God’s Call to High School Students

ASK.
Do you ever get tired of dealing with the question:

“What am I going to do with my life?”

Have you ever thought about turning that question over to God? Guaranteed he has an answer. He’s probably been trying to drop hints for a while now. Think about these questions:

† What kinds of gifts has he given you?
† What makes you genuinely happy?
† When do you find yourself most content?
† Do you like helping others?
† Do you wonder what there is to life beyond the 200 channels and all-you-can-get MP3s?
† Do you wonder if a big salary will actually be enough or if riches await you beyond the monetary and material?

If these questions linger, if you find you have talents well-suited to helping others or if someone invites you to consider priestly or religious life, “Be not afraid.” Listen and be honest.

Listening through Discernment – A Spiritual Compass

LISTEN.
Discernment means “to take a hard look” at your options. How are you going to seek your destiny? What should you notice? Take note if you feel restless with the options that don’t measure up to the passion in your heart. Take note of the feeling that you have been given dreams bigger than any corporation can imagine. Take note of the suspicion that there is something that you are being called to do for God. It was Jesus who said, “You have not chosen me. I have chosen you.” Take note if other people see priestly qualities in you, and invite you to be their priest.

Many decisions in life are not crystal clear. Sometimes our “call” does not come to us through thunder and lightning. Rather, discernment is often a matter of becoming aware of something that is already there, a yearning, a desire for more. Selecting a path is risky. Refusing to choose a direction will lead to unhappiness and boredom.

ACT.
So, are you thinking? Good. Now, about that next step … here are three things to get you started.

1. Click here to take a quiz. It’s short. It’s not graded. No one else will see.

2. Pray. But how? You can only do many “Our Father’s” and “Hail Mary’s.” But we still need to talk to God and – this is important – listen to him. Here are two sites that will give you different ideas and methods of prayer.

Online Minstries for Everyday Life – Web site with tips for praying in a busy life and reflections based on the daily readings from the lectionary.

Busted Halo.com – by the Paulist Fathers in New York. Check out “Prayer Pilot” for ways to pray and meditate. Take a look at “Faith Guides” as well.

3. Get Involved. Become part of the activities, liturgies, and service projects in your local parish or campus ministry.

Click here for information on Youth Ministry in the Diocese.

Prayer for Vocations

Loving God, thank you for giving me life through Jesus, Your Son.

Like Jesus, give me an open heart to know your will. Give me a generous heart to respond to that will. Give me a courageous heart to be faithful to that promise of all that I am called to be.

Like Jesus, use my heart to touch your people. Use my heart to serve your people. Use my heart to continue to love your people so that I may be faithful to the promise of all that I am called to be.

Loving God, send Your Holy Spirit to me and help me to know if I am called to be a priest or religious man or woman.

Amen