Todays gospel reading;

Mark 3:31 - 35
'His mother and brothers now arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you’. He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother. '

I find that 'anyone' challengingly inclusive. Not just those who are good, or those who are Catholics, or those who we like, but anyone who does God's will.

What is vocation?

So our job is to "help integrate vocation awareness"? I think I'm still getting my head round what that means. I think I prefer "foster a culture of vocation" which feels a bit more manageable to me - something about helping people to recognise how they are or even that they are called by God. I think we have to start here before leaping into specific vocation territory! BUT. I'm really interested in the relationship between 'what I do' and vocation - like Therese of Lisieux whose vocation was 'love' compared to somebody who would say their vocation was 'to be' a priest or be married.

What is a Diocesan Vocations Team?

I think its worth just exploring what a DVT (not deep vein thrombosis!) does.

According to the National Office for Vocation DVTs are mandated by the local Bishop to foster a 'culture of vocation' in the local Church and to foster 'particular' vocations (priesthood, religious life, marriage, single life) within the local Church. The NOV co-ordinates and resources the local Diocesan teams.

The idea is for the Teams to help integrate vocation awareness into all areas of local Church life - through events, gatherings, availablitity of resources and other means. The Teams are made up of people representing the whole Church community: priests and deacons; consecrated men and women ; married and single people; young people; representatives with varied Church experience e.g. Diocesan Youth Workers and Chaplains, members of the new movements and the new ecclesial communities.

Thats basically what the website says about the the job description. And it sounds pretty good to me as a start.

However, I think they left out one important thing. Prayer. Its vital. Without it we might just as well be selling peanuts! So, have a look at the new prayer links we have put up on this page. You may find some of them helpful. And if you know of any others, just leave a comment, and we'll add them.

Welcome to this Blog!

Hey, this is the first post!

Hopefully this blog will offer information, discussion, opinion on the whole idea of vocation, or calling from God. Much of the current vision of the Catholic Church on vocation is based on the document In verbo tuo, which was published in 1997. You can view a potted version here which is well worth a read.

Anyway, here we go!...