What is Vocare?
“Vocare” is a form of a Latin word meaning “to call.” The Vocare weekend is a renewal weekend addressed to young adults in the time when they face many serious decisions that set the direction for much of their adult life.
Shall my life be self-centered, work and career-centered, pleasure centered, or God-centered? What will be the most important of these activities, and how can I keep them all going at the same time in a way that makes my life blossom and enables me to live in harmony with creation and God?
Christians who have received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Holy Baptism are called by Jesus Christ to grow throughout their life in an intelligent understanding of God, in adoration and love for Him, in praise and thanksgiving, and in readiness to serve others in His name. How are we going to gain the skills to do that?
The one thing you have to offer your God is your life at its deepest level, how you use your thoughts and attitudes, how you spend your time, and what you say and do with others around you. All the rest God has already given to you. Now let’s see whether we can help one another to answer the calling God has made to you through Jesus Christ, the Lord of our lives.
The Vocare Format
A Vocare weekend is staffed by people in the 18-30 age group and a few clergy. This team prepares for the weekend by working and praying together. There will be a series of talks and discussions that will help us to grow in awareness of being called by God and to help one another in answering this call. The titles of the talks include: Identity, What Is A Christian, Reconciliation, Response to Christ, Spiritual Journey, Community, Vocation, Empowerment, and Tomorrow, among others.
Besides talks and discussions, we’ll pray, eat, sing, and play together. There will be time for some quiet thinking alone, and time for talking with priests who are there as spiritual directors for the weekend. There will also be time for rest. That’s holy work, too. Ask questions, speak up, laugh, and enjoy the God of hosts who has done it all for you.