Vocation Fairs-Good News!

by Sister Sue Torgersen, OSF

"We really enjoyed the evening and found it to be fun and enjoyable for all! There were many parents who called and told us their students really enjoyed the evening!" These were words I recently received from Mrs. Patti Watkins who serves as the Director of Religious Education at Holy Redeemer in Marshall. She wasn’t describing a game night or a party planned for the youth of the parish. Would you believe she was talking about the impact of the Vocation Fair held at Holy Redeemer for the religious education classes on Wednesday, November 14. Come to think of it, it really was a celebration, a party. What else do you call it when you mix 15 men and women who are excited about the lives they lead as priests and members of religious communities and secular institutes, with over 400 young people who want to grow in their faith and find the life direction that God has in mind for them? What a dynamite combination! Miraculously these 400 youth were able to divide themselves up pretty evenly without missing a beat, among the 15 possible sessions offered. With titles like, Tales of a Flying Nun, Marshall Native Goes to the Seminary, Top Ten Questions, Can Priests Have Fun?, and Going Snowmobiling for God, how was a person to choose? So many options; so little time!

This combination of students and catechists, priests and religious, offered all involved a fun-loving experience. I believe this is what we should be doing as church. At the heart of our religious education we need to provide our youth with glimpses of the joy and happiness to which God invites us all as married and single, priests, and those called to the consecrated life. And we need to keep doing this over and over again. We also need to offer our support and understanding to our youth as they work hard to live their call as young Catholic Christians.

The five vocation fairs offered by our five sponsoring parishes and the Office of Vocations are attempting to accomplish this goal and it looks like it’s working. With one down and four to go, we hope to see many more of our young people have a chance to have the same kind of fun as was experienced recently in Marshall. You are invited to bring young people to a Vocation Fair near you.

Check the schedule on the Prairie Catholic calendar and call the contact person so they know you’re coming. Thanks to Patti Watkins, Father John Richter, Sister Louise Bauer, Dennis Justison, and Maggie Bennett for their hospitality and flair for organization!

Sister Sue Torgersen, OSF, is Association Director of the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of New Ulm.