MISSION: DIALOGUE FOR PEACE
The Mosque minarets and church domes of the front cover, facing each other at twilight, transmit a sense of harmony and serenity. The two main religions of the world, Christian and Islam, are called to a mutual understanding and peace-building for the well-being of humanity. The essence of its traditions, far from fundamentalist interpretations, should lead their faithful to pursue together the values of justice and fraternity.
VOCATION PAGE
Vocation is a Dialogue
BY FR RAUL TABARANZA
VOCATION IS a gift to commitment, and the call is always a divine initiative. On our side, we only have to respond to God’s call. Our response to priesthood or to religious life is born not just out of our faith, but also out of a personal dialogue with the Lord. The theme for this issue of Worldwide, is “Dialogue and Mission” with its different faces. I will focus on dialogue in vocation.
When a young person expresses to me his desire to follow the path to priesthood or religious life, God must have moved something inside him, something which provoked his interest, particularly in our Comboni way of life. We open our doors to those who knock and inquire. We have ‘Come and See’ programs, Vocation Workshops, Vocation Retreats and prayer walks as tools to help the candidates deepen their discernment and purify their desire. In these occasions, we have talks and prayer; moments of reflection; and inner dialogue with God. Vocation is a dialogue, an inner dialogue, to carefully listen to the voice of God, to make prudent discernment and decision, and to respond responsibly to the call of giving oneself and totally cooperating with the plan of God.
Vocation is an inner dialogue, to carefully listen to the voice of God, to make prudent discernment and decision
Dialogue in the vocation journey needs unceasing prayer, especially for the youth, to trust in God, knowing that the Lord of the harvest is in great need of workers in the vineyard. “Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38). The Lord is continuously asking young people to give themselves freely and to work with Him more closely in the mission.
As we celebrate “mission month”, we promote, stir up and sustain priestly and religious vocations. We are not just praying for vocations, but also to sustain the vocations of our young candidates as they continually engage in a deeper dialogue with God in their formative stage.
On 9th September 2023, we had a Vocation Prayer Hike. It is not easy to draw many participants, as many are engaged in work, commitments and studies, besides financial constraints. Please accompany us in prayers for more candidates as “the harvest is abundant but the labourers are few” (Mt 9:37).
VOCATION AND MYSTICISM
AS VOCATION promoter I am getting to know better about the aspirants’ life, prayer habits and involvement in the Church.