National Vocation Awareness Week, celebrated November 5-11, 2023 is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. (USCCB)
What is a Vocation?
A vocation in a religious context is how God calls you to serve Him in the world. A Vocation is a personal invitation from God.
God calls you through Baptism and Confirmation to serve Him in a specific way of life. Your vocation is the way God invites you to love and give yourself to others. It is not simply your skills, and expertise, but the giving of your whole self as a path to holiness. You can follow God's call as a single person, married person, ordained priest or a vowed religious. It is important to first determine which way of life God is calling you to.
How do I know what my vocation is?
The best way to learn your vocation is through prayer.
Take some time to pray about what God's plan is for your life. You can pray at your parish church, or in private. Be patient with your prayer. Don't look for an earth-shattering message from God such as "This is my plan for you!" God generally does not communicate like that. You can use tools to help you on your journey such as writing in a journal, praying with scripture, speaking with a vocations director, and meeting with a spiritual director.
This process is generally called discernment, it is an opportunity to embrace the grace God gives to us.
Contact a Vocations Director