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Teaching
About Vocations
In fifth grade, I started thinking about
priesthood but decided not to tell anyone. Word can
get around, and I sure didn’t hear any of my peers
talking about becoming priests. Then, in seventh grade,
my teacher called me aside and asked me if I had ever
thought about priesthood. I denied everything. That
same day, however, I went home and approached my dad,
saying, “Can you believe what my teacher said
to me today?”
If my dad had laughed or put me
down or scowled when I told him, I think that would
have been the end of it. Instead, my dad replied, “What
do you think?” As the story turns out, I have
now been a priest for over 25 years. Who knows if I
would have had the courage if not for a teacher who
saw some positive qualities in me and decided to get
me thinking!
Fr.
Bob Stiefvater, Former
Vocations Director
Do any of your students have personal
characteristics that may point to a call to priesthood?
Such qualities include:
- Ability to relate well with adults
and peers
- Leadership in a spirit of collaborative
teamwork that both affirms and challenges
others.
- Concern about issues such as justice
and peace, and a desire to serve
- A growing relationship with God
- Courage to take a stand
- Dependability and trustworthiness
Are there
ways to help your students explore
Church vocations among the many choices
open to them?
Encourage students
to explore opportunities for service
- at school, at home, in the community.
- Make vocations part
of "career day" in your
school or classroom, and have vocations
resources available.
- Integrate vocations
into various lessons. Use priests
and sisters in math story problems.
Use vocation questions as journal
topics.
- Talk about how you
made the connection between your
talents and becoming a teacher. Share
YOUR story.
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For an interactive
learning experience, bring your student
group to St. Francis De Sales Seminary.
Click
Here for a brochure!
Ideas for
Various Education Levels
The Serra International
College Connection Program
Learn
more about the Serrans efforts
in connecting students with Campus
Ministries.
School Travelling Chalice
Program
Information & template to run program
in your classroom.
Quick Reference Vocation Guide
Vol. II:
Contact the Vocations Office to order your free copy!
Terms, tips and resources appear in a laminated, two-sided guide
ready to insert into your planning book.
Need
some help with a vocations event?
Contact the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
at
414-747-6437
You can also contact
any member of the Vocations Ministers
of the Milwaukee Archdiocese ~ find
out more at the new VMMA web site: Howdoiknow.org
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