek a Church that helps them find their vocation” and, in doing so, encourages the faithful to seek a deeper understanding of the different vocational paths and to rediscover the beauty and the evangelistic power of a vocation lived out authentically. Vocation Brisbane always seeks to honour those who are living out their vocational calling with authenticity whilst empowering and encouraging others to bravely say yes to the calling God has placed in their life.
In the end, it is the Holy Spirit who guides a person’s heart, and it is He who calls us to do His will.

Our purpose is to empower, encourage and accompany young people who are called to discover their vocation to priesthood or religious life.

Vision

We have a vision that all the baptised know their God-given purpose, vocation and mission.

We dream of a Church where every young man is invited to consider: is God calling me to become a priest? And where every young woman is invited to consider: is God calling me to religious life?

We dream of a Church that intentionally promotes a Christ-centred culture of discernment for mission, where everyone discovers God’s purpose for their lives and how they will participate in Christ’s mission regardless of their situation.

We dream of a Church where the beauty of priesthood, religious life, marriage, single life and the married diaconate are actively celebrated, promoted and fruitfully lived.

Meet the Team

Nick Kelly
Manager

Nick is a husband and father of two. He has worked in youth and young adult ministry since 2014 and is passionate about walking with people on their faith journey. He holds a Bachelor of Theology and is currently studying a Master of Theological Studies at ACU.

 kellyn@bne.catholic.net.au

Sr Theresa Maria Dao
Women’s Discernment

Sr. Theresa (Sr. T) is a religious Sister of the Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres and made her religious profession in 2015. She is passionate about finding God through the work of God, especially in her pastoral ministry. She holds a Bachelor of Theology (Honours) and is pursuing a Master of Spiritual Direction at ACU.

daot@bne.catholic.net.au

Xavier Foxon
Project Officer

Xavier is a young adult currently going through a discernment journey of his own. Since leaving school in 2020, he has been involved in ministry, and 2024, he served a year on mission with NET ministries. Xavier greatly desires to understand others’ hearts and is excited to journey alongside other men. He is also studying a Bachelor of Information Technology at QUT

foxonx@bne.catholic.net.au

Emma Lawson
Administration Officer

Emma is a wife, a mother of four. She began working for the Archdiocese in 2008 at her local Parish office, and is passionate about joyfully supporting the mission of the Church. Outside of work, Emma is usually juggling chauffeuring her children to extracurricular activities, or enjoying some time with Sully, the much-adored family puppy.

lawsone@bne.catholic.net.au

Archdiocesan Ministries

Vocation Brisbane is one of the teams of Archdiocesan Ministries, the Gospel agency of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. The mission of Archdiocesan Ministries is to work with, inspire and empower the Archdiocese of Brisbane to encounter Jesus and live the joy of the gospel.

We contribute to this mission by inspiring men and women to live out their vocation through a relationship with God and the people of God, the Church.

Archdiocesan Ministries is made up of various teams that have been developed to better support the life of the Church in Brisbane.

Our shared values are to be:

·         Christ-Centred: mission-oriented, faith-filled, authentic
·         Inclusive: relational, accessible, celebrating diversity
·         Innovative: creative, solutions focussed, curious, discerning
·         Pursuing Excellence: intentionality, quality, sustainability
·         Joyful: hope-filled, positive, fun
·         Humble: always learning, listening, serving

You can learn more about Archdiocesan Ministries on their website and view the agency’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2027.

Website

Strategic Plan

Vocation Committee

The Vocation Committee is established to work as an advisory body to Vocation Brisbane, providing prayerful discernment, advice, and recommendations for implementing the strategic plan, with specific attention to the Canali Program and potential applicants to the Holy Spirit Seminary.

The priests on the committee provide mentoring and spiritual direction for the men in the Canali Program, meeting with aspirants each month to journey and share about priestly life.