Parish vocations committees focus of upcoming training day

Parishes in the Albany Diocese are about to go into training -- to promote vocations, that is.

On Oct. 22, the diocesan Vocations Team will hold a "training day" to help parishes continue or create parish vocations committees.

"We're trying to reactivate the teams that exist and start others," explained Sister Rosemary Cuneo, CR, one of the team members. "We want to give them the skills and theology around what we're asking: 'Do you understand what a vocation is?'"

Spectrum of options

Sister Rosemary reiterated the team's approach that vocations to the priesthood or religious life are part of a spectrum that also includes single life and marriage.

"We want to present the options -- and [affirm] that God is still calling," she stated.

At the training day, Sister Rosemary and Rev. James Walsh, associate pastor of St. Pius X parish in Loudonville, will give presentations on the tasks of parish vocations committees. Candice Stellato of St. Thomas parish in Delmar, which has an active vocations committee, will give the layperson's perspective.

What can be done

Sister Rosemary noted that, while parish vocations committees are expected to do more than simply pray for more vocations, "it's not a time-consuming thing."

She plans to show participants in the training day how to split up various tasks, from writing bulletin announcements to creating a "prayer calendar" on which families can sign up to pray for vocations.

Intercessions at Mass and a "traveling chalice" that can be brought home by different families for a few days to inspire prayer are other ways to encourage vocations, she added.

She noted that it's important for parishes to consistently mention religious life as an option.

"If you see something on TV, in newspapers, on the radio and on billboards, you remember it, because you've seen it in all different ways," she explained.

Seeking candidates

A further step for parish vocations committees is to understand the qualities a diocese or religious order looks for in candidates and to approach parishioners who display such qualities.

Any parish interested in a vocations committee, she said, should call her to discuss how to create one.

"We're trying to get the message out, [using] a grassroots effort to reach parishes," she said.

(The free training day will be held Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Pastoral Center in Albany. Call Sister Rosemary at 674-3818.)

(10/13/05) [[In-content Ad]]