Dear Friends,

May the Lord give you Peace!   At present there are six men discerning their 'calling' with me.   During discernment it is good to reflect on the 'Call' stories from Scripture.   I suggest that you reflect on this story - 'God Calls Samuel'.

Dear Friends,

May the Lord give you Peace!   The Catholic Church in the U.S.A are this week celebrating 'National Vocations Awareness Week'.   It began with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord last Sunday and ends tomorrow January 16th.   There have been many excellent resources posted on the internet but one that I found particularly interesting was submitted by Father David Toups, interm director of the Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).   Father Toups offers "Ten Things", steps Catholics can do to promote vocations to priesthood and religious life and I was particularly taken by steps 6ff.   I pray that those discerning their vocation at this time, particularly those who read this blog will find these steps helpful.

Dear Friends,

Perhaps you are discerning the road ahead for 2010.   If you are you might find this reflection by Thomas Merton helpful:

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I actually know myself, 

and the fact that I think that I am 

following your will does not mean that I

am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

Dear Friends,

May the Lord give you Peace!   St. Augustine prayed "Lord, that I may know myself, that I may know Thee!"

At the beginning of 2010 a good New Year resolution might be to get to know ourselves better.   Getting to know ourselves better is part of Vocational Discernment.