Promoting Vocations among Young Adults

A. "Create a climate of vocational awareness

• "Pray for vocations (with weekly Holy Hour for vocations)
• "Priests and religious should show they are happy and excited about their vocation, and joyfully invite others to join them
• "Involve seminary professors, vocations directors, and men and women religious in the life of the community (e.g., celebrating mass, if priests; giving presentations; providing spiritual direction)
• "Invite seminarians and religious in formation to share their stories
• "Publicize young adults from parish or campus ministry who have vocations
• "Preach about vocations
• "Have a vocations committee and involve young adults

B. "Model and cultivate a love for the Church and its mission

• "Develop love and respect for the archbishop and the local Church; campus ministries should involve him at the center as much as possible
• "Form young adults in evangelization and apologetics
• "Cultivate a global perspective (catechesis, Operation Rice Bowl, mission trips, etc.)

C. "Cultivate a sense of meaningful sacrifice

• "Connect with young adult idealism
• "Speak of the sacrificial self-giving that is part of both marriage and celibacy
• "Catechize on stewardship
• "Promote short and long term volunteer opportunities

D. "Retreats

• "Evangelizing retreats
  a. "Busy Persons Retreat, with involvement of vocations directors
  b. "Awakening retreats; includes leadership development and discernment
• "Vocations retreats
  a. "Publicize the vocations retreats of dioceses and religious communities
  b. "Life Awareness, for young adults seriously considering vocation

E. "Make it personal

• "Identify young adults
• "Invite them personally
  a. "To serve in leadership in parish activities
  b. "To ordinations, chrism mass, profession masses
  c. "To visit convents, monasteries and seminaries (e.g., Texas A&M University’s 'Nun Run' and 'Seminary Sprint')
  d. "To retreats, discernment groups, and to consider spiritual direction
• "Accompany them in the discernment process

F. "Internet resources

• "Archdiocesan webpage: http://www.archgh.org/vocations
• "Vocations.com"

'Some ideas from the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.'

(hat tip: Bill Cork, Fr. Mike Sis, Bishop Gerald Kicanas, et al)