Vocation Director's Corner Archives

29 Jun Why You Need a Spiritual Director

Posted at 15:03h in Vocation Director's Corner by Christine Dost

St. Teresa of Jesus said that a good spiritual director is one who combines spirituality and learning. So you’ve been working hard to live as faithfully as you can, receiving the sacraments, and especially going to confession regularly. You are doing what is necessary, but you...

29 May ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Posted at 09:18h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

“If you don’t change direction, you’ll end up where you’re heading.” – Chinese proverb Failure to Launch was the title of a popular movie a few years ago about a shiftless young man with no direction in life. The term “launch” in the movie’s title is used...

01 May WHY WE SAY, “AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT”

Posted at 17:02h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

What can the words of the Mass teach us about the priesthood? Plenty, says Msgr. James Maroney, a liturgical scholar who has traveled the country preparing priests to understand and celebrate Mass better. “The liturgy itself tells us who the priest is,” explains Msgr. Moroney. “The prayers...

30 Mar HOW TO TALK TO THE VOCATION DIRECTOR

Posted at 16:41h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

If you wanted to be a journalist, it would make sense to talk to someone who works at a newspaper. If you wanted to be a chef, it would make sense to talk to someone who works at a restaurant. Just so, if you feel an...

02 Mar Seminary 101

Posted at 16:53h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

Many people, even many Catholics, have a vision of seminary as a very strict monastery. They imagine men walking around in hooded robes with folded hands, observing strict silence, and never smiling or laughing. But that is not even true of a monastery, much less...

28 Jan THE ART OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Posted at 10:46h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

“The unexamined life is not worth living,” Socrates famously said. He really meant it, too, as he also said that a man must “interrogate his own nature” and “work precisely” or else he will “miss what is good and become involved in what is bad.” Every...

22 Dec DISCERNMENT SPIRITUALITY

Posted at 13:10h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

Spirituality is the individual approach to one's relationship with God. It involves making use of the tools of prayer and devotion which help you to live as a Christian the best way possible. Spirituality is, therefore, personal and many details of your spirituality will be...

25 Nov POPE BENEDICT’S MESSAGE TO SEMINARIANS

Posted at 17:10h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

"It does makes sense to become a priest: the world needs priests, pastors, today, tomorrow and always, until the end of time." In an open letter on October 18, 2010, Pope Emeritus Benedict spoke from his heart to seminarians throughout the Church. Addressing the confusion and...

24 Oct THE HEART OF A PRIEST

Posted at 17:31h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

What does it take to be a priest? This is the remarkable true story of an American priest martyred for his ministry. Fr. Stanley Rother, a priest for the diocese of Oklahoma City, graduated from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary back in the 1970s. He was not...

22 Sep Be It Done Unto Me According to Your Word

Posted at 17:24h in Vocation Director's Corner by Kristina Valente

I’m my own man! I’m self-made, and I alone should determine my destiny! I will let nothing stand in the way of what I want. There is no other road to happiness! At least that’s what contemporary society would have us believe. But the Christian viewpoint is...