Values and context in Vocation Promotion

 For quite some time a thought has been doing the rounds in my own mind, with regard to vocation promotion.  In particular, vocation promotion by myself, close at home!  I've been asking myself if I'd feel comfortable and confident to invite my own nephew or niece to join the Salesians, as a Priest or Brother and Sister.  

To be honest, I am neither comfortable nor confident in offering that invitation.  Nonetheless, I would still not mind speaking about this possibility to them, but with a rider: Join, only if you are willing to be true to your basic values and not fold up to the pressures which are in plenty and enticing too!  

Looking back and counting my blessings, especially those which have helped me keep myself steady and strong, I count the values inculcated in me by my parents and the context in which this was done as one of the most powerful one. While my parents hard work and determination was inspirational, their struggles were not hidden from my brother and I.  Their example and the financial situation of the times helped me grow without being shy of engaging in hard manual work.  

While I have no doubt about the values my nephew and niece witness at home, I seriously wonder if they are used to living a hard difficult life, not just without moaning about it, but joyfully embracing it as an opportunity for growth. That they may actually embrace the challenge is a possibility; but I also fear our present comfort level in the religious life is too enticing and tempting. 

I also need to remind myself that a vocation is initially God's call. So He who calls, also equips! 

Vocation and service

 A poster created by the INB vocation promotion team. Quite apt on the occasion of Maundy Thursday.

Chalk to tapes and poles

 Today I have been discussing with various people, about various issues, legal and land matters.  It has been very diverse and complicated.  During one such conversation after supper at table, here in Vijayawada, I remembered an incident nearly four years ago. 

I had just taken charge as the Economer and one day along with Thathi and KP Mathew found myself in Mallepalli, Nalgonda. We were doing a land survey of a plot of land promised to us Salesians.  As I was assisting the surveyor, with his tape and digital pole, at one point I noticed Thathi smiling.  When asked what he was amused at, he replied, "Instead of some chalk you are now holding tapes and poles!" 

Well, at times I chuckle to myself.  From what to where have I come, in these part four years!  From being a teacher of philosophy to a financial administrator! That too with no background whatsoever about matters related to law, land, administration and finance!  That said, do I have any regrets? None at all.  Because I know what I am here for is not to do what I want to, but what God and the Congregation wants me to.  Mine is not to ask what and where, but to do with my whole heart whatever it is that is asked for the good of all, especially the young. 

Don Bosco for his boys

At Don Bosco's oratory, there were all sorts of people, at work... but for the same purpose: the well-being of the boys.  His own Mum, Margaret was there.  So were the mother of Don Rua and a couple of other women.  There were the Brothers, all his 'own men'.  Don Borel, the diocesan priest.  And a whole lot of others. 

Nonetheless, the most interesting of these lot were his own boys, now turned into leaders or even animators.  These boys who joined hands with Don Bosco, whether as Salesians or not, were with Don Bosco every step of the way.  I'm sure, not all of them, or any of them, would have come into the oratory with the intention of carrying on doing what Don Bosco was doing.  But being WITH Don Bosco, having EXPERIENCED first hand, the care and concern shown by Don Bosco, they were smitten.  They certainly may not have been able to explain in words their reasons for staying on, quite a few of them, for a lifetime, why they opted to stay on; but they did stay on!  The closest 'explanation' we get to hear is what Cagliero said: Monk, or no monk, with Don Bosco!  

From Don Bosco's perspective, I'm sure he did not work in order to impress his boys, so that they choose to stay by his side.  That was not his agenda.  His purpose was clear - to him, as well as to all those around him: the well-being of his boys.  It was this clarity of vision and passion with which he went about spending his life and energy for it, that attracted those around him to join hands with him.  For his boys, it was more than attraction; it was a deeply personal experience and individual benefit of that passion.  

Don Bosco did not have a vocation promotion strategy; he didn't need one!  He lived it.  The rest was God's work! 

Vocation story

I was at Karunapuram today.  They began the three-day vocation camp of the Telangana region today morning. I was asked to speak to the 32 boys present about the mysterious ways of God, in the context of a vocation.  I chose to narrate my own vocation story to illustrate the theme.  I also took the opportunity to share about my choice of being a Salesian Brother and its insignificance in the context of my larger choice to be a Salesian!  I'm not sure if the boys understood the gravity of that distinction; but I really do not expect them to - at least at this point. 

Nonetheless, a couple of boys did meet me later and thanked me for the sharing. On my part, I was indeed happy to relive my own camp experience of 1993.  

Religious life and bitterness

I returned home yesterday from a visit to a few of our communities in the Vijayawada-Guntur region.  Add to that my daily quota of phone calls from confreres expressing their difficulties and issues.  All this makes me wonder, if only we are able to find and celebrate those reasons that bind and unite us than thrive in meticulously finding reasons to fight and differ from one another.  

In each community there are SO MANY factors and possibilities that can bring us together.  Yet time and again, we choose to see the few frailties and shortcomings of one another and harp on them to such an extent that neither do I do anything worthwhile nor do I let others do any good.  Together we spend our time, energy and passion in tearing down one another!  

I know there is no magical formula to better the situation.  But I truly wonder, if after years of formation and training, this is what we end up as, then there is something wrong in our priorities or methodology.  

This image truly expresses my present feeling and experience! 

Two vocation stories and a funeral

Today a few of us attended the funeral of Ms Thumma Agathamma, the aunt of Mr Gopu Balareddy.  Although the aunt, he respected and loved her more than his own mother, because it was she who brought him up. 

Before and during the funeral Mass, listening to the virtues of the deceased and her adopted son, it struck me that both of them have been utterly selfless and generous towards the Church, especially priests and religious.  Their respect for the clergy and their charitable works has been truly commendable.  Certainly Mr Balareddy imbibed this virtue from his aunt.  

Nonetheless the thought that occurred to me was that if at all they continued in their religious life, which they both did try to discern and choose sometime early in life,  their impact on the Andhra Church and those lives they touch(ed) would not have been the same. I feel they have been of greater help to the Church as lay people than if the were to have  become priest or a nun!  

That is what I believe is the mystery of a vocation (any vocation, be that of a priest or a businessman, of a religious or a housewife).  It is a call to which one is invited to respond. Not a mere career one chooses by oneself. 

Marriage isn't for everyone

An interesting translation of Mathew 9: 11-12

But Jesus said, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.”

I think this edition of the text is much much more mature and sensible, than the one's I always have heard.  The translations I have heard so far are always used to exalt the 'supremacy' of priestly and religious life - something I have always condemned. 

No vocation is greater or lessor.  Only our response to it! 

 

Vocation camp

 Being present for the first day of the vocation camp at Karunapuram, brought back memories of my own first vocation camp in Gunadala.  The travel from Hyderabad to Gunadala, I have no memory of, but certainly the return journey is vivid in my mind.  I travelled back with Fr Balaswamy and Fr Anand.  Charlie was the driver of the jeep!  

The excitement of settling in the dormitory, the first family get together... The excitement of the cricket match, wherein I took a hatrick of wickets, for which Fr Gnanam - then a brother and the umpire of the match - congratulating me).  The sharing of food in the dining hall, a totally new experience, because back at home all of us were used to being served by our mothers, so none of us at the table had any clue of proportion and distribution!  Washing the utensils was not in our dictionary at all, leave alone cleaning the table after meals.  

The one aspect that I liked most of this particular camp in Karunapuram was the fact that two-thirds of the participants were boys from our own settings - something very very rare all these years!  These boys knew 'Don Bosco', felt at home with Salesians.  That's something really really good.  It is an indicator that we Salesians are doing some good. Irrespective of their desire to join us or not,  the very fact that they choose to attend the vocation camp is encouraging!

Vocation

Everytime we speak of 'vocation' in our religious circles we most often mean 'vocation to priestly and religious life'.  It is as if vocation to married life or any other form of life is not a vocation.  When this partial outlook is pointed out we cover up saying that even they are vocations, but the former is the crowing of all vocations! 

However, I feel strongly convinced that unless and until we really understanding vocation in its universal and true sense, we will only be 'selling' vocation; doing recruitment rather than discernment.  As educators of the young, we are primarily called to help young people discover, discern and follow their vocation.  And every person's primary vocation is to love and be loved!  The vocational discernment is to help young people ask themselves basic questions about meaning and purpose of his or her life.  As long as we sincerely and passionately engage in this noble apostolate we are true to our own calling as Salesians. Otherwise we are only 'pedlars' or vendors of the Salesian career - all in the name of youth ministry and vocation promotion.  

The post youth synod apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis, Christus vivit no. 286 describes the great vocational question that every young person has to ask himself or herself as "for whom am I?"  This is more deeper and way too personal than merely asking oneself, "what am I to do?" or "who should I become?"

Jesus and the twelve

When the time came for Jesus to begin his public ministry, and he chose the twelve apostles, it is quite strange to see that he chose all strangers!  There is hardly any evidence that the twelve men knew Jesus before Him calling them out.  We only hear some anonymous person exclaiming, "Is he not the son of the carpenter?"  Had any of the twelve known Jesus earlier, I think at least one of them would have made that statement!!  

Nicolas Poussin

But did Jesus know them before hand??  

Jesus never went far or beyond Israel, or for that matter his hometown.  And so, during those 30 years that he spent in the same place, would he not have known most of those men?  He was a carpenter and surely he would have met and interacted with a lot of people of varied backgrounds.  Everyone would have sought the services of a carpenter at some time of their life, for some work.  My guess is that Jesus did have a rough list but not for long, perhaps just about the time he began his ministry.  And Luke records that he spent the night in prayer and when morning came, called out the twelve who were to be called his apostles.  

The reason(s) he chose those twelve and not some others, I guess were privy just to him.  We can only guess and theorize.  But none of those reasons would be applicable to all the twelve!! 

Another strange fact that find is that of the chose twelve none was a carpenter.  Jesus did not select anyone from among those whom knew him!! 

The grumpy prophet

 Among the old testament prophets, Jonah is the one with whom one can relate to most easily.  He is a common man, called upon by Yahweh for a particular purpose.  Initially reluctant and lazy but then relents.  However, the very fact that Yahweh calls him does not 'purify' him of his human inclinations.  He carries with him his basic human qualities right to the end. 

After the episode at sea and having spent three days in the belly of the fish, he decides to go to Nineveh and tell the people there God's message, not out of fear or conviction but more out of guilt.  Once his job is done he expects to see the fulfilment of God's prophecy.  Not seeing God send out his wrath, he feels dishonoured and his work disrespected.  He sulks.  His self-centredness (not selfishness) prevents him from seeing the larger picture unfold.  

In and through the ups and downs of Jonah it is easy to miss one of the central messages of the narration: God changes!  The only difference between God changing his mind and heart and Jonah's change is that the change is brought about for the good of the other.  God relents from sending down his wrath on the people of Nineveh because he sees them repent and take responsibility for their lives.  Jonah fails to see the struggle of Nineveh because his focus energy is all trained on his own work and struggle.  

Christian living

Witness to the Gospel with your life: by word and action, by love, by faith and by integrity.
1 Timothy 4: 12

Sums up Christian and even religious calling.  Was struck by the wording, as I never came across this version of the text.  Neither is this text some canonically approved edition.  Nonetheless, is a beautiful action plan. 

Vocation promotion

Listening to a talk on vocation came across a very different image of the whole process of vocational discernment and guidance.  That of a person using a metal detector!

The idea is that in today's world, vocation (in particular, to religious or Salesian religious life) is not something that is apparent or evident.  Even for the concerned individual. Leave alone for the one helping others to make a choice for religious life.  It is like buried under several things/layers.  Exactly like one searching for something special or different, using a metal detector, the one searching has to cover a lot of area.  Often finding nothing.  Pay great attention to even the slightest indicator for he or she never knows where exactly is the object located.  Searching for those indicators which are not always very prominently visible.  Makes sense for someone involved in vocation promotion. 

However, the drawback of this imagery is that this gives the appearance of vocational guidance as a distant and technical task. Also as something of a detached task from the mission one is engaged in (as in a hobby) or that it is the only mission (much like vocation promoters in our Indian provinces - full timers).  Not something that as an offshoot of the mission, prolonged and communitarian.  Nevertheless, the analogy is worth further reflection. 

The Emmaus story

The Gospel event of the Emmaus experience consistently continues to amaze me.  Perhaps it is the one event narrated in the Bible that I've found myself reflecting on most recurrently.

This evening it occurred to me that Jesus while joining the two disciples was leading them in the opposite direction.  Rather than lead them back to Jerusalem, where the whole action was being unfolded, he walks with them, in the opposite direction.  Then the comedy of the fact, the disciples reach Emmaus only to run back to Jerusalem, the place where they started their journey! Back to square one! 

One way of looking at it is that God often leads us away from where we are and where we think we ought o be, only to lead us in the opposite direction.  Perhaps later in life we get back to where we initially wanted to be, but then we are not anymore the same person who started off.  The journey, the new place we've been to, and the whole experience of the while, transforms us and our view of the place we are so convinced we actually ought to be in. 

Another way of looking at it is that God joins us in our journey. He does not cause abrupt u-turns in our life, just because he wants to or because that's where we are supposed to be.  He basically accompanies us, even if we are in a totally different direction.  It is in our daily living that we encounter God.  In our everyday choices and decisions.  He accompanies us.  The decision to change or retain paths is always ours!  

Prayer for vocations... somewhere!

Every morning during morning prayers we pray for vocations - to and for all sorts; parenting, married life, jobs, religious life, Salesian religious life... Everyday one particular group.  Of course, of these intercessions, given the present shrinking number of Salesians in UK and in Europe, the one closest to our heart is for the Salesian religious life.  There's a small bookmark with set prayers for each group that we use for this purpose. 

This morning as Fr Sean was leading the prayers and towards the end, he announced the title of the intention: Prayer for vocations.  And then, flipping through his breviary to locate the prayer card and unable to do so, softly exclaimed, "somewhere".  

I almost burst out laughing.  The irony of 'Prayer for vocations... somewhere!' was too much for me to keep quiet.  While Fr Sean's expression was as an innocent sign of exasperation at not finding the prayer card, and I did recognise that, my mind took a leap ahead to think of actual vocations ... somewhere!  

While those of us from India - and other parts of the world, where there is a steady number of young people coming forward to join us Salesians - may take pride in this fact, it is still a cause of concern, at least for me.  Most of our vocations are not from Salesian settings.  They are youngsters who accidently heard of Don Bosco or literally strayed into the aspirantate!  Not that they are bad or shallow - far from it!  But my concern is about the youngsters in our own settings.  There are thousands of youngsters with whom we are in touch with for years - every day of their life, in schools, colleges and boardings.  Then there are those in our parishes and youth centres, whom we may not meet daily but do have a regular contact with.  If these youngsters who know us from close quarters are not willing to explore their Salesian vocation, then there is something wrong with those of us who are already professed as Salesians!  Vocations are the fruit of our youth ministry!  Not the other way round! 

You be Jesus

Billy, aged four, and his brother Tommy, aged six, were arguing about who was going to get the first pancake that their grandmother was making at the stove. She took the opportunity to teach them a lesson, telling them that Jesus would let his brother have the first pancake.  Tommy turned to Billy and said, "Ok, Billy, go on then, you be Jesus."

Not just among children, most of us grown ups too have this tendency of 'letting or waiting for others to be Jesus'.  We'd rather not be one ourselves.  Admiring others be Jesus is good enough.  Becoming Jesus oneself is too complicated. 

On the other hand, perhaps we are not called to be Jesus.  Each of us has an identity, distinct from one another, distinct from Jesus.  Our vocation is to live that out to its best.  God calls each one of us, and the best we can do is to respond to him in the most generous and selfless manner.  

They followed him

The last line of the gospel this morning, left me wondering if the same call were to be given out today, how many would follow!  Leave alone, just drop everything, no goodbyes or settling affairs or  packing and what not... just follow.

The team fishing would have surely heard of Jesus.  They wouldn't have followed his instructions if he were not seen as someone whom they considered above normal.  Or else which fisherman would take instructions about fishing from a carpenter?  But this team did and when they realise for themselves, rather than the hearsay they relied on so far, that he was someone really special, they acknowledge him to be someone who is to be in better company than themselves.  Peter asks him to leave because they are not worthy to be in his presence.  Interestingly Jesus invites them to join him!  And when he invites, some of them follow him, right then and there! 

I wonder if we in our contemporary world have space for such a feeling of wonder, of being overwhelmed, of being called and promptly accepting.  We'd sit, reflect, consult, calculate, discuss, reason out, weigh the pros and cons, try to strike a bargain, ask a hundred and one questions... But Peter and company chose to follow him right away; all the above followed!  Of course, they did not at once leave their families and homes but they certainly did accept Jesus as master and were willing to do anything he asks of them, right after their first encounter with him.  

God loves everyone

The writing of Paul to the Corinthians about God choosing the weak, instead of the strong, the foolish instead of the wise can be interpreted as a 'privilege' by the clergy, the religious.  Unfortunately!

Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.

I've heard many a priests and religious use this quote to praise God for having gifted them with a religious or priestly vocation, in spite of not being the most brightest or best in his or her age group or village or class.  However, the passage can be used for better purposes.  The one that I like is where it can be used to prove that God stands by the weak, the marginalised, those ostracised and abandoned.  He is there with them.  However I would prefer the other version that occurred to me this morning.  That God in choosing the weak and the foolish, is expressing his love for all!  In choosing those less humanly gifted he is balancing the equation among the human beings so that we may complement one another for the good of all.  Rather than see God as loving some more (either the chosen or the 'abandoned') than the others, God when seen from this perspective loves all - equally!  Those not chosen are not bad people! Neither are those chosen good people!  It is just that God wishes the best for each one and therefore offers a level platform where each one can contribute his or her might and thereby complement one another for the good of all. 

Young people and the Church

Noteworthy signposts from the survey of young people with regard to vocational discernment, faith and Church (England and Wales)... I'm looking at these from the Indian scenario, for though the reality is slightly different, the situation back home will soon be the same as it is here.  The sooner we wake up and shape up, the better chance we stand at being relevant and meaningful.  Or else not only will young people be out of the church, the church will be out of their world as well!  In spite of the serious drawback that most of the 3,298 participants were mostly those who 'come to Church', the results offer some insights worth serious consideration:

• An accepting, non-judgemental environment is essential for young people to feel welcome in church settings.  So implicit, informal, friendly invitations are more effective than explicit stipulations that they should be present. 
• You have struck a chord with young people, if they invite their friends as well. 
• Church needs to move from being the conscience of the people to forming the conscience of the people. 
• The word 'vocation' has become toxic to some catholics as it seems too narrow in the way that it is used!  (As though only call to priestly and religious life are 'vocations' and the other life choices are not. And that the former are greater than the rest of vocations!).