Family Event for Vocation Awareness

Rockland County

Family Vocation Day

Pentecost Sunday

May 31, 2009

"Many Gifts,

One Spirit"

St. Francis of Assisi

Church, Nyack, NY

(Slide Show Below)

What a pleasure it was to participate in this event! What cooperation by so many to bring it all together! What wonderful families we have living and growing in our parishes.

This was a collaborative effort by the Archdiocesan Office for Vocations to the Religious Life under the direction of Sr. Deanna Sabetta, CND and the Religious Vocations Directors of communities serving in the Archdiocese of New York. Much was added to the event by virtue of the generosity of Monsignor Edward Weber, Vicar for Rockland County, his staff at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, especially the Director of Religious Education, Nancy Doran and the Knights of Columbus, Cardinal McCloskey Council. Pastors of the 19 parishes in the county were asked to invite families to attend the event. We wish that more could have accepted the invitation. But this was a maiden voyage, a new effort to heighten parental awareness of their very important role in creating an environment, presenting attitudes of faith and encouragement that foster vocational discernment and support religious vocations where the Spirit may cause them to sprout.

For me personally, it was a great pleasure to be with so many committed religious and to be with so many families in which parents are clearly attentive to the needs of their children, want the very best for them and foster their growth in faith in every way possible. During the breakout sessions in which the kids of various age groups gathered together for activities especially designed for them, I had the great assignment of speaking to parents. I relate to them as a nun who can connect them to the modern experience of religious life and vocational call and also relate to them as an experienced parent who dealt with children and teens in this challenging culture.