Since the beginning of the Archdiocese over 150 years ago, someone has been responsible for the promotion of vocations within the Archdiocese. Vocation Brisbane now takes on that challenge to cultivate a culture of vocation and form new leaders for the Catholic Church community of Brisbane.
What is Vocation?
A Vocation is our genuine intention to do the will of God by loving and serving Him and others. Each baptised person is called to a vocation. And the primary vocation of every baptised is to love and to 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 “states of life” and through these life as an ordained, religious, married or single life, we are able to bring God’s love to the world. No state of life is above or better than another, but they are all designed to help us live out our primary vocation and bring forth God’s Kingdom.
Why our work matter
The recent synod on Young People, The Faith and Vocational Discernment, 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. The Vocation Brisbane office 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.
We do this by connecting with local ministries, schools and parishes to provide opportunities for young people to have access to spiritual direction as well as attend discernment retreats and be part of men’s and women’s group in which they can feel supported in their journey of discovering their vocational calling. We believe in authentic relationship with Jesus and with each other, in doing so we are able to journey with those who are on the path towards their specific vocation - whether as ordained, religious, married or consecrated single.
We believe that by 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.
At the end, it is the Holy Spirit who guides a person’s heart and it is He who calls us to do His will.
Prayer for Vocations
Loving God,
With one voice we lift up our hearts
to thank you today for our lives,
our vocation and all your gifts to us.
Inspire us all to know and live our vocation.
Give courage to young people,
to listen and follow the call,
to serve you in the Archdiocese
as your priests, deacons, religious and lay ministers.
Bless us, your family of Brisbane.
Help those you call to listen
to what your Holy Spirit is saying to us.
Guide them to serve in your vineyard,
that they may fulfil your holy will and
make all things new.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen