Listening for God’s call

More than 35 youth and their chaperones attended the annual Tenth Hour Vocations Picnic held earlier this month at Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville. The yearly occasion carves out a few hours in the early evening for young people in 7th through 12th grade, open to discovering God’s call for their lives, to ask questions about life as a priest, religious brother or sister, or seminarian.

Friar Nader Ata, OFM Conv., of Assumption Church in Syracuse, was one of the panelists with whom the kids could share their curiosity. Having been on the panel before, he told The Catholic Sun that typical questions at this early stage of discernment include:

• How and when did you receive the call to be a priest or enter religious life?
• What is your prayer life like?
• Who is your favorite saint?

Inspired to hear his own story, we asked Friar Nader when he first felt the call to religious life. He was 19 years old and a sophomore in college.

“I actually thought I would be a Trappist Monk at first. I told my spiritual director at the time, and he began to laugh, saying, ‘You talk too much. You would never survive. Take some time to discern a little more.’ So I did and ended up feeling called to the same religious community of my spiritual director, the Franciscan Friars Conventual,” he shared. “It came through times of prayer, in praise and worship, Adoration, in quiet time, and in personal and communal prayer.”

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, seminarian Deacon Doug Villanella; Sister Kieran Williams, director of vocations of the IHM Congregation in Scranton, Penn.; and Father Cliff Auth, pastor of Immaculate Conception, were on the panel, too, and 30 religious and clergymen, including Fr. Dennis Walker, director of vocation promotion, and Fr. Brendan Foley, associate director of vocation promotion, were also present for the event.

The vocations picnic is important for teens to know they’re not alone — other youth are on the same journey trying to figure out God’s calling in their lives, said Friar Nader. It gives them a chance to speak candidly in a safe and accepting environment with those already living out their calling.

The name “Tenth Hour” refers to John 1:39, when Jesus invites two men to join him for an evening of conversation and fellowship. It marks the beginning of their life-changing journey as disciples of Jesus.

Friar Nader added that his hope for those seeking direction is that they embrace the reality that God indeed loves them and has a special, unique calling for them.

He wants them to know, “Do not be afraid. God is with you always. Even in moments of doubt and fear, connecting to God is one prayer away, one Mass away, one opening of the Bible away. God loves you!”

If you would like to learn more about vocations, please contact your home parish pastor.