Sixth-graders explore the world of vocations
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Hundreds of sixth-graders in red T-shirts rattled the gym, funneled down the hallways, burst out onto the playground and made a valiant effort to contain their enthusiasm in church.
They all had something in common.
“Every single one of you is called to be a saint in heaven,” Sister M. Karolyn Nunes of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George (FSGM), proclaimed during this year’s Sixth Grade Vocation Day in Columbia.
“If you want to be happy, strive to be holy,” she said. “When you become holy, you will become happy. All of this happens in Jesus.”
Each year, Sixth Grade Vocation Day draws sixth-graders from all 36 Catholic grade schools in this diocese together at Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School and Church in Columbia.
Their objective was to learn, think and pray about God’s unique plan for each of them and how they can find joy and holiness by discerning and following the vocation God has in mind for them.
This year’s participants played games, made new friends, worshipped God at Mass with Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell and their pastors, sat in on panel discussions with priests, religious sisters and brothers, and married couples, enjoyed lunch and adored Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The theme was “Called to Sainthood.”
Sr. Karolyn noted saints are friends of Jesus who are in heaven with him.
She insisted that sainthood is attainable by people of all ages.
“Not for what you’ll do for Jesus, but for what you’ll let him do in you,” she said.
Growing in holiness and love of God and neighbor leads to “giving God the center space in our hearts and living that from the inside out,” said Sr. Karolyn.
“Holiness means becoming perfect in one thing,” she stated. “More than believing, it’s loving — becoming perfect in loving God and one another. That’s what the Holy Spirit wants to do in you, but you have to give him permission to do that.”
She encouraged the sixth-graders to start thinking about what it looks like when they let God become the center of their life.
“He says that if you do this, you will bear much fruit,” said Sr. Karolyn. “You will do great things.”
Received for a reason
The event got under way with outrageous games of skill and speed among teams of sixth-graders and adult chaperones.
Each team’s cheering section roared with delight.
The participants then settled down for Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Preaching on the day’s readings, Bishop O’Donnell pointed out that God has a particular vocation in mind for everyone, and he bestows unique gifts, talents and abilities on each person in order for them to live that vocation.
“The gifts and talents we have are ours for the purpose of sharing them in the spirit of Christ, the love of God who gives us those gifts,” the bishop said.
“Our vocation in life is where all of that culminates,” he stated. “It’s that choice we make in response to God’s call to live out a particular way of life in order to put those gifts to best use so we can bear good fruit for the Kingdom.”
The bishop encouraged everyone to pray and think about, “What is God calling me to do? How am I supposed to use my gifts?” And also: “How am I supposed to work through the challenges in my life, to receive help from others to do what God is calling me to do?”
“That’s what this special day is all about,” he said.
Joining the bishop at the altar were Father Paul Clark, diocesan director of vocations and director of seminarians, and other priests of the diocese.
Priestly people
Rev. Mr. Jacob Hartman, a transitional deacon who is to be ordained a priest of the Jefferson City diocese on June 6, served as emcee of the discussion with a panel of priests.
Each priest shared a brief synopsis of how he came to discover and answer his priestly calling.
They shared examples of men who had helped them more deeply understand the role of spiritual father that they would take up as priests.
These ranged from their own fathers and grandfathers, to priests who mentored them while they were young, to men who had helped them during their seminary formation.
They also spoke of early aspirations. Father Joshua Duncan, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Glasgow and St. Joseph Parish in Slater, shared that in grade school, he wanted to be a doctor.
“I took all these classes to do that,” he said. “God called me out of that painfully.”
Each priest shared his favorite prayer: the “Memorare” for Father Brad Berhorst, judicial vicar for the diocese, and Father David Veit, pastor of St. Brendan Parish in Mexico; the Prayer to St. Michael for Fr. Duncan; the “Magnificat” for Father Daniel Merz, pastor of St. John Henry Newman Parish and Sacred Heart Parish, both in Columbia; and the End of Day Offering for Father Colin Franklin, pastor of St. George Parish in Linn and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Frankenstein.
Several talked about moments in their young lives that helped them realize they were being called to Priesthood, including the example of parish priests and opportunities to spend time with seminarians.
They also answered questions about their favorite Bible verses, their favorite saints, their favorite moments in history and what they preferred to have for breakfast.
“Every one of us, the Lord is calling to a vocation,” said Rev. Mr. Hartman. “He has a plan for each and every one of us, an adventure for you to go on.”
Religious and spiritual
Sr. Karolyn moderated and took part in the panel discussion on Religious Life.
Fellow panelists included Benedictine Brother Placid Dale of Conception Abbey in Northwestern Missouri; Sister Colette Marie Jaros of the Sisters of Francis of the Holy Eucharist in Independence; and Sister Francine Koehler of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who previously served in Columbia.
Each shared stories about things they enjoyed when they were in middle school; how they had come to find and answer their call to Religious Life; what their daily lives currently entail; and the importance of spending several years in discernment before making a “forever commitment” to serving God as a member of their religious community.
They answered questions about their favorite prayers, Bible verses, Bible characters, sports teams and even their favorite dinosaur.
One student asked about whether it’s possible to be cool and live in the culture without leaving Jesus behind.
Sr. Collette noted that the people she finds to be the most fun to be around are people who aren’t trying to be “cool.”
“They’re just doing what God wants and being themselves,” she said.
Sr. Karolyn pointed out that things that were considered “cool” when she was in school are no longer cool.
“And things that are cool now probably won’t be five years from now,” she said.
Brother Placid said: “What the world thinks of you is not as important as what God thinks of you and what you think of him.”
“Be true to yourself and what God sees in you,” the brother stated. “He sees you as a special person and loves you uniquely, and you should also love yourself uniquely.”
“A spirit of listening”
The sixth-graders gathered back in church for Adoration and the singing of hymns.
Fr. Clark led them in prayer:
“We’ve had so many examples today of how to be in relationship with you, how to serve others and share your love.”
He asked God to reveal to each sixth-grader how he wants them to love the people at their schools, in their families and whoever they will encounter in the weeks to come.
“At this point, as we place ourselves in a spirit of listening,” he prayed. “What are you asking of us? And as we leave here, we ask you to prepare our hearts to respond.”
