Vocations office takes larger view

Sister Rosemary Cuneo, CR, wants to get a message out: God is calling everyone.

To that end, the Albany diocesan Office of Vocational Services (OVS) has established committees of volunteers throughout the Diocese to answer questions about vocations of all kinds; promote talk about religious life, marriage and single life; and "keep the culture growing where people get used to the fact that we all have a holy vocation," said Sister Rosemary, an OVS member.

The eventual goal of the groups, she said, is to create a "user-friendly" culture surrounding vocations, one that doesn't apply pressure or attach strings, but instead acts as an extended helping hand for those with questions about their call.

Events

The vocations committees hope to encourage talk about vocations through periodic events, such as prayer opportunities, hosting speakers from the OVS, and inviting priests and religious to parish events like dinners to connect with Catholics on an everyday basis.

One of the central ways to familiarize people with vocations, Sister Rosemary noted, is to put people in contact with priests and religious on a "regular," human level.

These events can be "anything," she said, "even if you're going to the Great Escape," so that Catholics "see us in another light."

Taking time

Working with vocations, Sister Rosemary said, isn't always a ministry with immediate results.

Often, the best thing vocations workers can do is spark ideas, answer questions and inspire exploration.

"Someone will come up to us years later and say, 'I read this in 1999, and I just wasn't ready. And now I'm ready.' With God's grace, people mull over it," she said. "And that's why we keep on doing these things. We're helping people that might be thinking about it but are not ready to say it."

Tech team

The OVS has also worked on harnessing technology to help spread the message:

* At www.albanyvocations.com, browsers can access materials, posters, handouts, event ideas and related resources, including bulletin blurbs, intercessions to use at Mass and teaching guides;

* The Vocations Office also established a blog, www.dvcvocationsharing.blogstream.com, where committee members are encouraged to share thoughts and ideas.

"There are definitely vocations out there," Sister Rosemary said. "My hope is that the people who are being called would be strengthened and have the courage to come forward and try it."

Vocations workers "just want to be open and let God do God's thing. God taps you on the shoulder wherever you may be."

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