What is a Vocation?

A vocation, most simply, is a call from God. It is the way one is called to live out her/his life in relationship with God, oneself, other people, the earth. Vocation is mystery, in that it unfolds during the course of a lifetime. Vocation goes beyond the idea of career and what one does, to the whole of a person, who one is.

Each person has been gifted by God with certain talents, insights, and abilities. As Christians, we believe we must use these gifts in service and leadership. How we do that is our vocation. Vocation includes the single life, married life, religious life, and priesthood. The process of figuring out our call is the process of discernment.

Discernment

Discernment is more than just decision-making. It is not making a decision between good and bad choices. Discernment is choosing between two (or more) good options. Discernment involves listening to ourselves, and to God's voice in our lives. It means assessing our values and knowing our choice truly "clicks" with who we are.

Discernment is the process of taking time to pray, talking with others whose values and insights you trust, thinking, journaling, and just spending time with yourself. Questions you may want to reflect on as you discern your call may include the following:

• What do I long for? What am I searching for?
• What do I need in my life?
• What do I have a passion around?
• What kind of clues has God given me as to the lifestyle I am called to live?
• What are my gifts, my interests? What have I enjoyed doing?
• What do I hold as values?