Vocation Basics: Essentials for the vocation journey

Questions | Other vocations | Prayers | Basic terms | Types | Way of life | Process | Timeline of religious life through the ages

VOCATION PRAYERS

Vocations begin with prayer. Please make use of our growing collection of prayers for vocations and prayers for vocation discernment that have appeared in VISION in print or online.

Consecrated life through the ages (Religious Life Timeline)

From ancient desert monasticism to contemporary forms of religious life, a small band of Christian men and women in every generation choose to consecrate their lives to God with unique vows of love and service that give radical witness to the gospel.

Four steps to vocation discernment

Follow these four time-honored steps as you discern where God is calling you.

Find your spirituality type quiz

Take a short quiz to find out your spirituality type.

Celibacy quiz: Could I be a nun? Could I be a brother? Could I be a priest?

Take this quiz to test your ability to live a life of celibacy, which is one of the vows of consecrated life..

Infographic: Who is answering the call to religious life?

Wondering if you should become a Catholic sister, nun, brother, or priest. Look who is considering a vocation to consecrated life? Find out how old they are; where they live; what kind of community interests them.

VOCATION FACT SHEET

Myths and misconceptions abound when it comes to consecrated life and religious vocations. We are happy to bust those myths by putting facts at your fingertips. VISION Vocation Network tracks vocation trends annually. Don’t forget to sign up to receive our award-winning E-Vocation newsletter to stay up-to-date on vocation news.

E-Vocation Newsletter Sign Up

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VOCATION RESOURCES: Myths busted and questions answered

Here are some additional VISION articles that help separate the fact and fiction about religious life.

FOR BULLETIN EDITORS & DISCERNERS: Reflections on consecrated life

Insightful quotes and reflections on consecrated life for use in parish bulletins or on the parish website for every week of the Year of Consecrated Life and beyond.

PRAYER CARD: Pope Francis Prayer for Vocations

Please make use of this prayer for vocations by Pope Francis in your homes, classrooms, youth ministry gatherings, and parish liturgies.

FOR PARISHES & PREACHERS: Sample homilies that encourage vocation discernment

Here are some quick tips and sample homilies on vocation-related themes.

FOR LITURGISTS & PRAYER MINISTERS | petitionary prayers | song | vocation prayers

Please include a petitionary prayer in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life at every liturgy, and sing our specially commissioned song, Wake the World With Dawning Joy.

FOR PARENTS: Fostering happiness, holiness, and faithfulness

FOR YOUTH, YOUNG ADULT & CAMPUS MINISTERS

Ideas gathered from VISION Vocation Network's rich store of articles and online features for young men and women to learn more about their Catholic faith, their spirituality, and the vocation options available to them as they seek to find the path in life that will give them the most joy and fulfillment.

FOR DREs | TEACHERS | CATECHISTS

Tips, insights, and lesson ideas for Catholic religious educators for encouraging prayer, discernment, and vocations.

National Vocation Awareness Week

Year of Consecrated Life posters, song, banner for use in your parish, school, institute

Posters | bookmarks | banners | VISION Vocation Guides: Please feel free to use these Year of Consecrated Life resources from the VISION Vocation Network and the National Religious Vocation Conference. Click here for the Year of Consecrated Life logo.

Why consider a church vocation in times like these?

In the midst of great difficulties, the church more than ever needs a new generation of priests, sisters, and brothers.

Tips for Vocation Discerners

Tips on finding good vocation matches

Resources for older discerners or those with physical and developmental differences

While most religious communities have age restrictions or restrictions for candidates with certain disabilities, many consider candidates on a case by case basis. There are also other options for community, fellowship, or support for candidates faced with impediments who feel called to religious life.

All spirituality types

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Some subscribers find our mailings to them to be erroneously marked as spam, which prevents them from arriving at their intended destination.

HOMILY: Just ask: Ways to nurture vocations

SEVERAL YEARS AGO I read an article in a Catholic newspaper in which the author told a story about a college student whom he felt might have a vocation to the priesthood. He talked to the young man and asked whether he had ever considered becoming a priest. When the young man said no, the author asked why. The young man's simple reply: "Nobody ever asked me." After that, the young man began to explore the idea and later entered a community of religious men.

HOMILY: The biblical notion of call

Noted biblical scholar Fr. Donald Senior, C.P. outlines the fundamental qualities in the scripture stories where Jesus calls disciples, including the fact that discipleship begins not with a choice but a call.

HOMILY: For what purpose have you come?

World Day for Consecrated Life, February 8, 2015 (Lectionary number 74)

HOMILY: Take a moment of silence

Cardinal Timothy Dolan passes on the important lessons he learned about the vocations from two sheep herders and the Good Shepherd.

A sample homily for WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS; READINGS FOR FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. Adaptable for other vocation-related homilies throughout the year.

E-Vocation Newsletter

Questions and answers about religious vocations

Many people use the word vocation (from the Latin vocare, meaning "to call") in reference to the call to be a priest, sister, or brother. However, the Catholic understanding of vocation is much broader: every baptized person has a vocation--a call--to love and serve God.

How to use Vocation Match

This short instructional video explains how to use VISION Vocation Match to help you discern your calling.