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14 ' South Texas Catholic
vocations
April 7, 2006
Called
to
Hofmess
To find out more about
vocations to the
priesthood or
consecrated life, please
call the diocesan Office
of Vocations or the
Office of Consecrated
Life at 882-6191.
rPCettvng for men and
women in consecrated
life teaches ways to lead
by example
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— ‘‘Come, Follow Me” —
Jesus Could be Calling You to a Second-Career Vocation
/
Sister Lucia D'Cunha, SSA; Father Edd Salazar, SJ; and
Sister Lourdes, SSA gather after the Council for Institutes
of Consecrated Life general meeting on March 11.
Story and photo by Liz Riggle
STC Correspondent
Creating leaders in consecrated life and leading others
to God were the main points of several different presenta-
tions given to the General Assembly of Consecrated Life
of the Diocese of Corpus Christi held March 11, at
Incarnate Word Convent.
Sister Kathleen McDonagh, a member of the Incarnate
Word and Blessed Sacrament congregation, and director
of the diocesan Office of Consecrated Life, explained that
the day-long gathering was an important support tool for
everyone in consecrated life.
“It is a chance for all of us to come together and share
together.”
The meeting began with Sister Kathleens 9 a.m.
presentation, “Leadership Roles in the Gospel.”
“The religious are all leaders in some way. We are
leading people to the Lord,” said Sister McDonagh.
Next, Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sister
Maria Irma Gonzales, superior general of the convent,
gave a power point presentation on three national groups
and of their leaders from the Institute of Consecrated
Life.
Father Joe Lawless, a Missionary of the Holy Family,
and representative at large for men religious, continued
to emphasize leadership in his enthusiastic homily
during the Mass presided by Bishop Edmond Carmody.
“All of us who answered the call answered it for unique
reasons,” Father Lawless said. “We are to be prophets,
but prophets have no honor. A prophet deals in truth
and dares to put into words what people deep down
See ASSEMBLY, page 18
By Sister Lou Ella Hickman, IWBS
“Who? Me? You’ve got to be kidding. ”
“That’s what Jeremiah said. But he complained that he
was too young to be in God’s service.”
“I don’t have the right kind of skills.”
“Oh, I could tell you all about using skills I never knew
I had.”
“So you’re saying a community could possibly use
someone my age in religious life?”
“Of course. God will choose whom
and when He will.”
“I never thought of it like that before.”
“A lot of other people haven’t either.”
I never thought of it like that before.
The vocation question needs to be posed
more than just to the young. Up until a
few years ago, one spoke of a “delayed
vocation.” The term used now is second-
career vocation. However, don’t let the
word “career” fool you. If it sounds a
little cold, think again. People with
careers are care-ers. Could there be a
better word to describe someone in religious life even if
he or she entered after 40 or 50? Thus, what was
considered rare in the past is now becoming a norm in
many communities.
“Who? Me?”
“Why not?” Yes, why not? The world is dark and
hungry-—not merely in the ghettoes or the Third World.
American society at large has always hungered for God.
Some have also dared to nourish that hunger as older
men and women religious.
Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wife and mother who
became a saint as a second-career vocation — sister and
founder. One of the founding sisters of my order
(Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament) was also a
widow. We know very little about her other than she was
widowed and a teacher. But her career change was
dramatic as the community she entered was contempla-
tive/apostolic. Her entrance as a teacher gave the apos-
tolic dimension the thrust it has even to the present—the
educational thrust.
Since that time we have had more than the rare
“delayed” vocation with a number of sisters entering well
into their forties and fifties. I would like to think it was
Sister Claude Bernard’s intercession which drew these
women of experience to choose second time care-ers.
That may be all well and good, you reply, but how do I
know if religious life is for me? This is a question
everyone needs to ponder. Perhaps there is no answer—
just other questions.
Does your heart still hunger for something more?
If this restlessness could speak, what would it say?
These questions need to be dealt with as well as the
thought, “I must be crazy.” Finding someone who will
listen deeply can be tricky at best.
Many people have little or no information about
religious life. Often the little information they do have
borders on the mythical. Should you feel your friends
and/or family might fall into that category, a good place
for you to start, of course is your parish. If you don’t feel
comfortable with your pastor, go to the official job
description. Your diocese should have a diocesan
“Many people have little or no
information about religious life. Often
the little information they do have
borders on the mythical.”
A&E series showcases vocation journey
Beginning Easter Sunday night, the A&E Television
Network will air a reality series depicting young men
discerning their call to the priesthood. Entitled “God or
the Girl,” the series has received mostly
positive reviews from officials in the USCCB
who have seen it.
The series is an evolution of a project that
was begun over a year ago by the Warner
Brothers Studios. NCDVD board members,
along with Father Ed Burns in the USCCB’s
Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly
Formation, were invited to provide counsel
to the producers.
They’re bright, all-American guys with ambition to
spare, buddies to party with, even girls they might want
to marry. But beneath the surface, they are in turmoil
trying to decide whether they’re being called in an
entirely different direction. “God or the Girl” captures
the tension, terror, and triumph of Joe, Mike, Steve, and
Dan, four 20-something men at the most important
crossroads of their lives, as, over the course of the series,
they decide whether or not to enroll in the seminary and
God or the Girl?
will premiere on the
A&E Network Easter
Sunday night, April 16, at
8 p.m./CST
woman and settle down with a family. This is the ulti-
mate struggle between the choice of two goods.
Always profoundly emotional, the choice whether or
not to join the clergy, becomes even more
fraught and difficult in the final weeks
before the ultimate decision. As they
reach this defining moment, they find
that their friends and family no longer
seem to understand them; their girl-
friends cannot comprehend why they
would choose a lifetime of celibacy; and
the world and their own souls seem full
of spiritual pitfalls. Can these young men resist the
temptations of an aggressively secular world? Will they
finally settle the doubt in their souls? And are they really
willing to make the sacrifices necessary to become “Men
of God?"
In this five-part series, viewers will become part of a
powerful journey whose conclusion will define its
subjects forever.
See “God or the Girl” on the A&E Network Sunday,
Apr. 16, 8-10 p.m,; Monday, Apr. IT, 8-10 p.m.; and the
vocation office and an appointment is just a phone call
away. If distance makes an appointment out of the
question, vocation directors do travel. Perhaps the
vocation office can suggest someone closer to home who
can walk with you during the discernment process.
While you may be bursting with questions, this
discernment process is two-sided. A director’s routine
inquiry will center on more than just employment skills
and education. Prayer, hobbies, any serious health
problems, and
relationships
are a few of the
areas which will
be part of the
interview.
Relationships?
“I’m divorced—
what commu-
nity would
_ want me?” You
won’t be
automatically
turned down
just because of divorce. If the marriage has not been
annulled, this is another aspect which needs to be added
to the discernment process. However, while some
religious communities do take someone with an annul-
ment, this is not true for all. Those communities who do
welcome such candidates may request counseling, which
again, is another part of the discernment process.
What are some of the other characteristics vocation
directors will be looking for? Besides the practical
questions concerning finances, one director commented
she also looked for many of the same qualities of those
who would be seriously considering marriage. While
marriage is definitely a serious consideration, these
mature people do not take themselves too seriously
They are flexible and have a sense of humor. They are
also willing to work problems through. Religious life
likewise needs the same qualities as it has never meant to
be an escape. This reality is still valid.
However, some people continue to have very odd ideas
about a religious vocation. If you could eavesdrop on a
few vocation directors you will hear a similar pattern of
horror stories—age does not necessarily maturity make.
In other words, even the middle aged can lack a sense of
direction, little commitment and a healthy balanced
personality.
As mentioned before, typical information about
religious life borders on the mythical. Most, if not all,
vocation directors will suggest at least visiting a convent,
rectory, or seminary Better yet, they would admonish,
make time to get to know some of the priests, sisters, or
brothers. If possible attend a diocesan vocation retreat.
Communities, likewise, host a weekend retreat once or
twice a year that could help you in your decision. Also
make time for the all-important aspect of prayer. Prayer
See VOCATION, page 18
become Roman Catholic priests, or to find the love of a one-hour finale on Sunday, Apr. 23 at 9 p.m.
Big Thanks from Retired Religious
Dear Bishop Carmody,
Thank you for your diocesan check for $83,779.04
which has been deposited in the Retirement Fund for
Religious account. This brings your total diocesan
contributions for all the years of the collection to
$1,208,195.83. The money has been recorded as part
of Appeal XVII for 2005.
Your generosity surely helps religious address the
many challenges religious face as they age. Religious
today, as always, continue to make an impact on our
society. Even as they age, their commitment to the
ministry of their community, their prayer and spiritual
life are vibrant testimony to the faithfulness they
promised so many years ago. Your commitment to
them is a heartfelt testimony to their faithfulness. Each
religious, young and old, are grateful for your support
and the $6,000 increase this year!
Your support and the support of your Retirement
Fund for Religious coordinator, pastors, parish priests
and deacons are essential to the funds continued
success. We are most grateful for all you do! You can
surely rely on the prayers of the over 40,000 religious
now over age 70 and the ever increasing numbers of
religious who will be retiring very soon. May God
bless you as only He can!
Gratefully,
Sister Andree Fries, CPPS
Executive Director
 

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