Vocations

Sitting in our churches today may be a future priest, religious sister, deacon, missionary, or dedicated Church leader who has never seriously considered what God may be calling them to do. Many vocations do not begin with a dramatic moment. They begin quietly, through prayer, service, encouragement, and the example of someone living their faith with joy and purpose.

A vocation can begin with a simple invitation or one person willing to ask, “Have you ever considered what God may be calling you to do with your life?” That question may come from a priest, parent, teacher, friend, or fellow parishioner. We may never know the impact of planting that seed, but sometimes a person simply needs someone else to recognize something in them that they have not yet recognized in themselves.

The Devout10 program gives young people opportunities to move beyond simply attending Mass and become active participants in the life of the Church. Through serving others, volunteering, helping the elderly, mentoring younger children, participating in parish life, and spending more time around people dedicated to serving God, they can begin to discover their own gifts for leadership, compassion, teaching, service, and ministry.

For many young people, religious vocations can seem distant or unfamiliar. But when they meet joyful priests, religious sisters, deacons, seminarians, missionaries, and committed lay leaders, they begin to see real people living meaningful lives of faith and service. Devout10 can help create those connections and show that a vocation is not simply about what someone gives up. It is about what they may be called to give their life for.

Not every Devout10 participant will be called to religious life, but every person is called to use their gifts for something greater than themselves. Through greater participation in Mass, regular service, stronger relationships within the Church, and encouragement from others, Devout10 can help people ask one of life's most important questions: “God, what are You calling me to do?” One invitation, one conversation, or one act of service could help someone discover a calling that changes not only their life, but the lives of thousands of others.