What is a Vocation?

"

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:20

Introduction

A vocation (Latin: vocātiō "a call, summons") is an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which she/he is suited, trained, or qualified.

Use of the word "vocation" before the sixteenth century referred firstly to the "call" by God to an individual, or calling of all humankind to salvation, particularly in the Vulgate, and more specifically to the "vocation" to the priesthood or to the religious life, which is still the usual sense in Roman Catholicism.

"Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being."

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2392

Roman Catholicism recognizes marriage, single life, religious and ordained life as the four vocations. Both senses of the word "call" are used in 1 Corinthians 7:20, where Paul says "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called."

The idea of vocation is central to the Christian belief that God has created each person with gifts and talents oriented toward specific purposes and a way of life.

More specifically, in the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, this idea of vocation is especially associated with a divine call to service to the Church and humanity through particular vocational life commitments such as marriage to a particular person, consecration as a religious, ordination to priestly ministry in the Church and even a holy life as a single person.

Key Points

Vocation is a call from God, not merely a career choice
It is rooted in love — God's love for us and our response
Four recognized vocations: Marriage, Single Life, Religious Life, Ordained Ministry
Every person has a universal call to holiness through Baptism
Vocation includes using one's gifts for the greater common good

Core Truth

The Uniqueness of a Vocation

Unique Call

Vocation is a unique call of God to each person. No two vocations are identical because no two persons are identical in God's plan.

Not About "Me"

Vocation is never only about "me" and my personal fulfillment. It is always about loving relationship with others, in service of the Gospel, Church and world.

Call & Response

As a call from God, vocation is a lively movement of call and response. It begins in the realization of God's great love for all of creation.

Love in Truth

Vocation is always a call to love in truth. It is about "falling in love with God" and trying to live life most fully in doing God's will.

Vertical Dimension

When we talk about vocation, we introduce a vertical dimension — God. It is no longer "what do I prefer?" but rather "What does God want me to be?"

Not a Switch

A vocation is not something that you can switch like a profession or a career. It is a lifelong commitment, a joyful yet costly love.

"

We love because God first loved us.

1 John 4:19

Church Teaching

Understanding a Vocation in the Catholic Tradition

Two Internal Elements

In the Catholic Tradition, a vocation consists of two internal elements:

1

Good Intention

A firm will to make use of the means necessary to pursue that intention.

2

Qualities & Capabilities

The qualities needed to live the way of life one desires — a lack of obstacles or impediments.

St. Thomas Aquinas

In the Summa Theologiae, St. Thomas explains that religious life, being founded on Christ's own advice, is the better way of life. Therefore, if someone wants to enter religious life (has a good intention), and doesn't have any definite obstacles, then he should go for it!

St. Alphonsus de Liguori

St. Alphonsus adds a third, external condition for a true vocation: acceptance by superiors.

"There is a true vocation whenever the following three things concur: First, a good end, namely, to get away from the dangers of the world, the better to insure eternal salvation, and to unite oneself more closely to God. Secondly, that there is no positive impediment due to poor health, lack of talents, or some necessity on the part of one's parents. Thirdly: That the Superiors admit him."

— St. Alphonsus de Liguori

St. Francis de Sales

"A true vocation is nothing other than the firm and constant will possessed by the person called, to want to serve God in the manner and in the place where the Divine Majesty calls her. This is the best mark one could have to know when a vocation is true."

— St. Francis de Sales

This firm will should not be confused with a feeling of wanting to continue pursuing a path; it is rather the voluntary resolve to do so. For a true vocation, what is necessary is not a multitude of virtues, but a resolution to work perseveringly towards perfection.

Recognition

Signs of a Vocation

Normal Signs, Not Special Ones

It isn't strictly necessary to have "special" signs of God's will, because there are normal and general signs of God's will. God does not usually give extraordinary signs.

Beware of Self-Deception

There can be danger in looking for special signs. The choice or interpretation may be colored by one's own desires — what one secretly thinks is likely to happen.

The Lord's Voice

The Second Vatican Council says that "the voice of the Lord who is calling, should not in the least be expected to come to the ears of a future priest in some extraordinary manner."

God Speaks Within

God speaks within a person's will itself, moving it to a way of life by which that person may draw near to him. A true vocation is a strong, unchanging will to serve God where Divine Majesty calls.

"If we always try to keep our will very firm in wanting to discover the good that has been shown to us, God will not fail to make all redound to his glory."

The Process

Vocation Discernment

Vocational discernment is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or recognize, their vocation in the Church.

What is Discernment?

Discernment is a process by which we are helped to reach a decision in the light of faith and in the context of our personal reality and the realities of the world in which we live.

Discernment involves trying to identify what is of God, what is for our full happiness and for others — distinguishing that from what is not of God or from what is simply driven by ego, societal expectations, family or peer pressure.

"There are two specific ways of realizing the vocation of the human person, in its entirety, to love: marriage and virginity or celibacy."

— Pope John Paul II

Helpful Hints

Discernment isn't easy and it takes time — be patient with yourself and God!
Keep a journal to record your thoughts and reflections.
Come with an open heart — be prepared to be surprised by God!
Choosing one way means letting go of another — even a good one.
It's always hard to choose between two or more "goods".

Eight Steps of Discernment

1

Place Yourself in God's Presence

Make quiet time for prayer. Listen to your heart and to God in the movements of the Holy Spirit.

2

Find a Spiritual Director

A wise and trusted soul-friend who can help you deepen your relationship with God.

3

Pray for Freedom

Pray for freedom to understand and choose what is in harmony with God's designs for you.

4

Weigh Your Alternatives

Write down your options. Consider the appeal, advantages and disadvantages of each.

5

Consider Your Gifts

Realistically consider your gifts and limitations, deep desires and needs.

6

Listen to Others

Listen to words of confirmation or affirmation from others in your process.

7

Seek Peace

Where are you feeling peace? What most draws you close to God?

8

Decide & Confirm

Gently come to a decision. Search out further confirmation in prayer and action.

The Heart of the Matter

Personal Vocation: Fall in Love

So it is when I hear the Word of God telling me in the depths of my being that I am loved by God. I have a choice to respond freely.

When I respond in love to God I am called into a deeper commitment, to a more attentive "listening" to God in prayer. I am called to seek truth in my life guided by Scripture, the realities of the world and my own person and teachings of the Church.

I'm called to live each moment of my life in all its realities for God, to care and love unselfishly in God's world.

There are various and equally important ways of living out this vocation to be loved and to love in return. Traditionally, in the Church women and men have lived out their vocation to love in marriage, in the single life, in priesthood or in religious life.

At the root of all these forms of vocation is the ultimate call from God to be loved and to love.

Universal Call

Holiness: The Foundation

Rooted in Baptism

The universal call to holiness is rooted in our baptism. It is a call to know, love and serve the Lord.

Movement Toward God

It is a movement that draws us toward a deeper union with God. We feel a growing desire to love God and to love our neighbour.

Ongoing Conversion

The universal call to holiness is an ongoing conversion experience. It keeps opening our eyes to new awareness of God's loving presence.

Aligning Our Will

It keeps inviting us to turn toward God by aligning our will with God's will.

God Loves Us More

We must believe that God loves us more than we love ourselves and that God wants our happiness more than we want it.

True Happiness

God's will for us is our only chance to be truly and lastingly happy. If God had given us everything we ever asked for, we would be seriously unhappy.

The Paths

The Four Specific Vocations

We live out the invitation "to be holy" differently depending on which vocation we have chosen. Each vocation is a call to follow Christ closely.

Single Life

Even though they have not formally taken the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, they make a personal commitment to put their freedom at the service of others in their work and prayer. And in doing so, they strive to follow Christ in their daily lives.

Married Life

They follow Christ by giving themselves to each other completely and without any reservation, promising to love each other faithfully for the rest of their lives, sharing their joys and sufferings in whatever circumstances life brings them. They express their love through their sexual union, which brings them together in the closest intimacy and opens them to the gift of new life.

Consecrated Life

Their path of following Christ is through their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. They are called to live as Christ lived; to model their lives on the life of Jesus — chaste, poor and obedient — making their hearts more free for prayer and service.

Ordained Ministry

Through sacramental ordination, they share in the priesthood of Christ in a special way. Their very beings are transfigured so that they can represent Christ the Good Shepherd for God's people and Christ as the Head of the Church. They not only offer their own lives to the Father, as all Christians do, but they also stand before the Church and minister to the faithful as Christ "in person."

Thus, when they teach with the authority of the Church then Christ teaches; when they absolve sins in the sacrament of Penance then Christ forgives; when they offer the Sacrifice of the Mass then Christ offers that Sacrifice; when they love, support and care for God's people then Christ is present with his people.

Our Congregation

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

"The call of Jesus Christ to follow him and share in His Mission by word and work, has brought us together in the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate."

St. Eugene de Mazenod's Vocation

1808

Eugene answered a call from God and entered the seminary to become a Diocesan Priest in France.

1816

Eugene gathered a few Priests to assist him in working with the poor. This marked the beginning of the Oblates.

1826

Pope Leo XII approved the Congregation and its Constitution and Rules, giving it the name Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

1841

The Oblates started acquiring their Missionary status by responding to the urgent need to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the poor in Montreal, Canada.

Worldwide Presence

4,440

Total Oblates Worldwide

Young men, old men, priests, brothers & those in formation

580

In Formation

Having already made their first commitment

165

In Formation in Africa

The highest number of young men in training

700+

In Africa

1,450

In Europe

630

In Asia

Also present in Latin America (360), Canada (750), and the United States (480)

Southern Africa Presence

The Oblates are found across Southern Africa, serving God's people in multiple nations:

Lesotho

South Africa

Namibia

Zimbabwe

Zambia

Angola

What is a Religious?

A religious is a person who is called by Christ to a life of witnessing to the gospel values and to dedicate his or her life to Christ through the vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience.

A religious can be a brother, a sister, or a priest.

The Evangelical Counsels (Vows)

Chastity

We consecrate ourselves to Christ and at the same time, give ourselves to the people we serve. We thereby free ourselves for a love which reaches out to everyone.

Poverty

Poverty allows us to enter into communion with Jesus and his Poor. We contest the abuse of power and wealth and proclaim to all a new world freed from selfishness, a world open to sharing.

Obedience

We become the servants of all. It is our way of making real and true freedom of the Gospel, in common submission to God's will.

Mary Immaculate, Our Patroness

"Mary Immaculate is the patroness of our Congregation. It is with her, the faithful handmaid of the Lord, under the guidance of the Spirit, that we enter into a closer union with Jesus Christ."

The Path

Formation Journey

The journey of becoming a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate involves several stages of formation, discernment, and growth.

1

Pre-Novitiate

~2 years of community living and initial discernment

2

Novitiate

1 year of initiation into Oblate religious life

3

Philosophy & Regency

Academic studies and missionary experience

4

Theology & Ministry

Final preparation for priestly ordination

1

Pre-Novitiate

Mazenod House of Formation, Woodville, Bulawayo

Oblate Formation begins at Mazenod House Pre-Novitiate in Woodville, Bulawayo where the students stay in an Oblate community for a period that usually lasts two years. The aim is to allow the candidate to see and experience the Oblate life living in a Community.

It is in such an environment that the candidate (Pre-Novice) comes to discover more about himself, about God's call in his life and also about his readiness to move to the Novitiate. It is the first stage of discerning whether one has a vocation to be an Oblate Priest or Brother.

Entry Requirements

A man zealous for the salvation of souls
Active in Church
Baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church
Minimum of five Ordinary Level subjects, including English
Good health and physically strong
In contact with the Oblates for at least one year
Recommendations from Parish priest and Parish Chairperson
Letter from parents expressing willingness and understanding

2

Novitiate

One Year of Initiation into Oblate Religious Life

After the Pre-Novice completes the Pre-Novitiate programme, one moves to the Novitiate where he begins the Novitiate programme. This programme lasts for a year and in this year the Novice will receive an initiation into the Oblate religious life and leads to his public commitment in the Congregation.

Prayer and communal life are at the heart of the Novitiate. It is also in the Novitiate that the Novice learns intensely about the vows, charism and spirituality of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the life of St. Eugene de Mazenod, who is the founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

What We Look For

A person who freely chooses the way of the Evangelical counsels and wants to live in an Apostolic community
A person who shows some signs of growth after discernment in the Pre-novitiate
Good health (medical examination required)
Shows love for the people
Free from any impediments, according to Canon Law
Free to learn and respect other people's culture
Willing to serve the congregation in any part of the world

"Whoever wishes to become one of us must have an ardent desire for his own perfection, and be inflamed with love for our Lord Jesus Christ and his Church and a burning zeal for the salvation of souls. He must have the will to persevere unto death in fidelity and obedience to the rules of the institute."

— The Founder, 1853

3

Philosophical Studies & Regency

Academic Formation and Missionary Experience

After Novitiate, the brothers in first vows are called to live a life that witnesses to the vows that they professed. With the help of the formation team and spiritual direction they are to be men of God, missionaries rooted in Christ.

Philosophy

The study of philosophy equips them with a philosophical world view and facilitates a better understanding of theology. Studies are taken seriously as they are the ministry of the Oblate brother at that present moment.

Missionary Regency

Through their work and suitable pastoral experience, Oblates develop a sense of service. They have an opportunity to work with the poor, initiated into ministry and shown how to reflect on their experience in the light of the Gospel.

The scholastics are encouraged to attend spiritual direction to deepen their spirituality and enrich their call. They are to accept challenges from their peers and the formation team, growing deeper in their personal call and into the Oblate way of life.

4

Theological Studies & Ministry

Preparation for Priesthood and Final Commitment

The primary objective for theological studies is to prepare students for the mission entrusted to them by the congregation. Theological studies are centred on the person of Christ and His mission of redemption, founded on Sacred Scripture, tradition and the teaching of the magisterium.

At this stage the scholastic can start studying and preparing himself for his final commitment to religious life. Community among those who are at this stage must be fostered as they have the same focus and are striving for the same holy state of vowed life.

Requirements for Final Profession

Shows signs of being in love with Jesus Christ
Shows maturity as a person and as a member of the Congregation
Knows and loves the mission and is known by Oblates in the mission
Willing to serve the Church
Intentions are nothing but to serve Christ and his Church
Willing to commit himself wholeheartedly as an Oblate
Willing to serve than to be served
Giver rather than a taker
Completed a Regency Programme

Zimbabwean Born Oblates in Service

In January 2006, Fr. Charles Rensburg OMI became the first Zimbabwean born Oblate to be ordained priest. Since then, the Missionary Oblates of Mary in Zimbabwe have continued to grow.

2006

Fr. Charles Rensburg OMI

2007

Fr. Elphas Khoza OMI

2008

Fr. Charles Nabwenje OMI, Fr. Jeffry Mdondo OMI

2010 onwards

Fr. Pamidzai Mudzudza OMI

2012 onwards

Fr. Alvin Tshuma, Fr. Ndodana Tshuma, Fr. Themba Chipembere, Fr. Lucky Mandava, Fr. Phumulani Mlilo, Fr. Tembo Zhuva, Fr. Edward Chiutanyi, Fr. Ian Chitambo, Fr. Edmund Chiyaka, Fr. Priveledge Tshbalala, Fr. Philip Zimora

Brothers

Bro. John Nhlanhla, Bro. Bruce Mwenda, Bro. Njabulo Tavodzera (Final Vows)

Final Word

Conclusion

"

Love makes us seek what is good; love makes us better persons. It is love that prompts men and women to marry and form a family, to have children. It is love that prompts others to embrace the consecrated life or become priests.

— Blessed Pope John Paul II

Live Faith Deeply

Each vocation challenges us to live our faith more deeply and to follow Christ more closely.

Joy & Sacrifice

Each vocation involves times of lasting happiness and reward but also suffering and sacrifice.

Discover Yours

Do not compare vocations but appreciate the value of each one and discover which is right for you.

What is a Vocation?

Journey Through This Guide