By Sister Genevieve Sachse

One of the questions which was discussed at the last meeting of the Archdiocesan Vocation Commission was the problem of finding those young men and women who may be interested in the religious life of the Church as a priest, brother or sister.

There are many different programs available and waiting but most of those who are in the process of thinking about these forms of life as possibilities either do not know they exist or think that they are only for those who have already made up their minds to follow that vocation.

To go to one of these programs or to talk to priests or sisters about the questions in their minds seems to imply in their minds that they are ready to “sign up.”

In the last few years we have made much progress in understanding about the vocation to Church ministry as being one of the options open to the Christian making that important life choice, but there are still far too many who think that this vocation is given only to “unusual people,” and that word “unusual” may have the connotation of anything from “abnormal” to exceptionally holy.”

People sometimes refer to my job of vocation director as being one of recruiting, a term I dislike because of its usual meaning and the implications of that approach to religious life.

I will never give a “sales pitch” about Church ministry in the sense of trying to talk someone into joining that form of life; however, I am only too happy to talk about that which is very fulfilling and important to me to someone who asks me about it.

Rarely will the person asking actually remember what I said, but they usually will retain the impression that I am positive and definitely convinced of the value of what I am doing and of what I profess to be.

Having worked for some time with teens and young adults, it concerns me that far too many of them get married simply because they see that that is what all their friends are doing or they fear being branded an “old maid” if they are past 22 and not yet married, or they subconsciously are escaping from an intolerable home situation.

These people are not really confirmed in their choice of a state in life; it has simply happened to them. It has not been a choice based on a mature, rational and Christian decision of this state in life as being the best for them.

While this type of person probably would not make a good priest or religious anyway, my point is that the decision was not based on a real consideration of the available options. I feel certain that married couples would agree that the factor of emotional love can sometimes blur the process and make such decisions even more difficult.

Many young women with whom I have worked have looked seriously at the possibility of religious life and decided that it was not for them; because of their real evaluation of their inclinations and options they will be much more secure with that decision. If their marriage hits some problems they will not be likely to seek the escape-excuse, “I should have been a nun.”

In June, I will be conducting a Religious Vocation Institute at our motherhouse in Cullman. This Institute is for the purpose of giving the participants an opportunity to live in the convent for a few days and to see and ask all the questions they may have in their minds.

For further information call me at 237-2407 or 394-3393 or Father John Adamski at 768-5647. If the young women who attend come away with a better understanding of religious life, regardless of whether any of them actually choose that state of life, we will have accomplished something for the Church.