Catholic leaders wonder where potential Catholic vocations are
Many of those in Catholic ministry ask themselves, “where are Catholic vocations nowadays?”
In the old days, vocations to the priesthood, religious and consecrated life would be found in grammar schools, high schools, colleges and parishes. Young people would have a lot of contact with priests, sisters, brothers and friars simply because there were a lot of religious and priests. But now there are fewer religious, and fewer Catholic schools.
FOCUS 2018 – Large conferences like this one give hope to the vocations picture.
In the past, Catholics in general obediently went to Mass and practiced their faith in a quiet way. But it seems that today’s Catholics – the few who practice it – often know their faith rather well, are willing to defend it, and talk about it to their neighbors and friends. You might call them evangelical Catholics.
Yes, there is a growing movement of young Catholics throughout the country, and that is a sign of hope. Admittedly, there aren’t as many young Catholics on the whole attending Mass and practicing their faith. But those who do seem to be a chosen remnant. Those who have the faith are like a torch in the darkness – they seem to be well educated and full of fervor for their faith.
Vocation directors ask “where are Catholic vocations?”
To answer the question, where are Catholic vocations, let’s look at what is happening in America.
Much of the new movement of Catholics center on a growing list of authentic Catholic colleges, where you find the faith taught in all its purity and vigor. These are colleges such as Franciscan University at Steubenville, Christendom College, Thomas Aquinas College, and so on. They were started, or “recharged” forty or so years ago. And the list is growing. And many public colleges nowadays have vibrant, faith-filled Newman Centers. Both of these types of environments form one of the main incubators of the new evangelization in America.
There are also Catholic organizations such as FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), which hosts annual conferences of thousands of students.
Thus, we are beginning to see the answer to the question, “Where are Catholic vocations?”
Can Catholic vocations be found on social media?
You bet!
If you find yourself asking, “Where are Catholic vocations” on the internet, simply look to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and so on.
And how do you reach them?
You can set up a website, a Facebook page and so on to attract these people. But this will take a long time. The quickest way, however, is to use paid advertising. That is what we do here at Vocation Promotion to attract Catholic vocations. Check out our program, called the Come & See Vocation Promotion Program.
But you’re still probably wondering, “Where are Catholic vocations?”
New survey gets to the root of “Where are Catholic vocations”
Vocation Program is conducting informal surveys sent to young Catholics finding answers to the question, where are Catholic vocations. The surveys ask what kind of religious publications/websites they read or visit on a regular basis. We are finding that they respond with answers such as: YouTube videos, EWTN, Catholic Online, National Catholic Register, and the diocesan newspaper. The next question is, how can vocation directors and Church ministers make a presence known on these media outlets?
Questions such as these are being studied here at Vocation Promotion. Thus, we are getting closer to answering the question, “Where are Catholic vocations?” Contact us for more information about our program.
If you liked this article, why not check out our “Best ideas to promote Catholic vocations.”
You might also want to read the Wikipedia article, “Vocational Discernment in the Catholic Church.”
