From Monday 19 November through Friday 30 November 2018 the International Formation Center (CIF) gathered almost 70 Vincentian confreres, representing 90 countries from around the world, at the Motherhouse in Paris, to share and learn how they might better create and promote a culture of vocations in the Congregation of the Mission worldwide. All of the men who gathered were engaged at some level with vocation promotion.
Day 3: Wednesday 21 November
Andrés Motto, C.M. led the group in a few minutes of lightheartedness, thankfulness, and schedule clarification as well as directions on how to use the washing machines.
Fr. Jorge Luis Rodríguez, C.M. led the group in a series of group discussions. We gathered according to the five Visitors conferences (COVIAM, CEVIM, CLAPVI, APVC, and NCV) to share experiences with vocational recruitment. He stressed that vocation work is the responsibility of all the confreres in the province. The group discussed and decided to establish a commission of confreres that would function to promote vocations to the Congregation worldwide, to engage all confreres in the provinces to encourage membership.
Each vocation director reflected on the following questions:
- What is the vocation reality in our province? What do you think are the factors that the new generation are facing that we may need to take into account concerning our vocation work (a liquid world, millennials, digital world, etc.)
- Does the province to which I belong have a vocation ministry plan? What has been the process of reflection and awareness that has taken at the provincial level to lead to this plan? What are its scope and limitations?
- What differences do you have in your province if you compare yourself with the other Visitor’s conferences to which you belong?
- Is there professional help in the field of communications that offers an important tool for the pastoral care of vocations in the province? What tools do you use?
Groups were formed, made up of the five Visitor’s Conferences to reflect on the following questions:
- How many candidates for the Congregation do you have and what is the hope of my province in terms of the number of candidates that enter our formation houses?
- The formative process is one that takes place in three stages: vocation ministry, initial formation and permanent formation. Is this how it is it understood today in the Congregation? How much does it help or hinder us to understand vocation work and this process correctly?
- How does the issue of confreres in difficulty in our province affect us? Remember that there are three groups: those present but absent, those clearly absent and those who have left. How or does this situation affect the promotion of vocations?
Each group gave a summary of their discussions to the whole group.
The group voted to write a final document for this gathering to help the Congregation promote/encourage vocations. Three confreres were chosen/volunteered to write the document.
Fr. Roberto Gómez, C.M., from the Maison Mère in Paris, led the group in a discovery of the biblical foundations for a culture of vocations. He discussed vocations in both the Old and New Testaments and reflected on what the Bible says about vocational accompaniment. Pope Francis has invited the whole Church to work for a culture of vocations. God the Father calls to life. The Spirit calls to witness to the call of the Father. The call to be a prophet is present in: Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Abraham. The biblical call is to “go.” The call of Jonah is a call to mission: “Get up, go and proclaim.”
Old Testament: Amos 7:15 Yahweh has called and told me to go and prophesy. It is a call to go and do something. “Before I formed you, I knew you, and made you a prophet for the nations.” I am too young: Jeremiah has that objection. Confirmation of the mission: God says, don’t say I am too young. God confirms the election for the Church. Jeremiah’s call is one we can hear today. Jeremiah has to make an election. We understand our liberty. He has fear and is aware of his fragility. The prophet must be nourished by the Word of God; he preaches about God by first assimilating that Word and then sharing it. 1 Kings 22:19-22: send me, I am here. There is a dialogue between God and his volunteer. The call of Samuel is all about Master and servant. Each time discernment is needed. If God calls, God will guide; yet, each vocation is unique. We must have patience. It is not a privilege but it is a service. We are called to be for others around the world. The call is not a collective call; it is an individual call. The word of God calls us to a transformation, to conversion. The story of vocation is a story of being taken by God and the prophets. The Word of God creates in us and inspires in us.
New Testament: A vocation is always a mystery; we can’t always understand it. The basic call is: Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. They are called to leave everything and to follow Christ. This is a personal story. We are first a disciple and then we become apostles. In Luke’s gospel the call of the first disciples is more elaborate. After catching no fish, they are told to set out their nets. Something deeper happens. Simon’s faith is one for the mission. Lk 9:37-62: talks about vocational discernment. A young man ways to follow Jesus. Let me bury my father and Jesus says to let the dead bury the dead. We have to discern a vocation. Jesus calls to risk which opens a way to liberty, not to security. We must leave all things and listen to the call that ultimately leads to the Kingdom of God. The umbilical cord must be cut.
Rev. Jim Osendorf, C.M.
Vincentian Vocation Director
Western Province USA
