Creating Creating a a

Vocations-Vocations-Friendly Friendly ChurchChurch

in in AotearoaAotearoa

NZNZ

1.1. Vocational un-awarenessVocational un-awareness

2.2. Vocations Culture - ‘Vocations Vocations Culture - ‘Vocations Friendly’ ChurchFriendly’ Church

3.3. Whose responsibility?Whose responsibility?

4.4. Prevailing fears Prevailing fears

5.5. Challenge: Multi-Dimensional approachChallenge: Multi-Dimensional approach

6.6. CVMA’s story – addressing the call to CVMA’s story – addressing the call to create a Vocation-Friendly Churchcreate a Vocation-Friendly Church

Overview ….Overview ….

Vocational Vocational un-un-awareness …awareness …

Older Back-yard eagle chickens Young people A ‘vocations-friendly Church’ Jesus’ dream Hypothetically …

A Vocations Culture / A Vocations Culture / ‘Vocations-friendly’ Church … ‘Vocations-friendly’ Church …

= a repeated motif of = a repeated motif of John Paul II John Paul II throughout throughout

the last decade …the last decade …

11st Continental st Continental Vocations CongressVocations Congress

(Sao Paolo, Brazil, (Sao Paolo, Brazil, 1994)1994)

““We must create We must create

a culture of vocations a culture of vocations

in our Church ….”in our Church ….”(Message from JP II)(Message from JP II)

22nd Continental nd Continental Vocations Congress – Vocations Congress –

Rome, 1997 …Rome, 1997 …The shortage of specific vocations is, above all, The shortage of specific vocations is, above all,

an absence of the vocational consciousness of an absence of the vocational consciousness of life, or rather the absence of a culture of life, or rather the absence of a culture of vocations .. .vocations .. .

A new culture of vocation is a component of the A new culture of vocation is a component of the new evangelisation. It is a culture of life, and new evangelisation. It is a culture of life, and openness to life, and the meaning of life… openness to life, and the meaning of life…

NVNE # 13NVNE # 13

3rd Continental 3rd Continental Vocations Congress – Vocations Congress – Montreal, 2002Montreal, 2002

The promotion of vocations to ordained The promotion of vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life cannot be ministry and consecrated life cannot be understood in isolation from the universal understood in isolation from the universal baptismal call to holiness and service …baptismal call to holiness and service …

CDM, Montreal, 2002, p 12CDM, Montreal, 2002, p 12

CDM , Montreal, 2002:….

… in order to engage the whole church in a commitment to creating a ‘Vocation Culture’, one must first recognise the primary vocation of each and every Christian: to life and love; holiness and discipleship; witness and service. All baptised Catholics share in this universal call; all must be assisted in the task of hearing it and giving it a full and committed response … CDM p42

A quantum leap:A quantum leap:Unawareness …Unawareness …

to to ‘‘Vocation-friendly Church’ !!

Vocation-friendly Church’ !!

Challenge …Challenge …

The fundamental pastoral challenge The fundamental pastoral challenge is that of creating a ‘Vocation Culture’ is that of creating a ‘Vocation Culture’ (in the Church of North America): (in the Church of North America): that is, that is, a culture in which each Christian a culture in which each Christian is empowered to identify and respond to the is empowered to identify and respond to the mission to which he or she is called mission to which he or she is called as a member of the Body of Christ, in and for as a member of the Body of Christ, in and for the world …the world …

(CDM, Montreal 2002, pp 11 & 12)(CDM, Montreal 2002, pp 11 & 12)

What What ISIS a ‘Vocations a ‘Vocations Culture’ … ‘Vocations-Culture’ … ‘Vocations-

friendly Church’?friendly Church’?

(Archdiocese of Regina, Canada (Archdiocese of Regina, Canada

- - www.archregina.sk.ca/VocationsCulture.htmwww.archregina.sk.ca/VocationsCulture.htm ) )

A ‘Vocation Culture’ / Vocation-friendly

A ‘Vocation Culture’ / Vocation-friendly

Church is one in which each Christian is

Church is one in which each Christian is

empowered to identify and respond to

empowered to identify and respond to

the mission to which he or she is called

the mission to which he or she is called

as a member of the Body of Christ, in

as a member of the Body of Christ, in

and for the world and for the world

The promotion of vocations to ordained The promotion of vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life cannot be ministry and consecrated life cannot be understood in isolation from the universal understood in isolation from the universal baptismal call to holiness and service …baptismal call to holiness and service …

Every vocation is necessary and relative. Every vocation is necessary and relative. There needs to be an ecclesial There needs to be an ecclesial community … a vocational culture community … a vocational culture wherein every person can find their own wherein every person can find their own vocation. vocation.

The ordained ministry exists to bring out all The ordained ministry exists to bring out all the other vocations in the church and all the other vocations in the church and all the other vocations are there to bring out the other vocations are there to bring out the ordained ministries the ordained ministries in reciprocal in reciprocal communion. communion.

NVNE – Rome 1997NVNE – Rome 1997

……Vocations to ordained ministry and Vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life – and to single and consecrated life – and to single and married life, to lay ministry and Christian married life, to lay ministry and Christian witness in a secular society – will flourish witness in a secular society – will flourish in a church where each member can in a church where each member can identify and concretely live out the identify and concretely live out the Father’s call to life and holiness, the Son’s Father’s call to life and holiness, the Son’s call to discipleship and communion, and call to discipleship and communion, and the Spirit’s call to witness and mission.the Spirit’s call to witness and mission.

(CDM: Conversion, Discernment, Mission,(CDM: Conversion, Discernment, Mission,33rdrd Continental Vocations Congress, Montreal 2002, pp11&12) Continental Vocations Congress, Montreal 2002, pp11&12)

Vocational Vocational Awareness …Awareness …Growing up - knowing

about life-giving options …and

considering each one seriously before

choosing the one that will bring me fullness of life [in order that] …

Vocations Ministry …Vocations Ministry …Although vocations ministry begins with

the more generic notion of the call to life and love, and gradually expands to include an explicit claiming of a call to holiness and a share in the mission of the Church, eventually it converges on a question that is specific:

Am I called to serve as a priest or deacon in this diocese? …

[Am I called] to life as a brother, sister or consecrated secular in this specific congregation or institute? …

[Am I called] to be the husband or wife of this particular person? …

[Am I called] to live a single life in this time and place, exercising this profession?

(CDM – Montreal 2002, p 83)

Fostering Fostering ‘Vocations Culture’ ‘Vocations Culture’

……creating creating

a a ‘Vocations-Friendly ‘Vocations-Friendly

Church’ …Church’ …

fears !!!…

There are those who fear There are those who fear that widening the idea of that widening the idea of vocation will be harmful to vocation will be harmful to the specific promotion of the specific promotion of vocations to the vocations to the priesthood and the priesthood and the consecrated life; consecrated life; the reality is exactly the the reality is exactly the opposite. …opposite. …

NVNE, Rome 1997 #26NVNE, Rome 1997 #26

No need to No need to fear!fear!

The decline in any one vocation The decline in any one vocation negatively impacts the whole negatively impacts the whole body of the Church, and each of body of the Church, and each of its constitutive members. its constitutive members. Similarly, attention to the growth Similarly, attention to the growth and development of one should and development of one should lead to a vocational flourishing lead to a vocational flourishing of all the vocations in the Church of all the vocations in the Church

CDM, Montreal, 2002 p56CDM, Montreal, 2002 p56

CDM, Montreal 2002, p43CDM, Montreal 2002, p43

The universalisation The universalisation of the of the

notion of vocation notion of vocation in no way trivializes it! …in no way trivializes it! …

Faithful priests and religious need Faithful priests and religious need not feel threatened by the not feel threatened by the legitimate ministry and mission of legitimate ministry and mission of lay people … lay people …

Co-operation, rather than Co-operation, rather than competition is required, marked by competition is required, marked by mutual respect and complimentarity mutual respect and complimentarity in the promotion of all vocations …in the promotion of all vocations …

CDM, Montreal, 2002 p56CDM, Montreal, 2002 p56

Russell Shaw: Russell Shaw:

The aim [of creating a vocations-The aim [of creating a vocations-friendly Church] is discernment, friendly Church] is discernment, not recruitment … not recruitment … But, someone might object, won’t But, someone might object, won’t emphasising personal vocation emphasising personal vocation distract people from heeding calls distract people from heeding calls to the priesthood and consecrated to the priesthood and consecrated life? life? Won’t it make the real-life Won’t it make the real-life vocation shortage worse? … vocation shortage worse? … The answer is The answer is nono !! (cont …)!! (cont …)

If many more Catholics practised If many more Catholics practised ongoing discernment regarding their ongoing discernment regarding their personal vocations, many more personal vocations, many more would discover that they are called would discover that they are called to the priesthood or consecrated to the priesthood or consecrated life. life.

The best solution to the dearth of new The best solution to the dearth of new candidates [to consecrated and candidates [to consecrated and priestly life] – and to many other priestly life] – and to many other problems in contemporary Catholic problems in contemporary Catholic life as well – is life as well – is personalpersonal vocation. vocation.

Indeed, it may well be the only one!Indeed, it may well be the only one!Russell Shaw: “What Vocational Shortage” – Russell Shaw: “What Vocational Shortage” –

VocNET, Spring 2004VocNET, Spring 2004

Whose

responsibility

?!?

Whose

responsibility

?!?

Responsibility ??Responsibility ??Only all of the gifts together can Only all of the gifts together can reveal the whole body of the reveal the whole body of the Lord… Lord…

Every member of the Church, Every member of the Church, excluding no-one, excluding no-one,

has a responsibility for caring for has a responsibility for caring for vocationsvocations

NVNE, Rome 1997 #25NVNE, Rome 1997 #25

The vocational reality of the Church calls The vocational reality of the Church calls for a deep respect for the complimentarity for a deep respect for the complimentarity and interdependence of all Church and interdependence of all Church vocations. vocations. Because the Church is at once community Because the Church is at once community and communion of vocations,and communion of vocations, allall its its members need to be concerned and members need to be concerned and committed to the flowering of committed to the flowering of all all vocations in the Church, and vocations in the Church, and not merely not merely their owntheir own. . CDM, Montreal 2002, pp 46 &47CDM, Montreal 2002, pp 46 &47

Responsibility ??Responsibility ??

HowHow to create a to create a ‘Vocations-‘Vocations-

Friendly Friendly Church’ ??Church’ ?? Think and act Think and act ……‘‘globally’ (i.e. globally’ (i.e. nationally)nationally)and locally! and locally!

[Like Jesus] …those involved in [Like Jesus] …those involved in pastoral work for vocations in groups, pastoral work for vocations in groups, communities, parishes, schools and communities, parishes, schools and families need to be ...families need to be ...

sowers, sowers, accompaniers, accompaniers, educators, educators, formatorsformators

and and discerners.discerners.

These are the five dimensions These are the five dimensions of the mystery of the call of Godof the mystery of the call of God

NVNE, Rome, 1997 NVNE, Rome, 1997 Full text @ UK Priest website:Full text @ UK Priest website:http://www.ukpriest.org/documentshttp://www.ukpriest.org/documents

Vatican II Vocations Ministry calls for Vatican II Vocations Ministry calls for a a multi-faceted multi-faceted approach ~ approach ~

ideally with ideally with nationalnational co-ordination co-ordination

Collaborators Collaborators in creating in creating

a a Vocation-Friendly Vocation-Friendly

Church …Church …

Is the mind-set ‘Vocations Is the mind-set ‘Vocations Discernment/ministry’– or Discernment/ministry’– or ‘recruitment’? ‘recruitment’?

Do Do allall clergy see themselves as clergy see themselves as vocations ministers!! (no exceptions!!)vocations ministers!! (no exceptions!!)

Are designated Diocesan Vocations Are designated Diocesan Vocations Directors: interested in the ‘big Directors: interested in the ‘big vocations picture’? OR only interested vocations picture’? OR only interested in fostering diocesan priesthood?in fostering diocesan priesthood?

Bishops’ Conference Bishops’ Conference & all clergy& all clergy … …

Is the mind-set ‘Vocations Is the mind-set ‘Vocations Discernment/ministry” – or Discernment/ministry” – or ‘recruitment’? ‘recruitment’?

Do all members see themselves as Do all members see themselves as vocations ministers!! (no exceptions!!)vocations ministers!! (no exceptions!!)

Are designated Congregational Are designated Congregational Vocations Directors – interested in the Vocations Directors – interested in the ‘big picture’? OR only interested in ‘big picture’? OR only interested in fostering new membership?fostering new membership?

Congregational Leaders ~ all Religious Women & Men

Do diocesan adult education courses / Do diocesan adult education courses / programmes address the issue of programmes address the issue of vocations …foster an inclusive vocation-vocations …foster an inclusive vocation-culture?culture?

Is prayer formation offered ?Is prayer formation offered ? Is discernment promoted as a way of life Is discernment promoted as a way of life

for adults?for adults?

Dioceses – Adult Faith Formators …Dioceses – Adult Faith Formators …

Do they pro-actively create a Do they pro-actively create a vocation-friendly local Church?vocation-friendly local Church?

Do they actively foster an Do they actively foster an inclusive vocation-culture? inclusive vocation-culture?

Are all vocations seen as equal?Are all vocations seen as equal?… promoted … who is addressed … promoted … who is addressed by titles? … is there an ‘even by titles? … is there an ‘even playing field’? ... playing field’? ...

Parish Councils & Leaders…Parish Councils & Leaders…

Parishes, Parishes, cont …cont …

How many parishioners are How many parishioners are vocationally savvy? i.e. Do they vocationally savvy? i.e. Do they recognise their own personal recognise their own personal vocation?... that everyone has a vocation?... that everyone has a vocation?vocation?

Are young people’s parents, Are young people’s parents, grandparents, significant older grandparents, significant older adults (married or single) adults (married or single) vocationally aware? … or still vocationally aware? … or still operating out of old operating out of old expectations and stereotypes?expectations and stereotypes?

Parishes Parishes cont cont ……

Are young adults invited and Are young adults invited and welcome to participate in the welcome to participate in the ministry and life of the parish?ministry and life of the parish?

Do parish staff & leaders Do parish staff & leaders consciously sow vocational seeds consciously sow vocational seeds with young people?with young people?

Parishes Parishes contcont … …

Preferential Option for the young!Preferential Option for the young!““For the sake of the Church’s For the sake of the Church’s future mission, significant future mission, significant financial, human and spiritual financial, human and spiritual resources need to be invested in resources need to be invested in presence to presence to and direct pastoral and direct pastoral work with young Catholics” work with young Catholics”

CDM, Montreal, 2002, P 15CDM, Montreal, 2002, P 15

Young Adult Ministry @ Young Adult Ministry @ diocesan and parish levels …diocesan and parish levels …

““A priority for the pastoral action of the A priority for the pastoral action of the Church in North America over the next Church in North America over the next decade will be adecade will be a preferential option for the preferential option for the young. young.

At present, decision-making in the Church – At present, decision-making in the Church – especially around the future of ordained especially around the future of ordained ministry and consecrated life – is ministry and consecrated life – is concentrated largely in the over-50 age concentrated largely in the over-50 age group. group.

Even with the best intentions, the voices of Even with the best intentions, the voices of younger Catholics are easily muted, their younger Catholics are easily muted, their perspectives marginalised, their life-perspectives marginalised, their life-experience overlooked.”experience overlooked.”

CDM, Montreal 2002, p 61CDM, Montreal 2002, p 61

Young Adults Young Adults contcont … …

Montreal 2002: Montreal 2002:

““Young adult delegates … Young adult delegates … ask the Church - ask the Church - especially those who serve especially those who serve as consecrated women and as consecrated women and men, men, deacons and priests … deacons and priests …

Young Adults Young Adults cont cont … …

for inspired example and personal for inspired example and personal mentoring, mentoring,

for retreat opportunities and for retreat opportunities and missionary experiences, missionary experiences,

and and for a deeper knowledge and love for a deeper knowledge and love

of the Catholic tradition – its of the Catholic tradition – its sacramental and liturgical life, its sacramental and liturgical life, its rich diversity of spiritual rich diversity of spiritual expression, its biblical and expression, its biblical and theological depth. theological depth.

And they ask for a church And they ask for a church community that welcomes and community that welcomes and makes room for their idealism, makes room for their idealism, gifts and considerable energy”gifts and considerable energy”

CDM, Montreal 2002, p 61CDM, Montreal 2002, p 61

Are teachers (school & PPRE) Are teachers (school & PPRE) vocationally educated and aware?vocationally educated and aware?

Is vocational theology included in the Is vocational theology included in the curriculum … from junior primary? curriculum … from junior primary?

Is it consistently taught?Is it consistently taught? Do children leave school knowing Do children leave school knowing

about vocational options – as distinct about vocational options – as distinct fromfrom‘‘career’ ??career’ ??

RE programmes: RE programmes: primary and primary and secondary levels …secondary levels …

Are chaplains/campus ministers Are chaplains/campus ministers vocationally aware?vocationally aware?

Are they pro-active in fostering Are they pro-active in fostering

vocational awareness among vocational awareness among staff and students?staff and students?

Tertiary chaplaincy …Tertiary chaplaincy …

Vocations Language: Vocations Language:

pre or post Vatican II? pre or post Vatican II?

Are they pro-active in fostering Are they pro-active in fostering a vocations- culture … promoting a vocations- culture … promoting Vatican II vocational theology?Vatican II vocational theology?

Still fostering pre-Vatican II Still fostering pre-Vatican II stereotypes? (e.g. photos & stereotypes? (e.g. photos & images)images)

Catholic media … Catholic media …

How can Serra collaborate with How can Serra collaborate with bishops, religious congregations, bishops, religious congregations, parishes, schools, youth ministers, etc parishes, schools, youth ministers, etc to create a to create a vocations-friendlyvocations-friendly Church? Church?

Serra …Serra …

Work towards a Work towards a nationalnational approach to vocations ministry…approach to vocations ministry…

Recommendation …

Benefits:Benefits: Foster and present a co-ordinated Foster and present a co-ordinated

approach to Vocations Ministryapproach to Vocations Ministry * * Help ensure that personnel and Help ensure that personnel and

resources are most effectively resources are most effectively utilised on behalf of the Church.* utilised on behalf of the Church.*

(* CVMA Statutes)(* CVMA Statutes)

Eliminate ‘re-inventing the wheel’!Eliminate ‘re-inventing the wheel’!

‘‘West Island’ - West Island’ - NationalNational Approach … Approach …

1995:1995: CVMA – establishedCVMA – established 1995-1997: Initial funding from donations:-1995-1997: Initial funding from donations:-

- Individual bishops- Individual bishops

- Congregational leaders- Congregational leaders

- Some grassroots clergy &- Some grassroots clergy &

religious communitiesreligious communities

CVMA milestones CVMA milestones ……

1997 – VocNET1997 – VocNET 1997 – NVA Week - August1997 – NVA Week - August 1997 1997 →→ Commitment to biennial Commitment to biennial

national conferences national conferences & &

workshops in betweenworkshops in between 1998 – funding from ACBC / ACLRI1998 – funding from ACBC / ACLRI 1998 - NVA Week kits1998 - NVA Week kits

milestones milestones cont cont

…… 1999 - 1999 - OzOzVocations websiteVocations website 2000 - Pledge of funding from 2000 - Pledge of funding from

ACBC& ACLRI to establish National ACBC& ACLRI to establish National Office and EO Role (.6 - part-time)Office and EO Role (.6 - part-time)

2001 – Establishment of EO’s role 2001 – Establishment of EO’s role and National Officeand National Office

2001-2 – Expansion of CVMA’s 2001-2 – Expansion of CVMA’s ministriesministries

2003-2004 – Full-time EO2003-2004 – Full-time EO

milestones cont milestones cont ……

2003-2004: 2003-2004: -- increase in VocNET circulation to 2400 increase in VocNET circulation to 2400 -- production of new printed resources & production of new printed resources &

posters; posters; -- donations and income-generating donations and income-generating

activities sufficient to fund new activities sufficient to fund new projectsprojects-- expansion of OzVocations website – expansion of OzVocations website –

huge increase in ‘visitors’ & ‘hits’huge increase in ‘visitors’ & ‘hits’-- exploration of young-adult connectionsexploration of young-adult connections

Into the future …Into the future …

2005: appointment of .4 2005: appointment of .4 Administrative Officer: will Administrative Officer: will free EO for many projects, free EO for many projects, including…including…

producing more written andproducing more written and website material and resources …website material and resources …

interstate and regional diocesan travel to:interstate and regional diocesan travel to:- - support/workshop vocations ministerssupport/workshop vocations ministers

- meet bishops and congregational - meet bishops and congregational

leaders on ‘home turf’leaders on ‘home turf’

- offer in-service & resources for RE - offer in-service & resources for RE teachers, youth ministers, teachers, youth ministers,

university chaplains, Serra clubs etc.university chaplains, Serra clubs etc.

- liaise with regional Catholic media- liaise with regional Catholic media

Into the future Into the future cont cont ……

Into the future Into the future cont cont

…… etc etcetc etc

The sky’s The sky’s the limit!the limit!The sky’s The sky’s the limit!the limit!