National Vocation Awareness Week: Parish to host Vocations Awareness Night

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WEST HAVEN – Saint Mary Parish will once again hold a Vocations Awareness Night that is open to the greater community. Fr. Oscar Picos, pastor, will host the Nov. 22 event.

Parish religious education students in grades 3-12 and their teachers and parents, along with others such as youth groups and non-parishioners interested in learning about vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, are invited to attend.

“I heard along the way that the promotion of vocations is for the laity as well; that we shouldn’t always rely on Father to do the preaching, that we all have a part in it,” said event co-coordinator Donna Masek. “I think this is one of the ways that we also can promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.”

During the 90-minute event, several speakers will share 10-minute testimonies of their religious journey. The speakers will be Holy Cross Sister Veronica A. Fajardo; Father Joseph Delka, the diocesan vocations  director; Father Dominic Sternhagen, who was ordained last year; Father Joseph Minuth, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Logan and chaplain of St. Jerome Newman Center at Utah State University; Michael Edwards, a deacon in formation; an ordained deacon, and members of the Dominican community at St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center in Salt Lake City. In addition, a written presentation from the Carmelite nuns will be read.

The presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The parish will also provide materials from the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Vocation Office, the National Religious Vocation Conference and the Institute on Religious Life.

The St. Mary Vocations Awareness Night began about 10 years ago in conjunction with the parish’s Lenten Soup/Movie Night. It was moved to incorporate schedule of the religious education class so that it would be more easily accessible to that specific age group.

The parish sponsors the event to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life, Masek said.

Over the years, a number of youth who have attended the annual event have come forward expressing an interest in vocations, as have men for the diaconate, she said.

The vocations event is a first step in the discernment process, Masek said. “If individuals feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit to consider a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life, I would recommend doing it. There are a number of steps of discernments that one goes through before receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders or taking final vows.”

“The evening itself is such a wonderful experience,” she added. “I feel honored to be able to continue to promote vocations in this manner; it is such a rewarding evening and experience to be amongst so many people that have discerned that this is their vocation and have said yes to it. I would highly encourage all those who are considering a vocation or are interested in what a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life is to come and experience the evening, as their schedules allow.”