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Vocation Reflection
S. Mai F. Soliven, RVM
VOCATION is a special gift from God. On our part, it is
a positive, free response to Him, a loving gift given back
to the Giver who is God who calls. It is nourished by a continuing
experience of God giving witness to joyful and loving service
of others.
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The Vocation Promotion Office is not a function room per
se, but a ministry in reality. While it does not receive
serious attention from others, it’s a fulltime service.
It’s not a recruitment agency, a provider of future
Sisters. It’s a ministry of accompanying single professional
women to discern God’s will for them. We respond to
various ministries: Vocation awareness campaign and evangelization
in schools, parishes, homes, TV and radio. We give recollection,
counseling and spiritual direction. We support the Cause
for the beatification of Mother Ignacia.
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Numbers’ game , they say. What really is
it? It’s when you ask the Vocation Promoter upon arriving
from vocation campaign, “Sister, how many did you
get?” And you tell her, “Marami na ba?” It’s
being conscious of the quantity rather than quality. “I
hope we’ll increase twice or thrice next year.” BUT
numbers’ game is not our main agenda. A big catch is
good. Spending time watching over the right fishes is better
(accompaniment/discernment). Getting them mature
and fit for our purpose (mission) is best.
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In all sessions of our Life Direction Seminar (Search-in)
held every 3 rd Sunday of the month, vocation story remains
the favorite flavor of today’s generation. They hunger
for the taste of how we, the Sisters, have survived amidst
life’s difficulties, of how joy and peace can pervade
our communities and our mission life despite countless challenges,
of how fidelity is clearly spoken from our actions because
of our love for Christ. Our vocation story is our best campaign
material, do you agree?
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We share in a common dream --- to increase in membership
in order that we can respond to the call of Church mission
here and abroad. May we also share in the “bayanihan” spirit
of attracting more young women and men to religious and priestly
vocations --- through our conscious efforts of reaching out
to them, to accompany them in discerning their call and guiding
them to generous response of fulltime service. We are invited
again to enkindle the passion of our “bayanihan” witness
as God’s chosen servants , as heroes of Ignacian virtues.
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As Vocation Ministers, we try our best to bring in mature,
talented, and hopeful aspirants --- open and trusting in
faith to the formation that will be given them. Let us support
them with our sincere prayers. Let us recognize their giftedness.
Let us love them as our own younger Sisters.
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Can there be a solid foundation by which we can affirm
each one’s vocation? To support vocation, respect vocation,
appreciate vocation, animate vocation, strengthen vocation,
inspire vocation?
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May GOD help us all to be worthy of His call.
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