Students invited to consider their vocation

Dr Paul Morrissey (left) and Fr Peter Kruk give insight on each of their vocations.

By Kate Fanning
Chaplaincy Coordinator

Campion students were treated last night to a vocational discernment evening, during which they were invited to consider which vocation God might be calling them to.

Campion staff offered wisdom garnered from their own experience of their different vocations - married, single and religious - giving students the opportunity to ask questions.

Campion chaplain Fr Peter Kruk talked students through the process of discernment and of his own personal journey.  He spoke about the main vocation in which we all share – the call to true holiness.  We each live this through our own personal vocations.  He described the six steps to discernment:

Step 1: bring to mind the choice, and explore it with the help of a mentor.
Step 2: daily prayer, to ask for God’s help.
Step 3: pay attention to signs, and listen.
Step 4: actively explore what you think might be your vocation.
Step 5: come to a decision; then discern it, whilst actively engaging within it as far as you are able.
Step 6: turn to God to confirm the decision.  The symptoms of this confirmation are peace and joy.

The panellists adress the students.

Fr Peter explained that the purpose of a personal vocation is twofold:  to build the Church up from the ground, and for personal fulfillment through relationship with God.

College President Dr Paul Morrissey spoke on his vocation to the married life. Addressing the young men directly, he encouraged them to be courageous in the search for their vocation. To accept one’s vocation requires the courage to take a step of trust, Dr Morrissey said.

Yvette Nehme, Campion's Director of Development, spoke about her experience as a single lay person serving the Church.  Yvette’s experience in running retreats for young people, assisting them in forming strong relationships with God, allowed her to speak with deep insight into how one must be able to be confident in making decisions and in accepting yourself whilst attempting to find your vocation.

Yvette Nehme speaks as a single woman.

Student Life and Alumni Relations Coordinator Sr Luka spoke about serving the Church from within a community, attesting to both the joys and the hardships it brings. Her testimony was inspiring, as she explained how she had come to find her vocation in an environment which was hostile to religion.

Uncovering one’s vocation can be difficult in an environment where there are such numerous avenues one can explore, but the panellists offered great practical advice and wisdom to the students.

Students listen to the panellists.