Personal Vocation Encounters

Inspire young people to explore their faith through personal encounters with priests, seminarians, and religious sisters. These authentic interactions—whether during a school visit, youth group night, or a casual Theology on Tap event—bring the concept of vocation to life in a relatable way. A priest sharing his personal journey at a confirmation prep session or a sister answering questions in a Catholic school classroom creates moments that spark curiosity and wonder. Parishes can work with school principals, youth ministers, and young adult coordinators to arrange these visits, ensuring opportunities for meaningful dialogue without the need for formal settings.

By connecting young people with joyful witnesses, parishes help them see priesthood, religious life, or sacramental marriage as attainable paths. These interactions, rooted in the Catechism’s teaching on responding to God’s call (CCC 142), foster discernment and deepen faith. A simple conversation can leave a lasting impression, encouraging youth to reflect on their own callings with openness and excitement. Parishes can amplify this ministry by integrating these encounters into various faith settings, from religious education classes to parish gatherings. By creating spaces for authentic dialogue, vocation ministries plant seeds that may grow into lifelong commitments to serving the Church.

Joyful Witness

Panel Discussion

Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions-Spanish

Time of Year

• World Day for Consecrated Life – February 2 or the following Sunday 
• National Marriage Week – February 7–14 
• World Marriage Day – Second Sunday of February 
• Lent – February–March 
• Uplift Your Priest – The week beginning on the Monday after the 2nd Sunday of Easter 
• World Day of Prayer for Vocations – Fourth Sunday of Easter 
• End-of-year school activities (May) 
• Religious Brothers Day – May 1 (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker) 
• World Priest Day – Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Date varies, usually in June) 
• Beginning of the academic semester – August/September or January 
• Priesthood Sunday – Last Sunday of September 
• Deacon Sunday – Second Sunday of October 
• National Vocation Awareness Week – First full week of November 
• World Day of Cloistered Life – November 21 (the Memorial of the Presentation of Mary) 
• Advent – Late November–December