FIS-03 Vocation recruitment conference
Why do we work for vocations?
Out of the love for the Church, for the growth of the Kingdom: no bigger gift can be given to the youth! To be more faithful to the example of Don Bosco:
About 2600 vocations raised up in his first Oratory at Valdocco
The life-long focus of DB: from prisons to the ‘factory for priests’
The life-long drive to accompany the youth: from moduls to vocational models
The SDB numbers of 492 novices in 2007 speak for itself (lowest!)
One of the three priority mission field of Salesian Congregation
Who can invite the youth?
God has never stopped calling young men and women to commit their lives to him. But we have sometimes stopped listening as well as we could, and didn’t try to help his call be listen as well. Only when I show that Christ is the center of my life (adoration), some youth can be attracted.
How can we foster the vocations?
We can learn from the sad story of Italian shut-down of 28 Aspirantates and School of apostolic life around 1975. At once about 300 confreres highly skilled in vocational accompaniment were dispersed. No suitable alternative was found until now. Rector Major does suggest three key movements for vocational revival:
explicit presentation of vocations: Salesian – apostolic – consecrated
personal invitation of the Salesians to the young
patient accompaniment of the vocational prospects (cfr. Viet Nam weekly meet)
Six effective habits of vocational culture [2007]
Close relationship to the Eucharistic Jesus: connected to the priesthood, service
Invitations from the religious, priests: only after 4th time start to consider!
Faithful to the Church Magisterium [and Salesian tradition]:
Key role played by the fathers of families
Direct talking to the religious, priests and missionaries
World Youth Day or other enthusiastic Church movements
What should we change to be more attractive witness of Salesian consecrated vocation?
the mentality of delegating recruitment only to few ‘vocational directors’
direct talk about vocation: when I didn’t talk about vocations, nobody entered, when I start to talk some did entered the seminary
storytelling about Don Bosco’s life (GNT, GMT) is powerful attraction any time
don’t care too much (personally no urgent need is felt
no prayer life in common, no Jesus centered life – no vocations!
Style of living – goodness of heart, prayerful life (afraid of Fr. Wong – chapel)
Sharing time with the youth: Why are you not with us? Helps us to grow!
Why the other Salesians are not with us? Powerful witness of united community.
Why do you stop a soccer game before the prayer time? Witness of prayer!
If we live for the poor youth, a lot of energy comes out. The same about vocation promotion work – the most meaningful part of Salesian mission!
