Every person has a vocation, a universal call to holiness. It is within that search for holiness that each human being finds his purpose in God, a vocation to the priesthood, consecrated life, or sacramental marriage. Through this vocation, we are sanctified in this life. Therefore, it is in the interest of everyone to foster a culture of vocations during the formative years of our children.

Creating a culture of vocations will involve a very intentional approach of forming and developing a relationship with Christ and an awareness of vocations.

VOCATIONS

A vocation is a calling from God. As Catholics, we believe that God calls each of us in our own unique ways to specific vocations. Universally, we are called to holiness. We are each called to imitate Christ.

There are other specific vocations:

- Holy Matrimony: Most are called to this vocation. However, like every vocation, marriage must be discerned, not assumed. Through this vocation, a man and a woman establish a life-long, exclusive covenant between themselves that is ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children (see CCC 1601).

- Consecrated Life: Both men and women can join religious orders such as the Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, etc. The life and work of religious orders varies greatly—some are primarily devoted to prayer; others work actively in schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc. Common to all religious orders are the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

- Priesthood: The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood. The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is Christ who acts in the sacraments through the Holy Spirit for the Church. The saving mission entrusted by the Father to his incarnate Son was committed to the apostles and through them to their successors: they receive the Spirit of Jesus to act in his name and in his person. The ordained minister is the sacramental bond that ties the liturgical action to what the apostles said and did and, through them, to the words and actions of Christ, the source and foundation of the sacraments" (CCC 1120) The Church needs good, holy men to discern the call to the priesthood intentionally.

- Diaconate: The Church recognizes two forms of the diaconate: transitional and permanent. Transitional deacons are those who are preparing for priestly ordination, while permanent deacons are called to serve in the diaconate for life. Transitional deacons are in a preparatory phase before becoming priests, serving temporarily to gain ministry experience. Their role focuses on learning and performing liturgical duties as they prepare for priestly ordination. Permanent deacons embrace the diaconate as a lifelong vocation, serving in various capacities within the Church and community. They can be unmarried or married, with the latter requiring their spouse’s consent.

- Dedicated Single Life: Some people serve God as single people, without marrying or making special vows. While not a “vocation” in a strict theological sense, single people “contribute greatly to the good of the human family” (CCC 2231). “Some live their situation in the spirit of the Beatitudes, serving God and neighbor in exemplary fashion” (CCC 1658). There are many single people who serve the Church with incredible generosity.