Vocation teams set

The Albany Diocese is taking its next step in implementing a new, national vocations strategy by establishing "vocations awareness teams" in all of its parish clusters.

January 24 has been designated a training day for parish or cluster leaders in "A Future Full of Hope," the strategy which began last fall with four introductory regional meetings around the Diocese.

The meeting will take place just after National Vocations Awareness Week, Jan. 11-17. Even though their vocations awareness teams are not yet formed, parishes have received packets of information on how to celebrate the event. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations, scheduled for May 5, should be the first event in which the teams can officially participate.

Moving along

"The process is going very well," reported Rev. John Molyn, diocesan vocations director. He said that the Diocese has even adopted a theme song, titled "A Future Full of Hope" after the strategy, written by Vince Ambrosetti.

Many clusters have already chosen a coordinator for their vocations awareness teams, and those leaders will gather on the 24th at St. Colman's Home in Watervliet to discuss plans for the future. The training day will include prayer, team-building activities and discussions on how to build cluster vocations awareness teams.

Participants will learn how to recruit members, attend workshops on what religious life and ordained ministry entail, and learn what the Diocese is looking for in its candidates to the priesthood and religious life.

Working together

"We're going to share our vision of vocations ministry with the people we're inviting to participate in it," said Father Molyn. "We hope that people will leave charged with what they can do, the concrete steps they can take."

Organizers will also offer lists of vocations resources the Diocese has available, from guest speakers to vocations office staff members. Father Molyn hopes that parishes will take advantage of the literature available on vocations, which includes a free, nationally published list of all religious communities.

"We want [those interested in ministry] to know they are not alone," Father Molyn said. "We can't create calls; we're looking to help people as they discern their call."

What to do

As such, the training day will offer a list of concrete steps parish clusters can take as they get started on vocations awareness. Father Molyn gave several examples:

* developing a vocations library of books, pamphlets and other resources for those interested in ministry;

* offering coffee and doughnuts after Mass, and inviting guest speakers from local religious communities to talk to parents there about their missions; and

* printing a series of bulletin announcements on the theme of vocations in weekly parish bulletins.

The leaders will gather again in February to evaluate the training day's success and plan their next move. Father Molyn said that may involve the creation of a diocesan newsletter on vocations, but the final plans will be determined by the clusters' reports of their needs.

(The diocesan Vocations Office can be reached at 453-6670. Their web site is www.global2000.net/evangelist/vocweb/vocation.htm.)

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