Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Convocation encourages those discerning a vocation to 'Be Not Afraid'
Convocation encourages those discerning a vocation to 'Be Not Afraid'
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 21, 2009
Be Not Afraid
- Second annual vocations convocation
- Saturday, Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Register by Sept. 8
- Mail $15 to Office for Priestly Vocations, 2701 Chicago Blvd., Detroit, 48206
|
Detroit - Seriously considering a call to the priesthood or religious life can be a scary proposition - and "when one is trying to discern an answer or call, there's a lot of fear involved in that," said Fr. Tim Birney, director of the archdiocesan Office for Priestly Vocations.
The name of the second annual vocations convocation says it all: "Be Not Afraid."
The convocation will gather many, if not all, of the people in the archdiocese who, in any way, are involved in vocation awareness ministry - especially those who are and might not be aware of it. Youth ministers, catechists and others who deal with young people have a unique opportunity to encourage them to open their hearts to the possibility that they may have a calling, Fr. Birney said.
"There is this call from the Lord to live a life of holiness," he said, no matter what modern society tells them.
He said that all of us, in a way, are all vocations directors, as we're all baptized in Christ. "The vocations director's job is not one priest's job," he said. "It should be everyone's ministry and focus."
The convocation will open and close with prayer - "the foundation of it all," Fr. Birney said - beginning with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron and ending with benediction and adoration.
Presenting the morning keynote address, "One Thing I Ask For - That Will I Seek: Steps to Discerning the Mind and Heart of God," will be Sr. Ann Shields, SGL, of Ann Arbor, who hosts the daily radio program "Food for the Journey." Her presentation will develop several steps that are necessary to reaching a peace-filled and joyful understanding of God's call and how to embrace it.
Presenting the afternoon keynote address will be Bishop Earl Boyea, of Lansing and formerly of Detroit, on "St. John Vianney: A Priest for Our Time." The topic will provide a deeper appreciation for this special Year for Priests, as promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI, and St. John Vianney as the patron saint for all priests.
Breakout sessions planned are:
- "Forming a Discerning Disciple," on how to assist youth and young adults to discern God's call;
- "How to Create a Vocation-Centered Classroom," for catechists and educators;
- "Panel for Discerners," in which seminarians and novices will tell their vocations stories;
- "Speaking the Language of Vocations - Living our Baptismal Call," for those looking to understand and embrace what a vocation is;
- "Vocations Committees 101," for all new and existing vocations committees; and
- "Vicariates: What's all the Buzz?" about how a vicariate vocations committee works.
The convocation is open to all, and geared toward vocations committees, priests, members of Serra International vocations organization, vocation directors of religious orders, directors of religious education and catechists, principals and teachers, seminaries, youth and young adult ministers, and interested lay people.
New name, same mission for Office for Priestly Vocations
DETROIT - Changing the name of the Office for Priestly Vocations doesn't change its mission, explained Fr. Tim Birney, the office's director.
Formerly the Office of Vocations, the archdiocesan department that focuses on fostering calls to the priesthood, recently got official approval to change the name and has been slowly making the change since, Fr. Birney said. He pointed out that religious orders all have their own vocations directors and their own particular mission, as his office's mission is the diocesan priesthood.
The new name makes the distinction of what the office has always been, he said. "I want to make it very clear the mission of the office," he said. "Our main focus is in priestly vocations."
He said he still regularly networks with religious orders - and is sure to include them at events, such as the upcoming Be Not Afraid vocations convocation. When calls do come in for people asking about how to become a brother or sister, which, unfortunately, are very few, he is happy to refer them to the right people, he said.
Plus, the diocesan Web site, www.vocationsdetroit.org, features links to religious orders, putting all the information in one place. |
|
