Depending on the order, it can take someone in religious life six years to a decade to take their final vows. Although every person who finds their calling to take the cloth has a different story about what led them to it, they all have the same goal: to dedicate their lives to God and to serve the Catholic Church.
The 28th Annual Mass for Vocations took place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on March 21.
Students from more than 23 elementary schools in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and homeschool families gathered for the Mass to learn about the different religious orders and what religious life is like from seminarians, priests, and religious brothers and sisters.
Father Mark Ivany, the archdiocese's director of priest vocations, was the principal celebrant at the Mass and told attendees this was the event’s greatest turnout.
During his homily, Father James Glasgow, the parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Rockville, Maryland, told students about Blessed Peter Kasui Kibe, a Jesuit priest from Japan who was born in 1587. After six years in seminary, he was initially denied admission to the Society of Jesus, but Father Kibe did not give up his goal of joining the order.
“He is a little discouraged, but then he says, ‘Well, let me go serve as a missionary with the other Jesuit priests in the area in Japan.’ For the next eight years, he serves as a lay missionary brother,” Glasgow said. “In 1614, all of the non-Japanese missionaries are expelled from Japan. If you're not Japanese, they were expelled from Japan.”
Father Kibe then went to Macau, China and Goa, India, to ask priests to help him become a priest, and he was again denied both times. He was told it was not a good time for local priests.
“So what does Blessed Peter Kasui Kibe do? Does he give up? Is he discouraged? Does he turn his back on the Church? Does he turn his back on God?” Father Glasgow said. “No, this is what Kibe does: he says, ‘I’m going to go to Rome, and I’m going to get there on foot.’”
Father Kibe was ordained a priest within six months of his arrival in Rome. Despite the two-year novitiate that is typical for someone pursuing the Society of Jesus, Father Kibe hoped to return to Japan.
After 14 months, he was back in India and wanted to take a boat to Japan, but he faced restrictions against Christians boarding ships. Finally, Father Kibe decided to build his own boat.
"This guy’s amazing. So after he builds his boat, he's about to take the 1,600-mile voyage. And what happens? Termites attack this boat and eat the wood on his boat. So what does Kibe do? He's not discouraged. He's undaunted. He plugs the holes in his boat, and he sails off the 1,600 miles to get to Japan. So he’s sailing...He sees Japan. Japan is in his sights, and a huge typhoon comes and wrecks the entire ship. With Japan in his sights, the ship is shattered," Father Glasgow said.
Upon his return to Japan, Father Kibe knew he would be pursued as a wanted man but was able to “covertly” minister for about nine years until he was caught and tortured and killed.
“What's the point? The point is that there's nothing greater in the world than the saving reality of Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ is worth giving everything to, and that Jesus Christ is worth undergoing the most extraordinary difficulties, adversities, and adventures,” Father Glasgow said.
Following Communion, Sister Ruby Sampang, a Religious of Mary Immaculate, shared her witness testimonial about joining religious life. She asked students to close their eyes and imagine God calling them.
“Maybe some of you were delighted and excited about hearing God’s voice like Zacchaeus in the Bible, for upon hearing Jesus telling him to come down from the sycamore tree, he made haste and came down and received Him joyfully. Or maybe others were surprised and asked the question, ‘Jesus, why me?’” Sister Ruby said. She said the Virgin Mary had similar concerns.
Sister Ruby said she ignored her calling many times. She said she was raised in a Catholic family that went to Mass on Sundays but was not “devoted to practice it.” Sister Ruby told a sister at her dorm as these thoughts and feelings grew.
“That sister just listened to me and advised me, ‘Keep it in your heart and let it go,’” Sister Ruby said, encouraging the youth to let the love of God grow by spending more time with Jesus in prayer and the sacraments.
Sister Ruby said, “God won the fight,” and she has been in religious life for 34 years.
“I could not be happier and dreaming of another way of life. I recommend you find time and possibly in a more relaxed setting, close again your eyes, and imagine yourself being called by God and see how you feel,” Sister Ruby said.
After the Mass, students visited with representatives of religious communities who had displays set up at the National Shrine’s Memorial Hall.
Lily Desmond, a sixth grader at Little Flower School in Bethesda, Maryland, said she might consider a religious vocation.
“Being at the church is nice and peaceful. It’s just nice to be here,” Desmond said. “I don’t know (what I would like about being a sister), but I would get to pray and be with God.”
Maya Gofar, a sixth grader at St. Anthony Catholic School in Washington, D.C., said that while she isn’t considering religious life, she learned a lot during the event. She hopes to hear more stories from those in religious life.
“I think it’s important (to have those in religious life) because they help spread the word of the Lord,” Gofar said.
Sister Marcelle has been with the Little Sisters of the Poor for 70 years. She said she first fell in love with Jesus during her First Communion, but it was not until she was around 13 years old that she received “Our Lord’s gentle invitation” while alone in a chapel one day.
"Come and visit us. Come and get to know our elderly people and take time for prayer and take time for Scripture reading. See, these are foundational and God can help you discern, can help young people discern their vocation. They might not know right away, but as time goes on, and I think when his people say, look for a vocation of marriage or religious life, you need a little bit of maturity. But the years before that are preparation for that eventual decision," Sister Marcelle said.
She encourages everyone to consider married or single life as much as they consider a religious vocation.
“These are all beautiful vocations, and you don't just know right away,” Sister Marcelle said. “Certainly (a vocation) shouldn't be a rejection of something. We shouldn't become a sister because we reject married life.”
Sister Marcelle joined the Little Sisters of the Poor when she was 17.
Brother Joel Crotteau is in his fourth year with the Franciscan Friars. Brother Joel explained that a friar is “like a monk who lives a more active life.”
“A monk is going to spend more of his life in contemplative prayer, and sometimes even cloistered, where you won’t see them outside of the monastery,” Brother Joel said. Friars spend their lives in the ministry of serving the poor, going out to the world, and proclaiming the Gospel by their words and actions.”
His advice to those who are unsure if their calling is to be a friar or to live a religious life is to listen to God as well as themselves.
“Be docile. Listen to the Lord’s promptings. Ask Him what he wants of you, but then also ask what you want for yourself,” Brother Joel said. “I relate to God the father like a father does to a three-year-old son. Whenever [the three-year-old] asks, ‘What do you want me to do?’ and dad’s just going to respond, ‘I want you to do what you want to do.’”
Brother Joel continued to compare discerning a vocation to opening a gift.
“You’re not going to get all the answers, but your vocation is like a present. Would it be any fun if He told you what it was? You have got to unravel it, step-by-step,” Brother Joel said.
Father Anthony Michael Bozeman is a member of St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, the Josephites. He was ordained in Philadelphia in 2000 and currently serves as the academic dean and assistant vocation director of the St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Like many other religious offering testimonials, Father Bozeman said he felt the call to religious life very young, growing up in west Philadelphia, but initially disregarded it.
“I actually felt the call in second grade, but I didn’t answer it. After eighth grade, I was very sincere, and then in high school, I was still thinking about it, but then I went into the Air Force, left the Air Force, finished my degree from La Salle University, and then I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to give God a shot,’” Father Bozeman said.
He said the best advice to those who are trying to navigate their life’s calling is the advice he was given when he was discerning.
“I know everyone prays every night, and this can go for anyone, but especially those discerning priesthood: Before you go to bed every night, say, ‘Lord, if it is your will, increase my vocation,’” Father Bozeman said. “A priest said that to me as a younger adult because you can do anything, that can be married life, religious brother, your religious sister, single life, increase my vocation, whatever that might be. And preferably, if it's God's priesthood, it means you'll be open to his ‘yes’ and open to saying yes to His will and to His way and be able to serve Him.”
Father Bozeman also shared misconceptions surrounding religious life, especially when it comes to how fulfilling their lives are.
“The biggest one is that we’re unhappy in this sacrifice of living a celibate life, of not marrying means you’re going to live a life of unhappiness. No, you’re going to live a different life. You might not be able to understand it until you immerse yourself in it,” Father Bozeman said.
He said those in religious life have a “gigantic family,” and priests are still “fathers” to many.
“It’s a joy you can’t articulate,” Father Bozeman said.
Sister Mariana de Jesus and Sister Maria Belen are members of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima. They practice family ministry at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg.
“Bringing Christ to family, and family to Christ,” Sister Mariana said, describing their ministry. She has been a religious sister for 36 years.
They explained that family ministry includes visiting family homes, counseling youth and children, and marriage preparation.
Sister Maria Belen, who has been religious for 16 years, said she likes learning from the people she’s helping. Her initial calling was to become a nurse.
“I was 14 years old…I wanted to be a nurse, to save lives. Then, I received a beautiful letter from Sister Mariana saying, ‘Why not be a nun and save souls?’ And that was my turning point to actually saying yes to religious life,” Sister Maria said.
Their connection goes beyond their order: Sister Maria’s godmother is Sister Mariana’s childhood best friend. Sister Maria pursued both vocations and currently helps people at an immersive healthcare center.
The sisters shared their advice to those considering religious life.
“I would encourage them to ask Jesus and Mary what they want for them in their own lives... not to be afraid, to respond. What is God calling for them? Do not be afraid. Jesus calls everyone. It’s to understand where he wants you,” Sister Mariana said.
Sister Mariana shared how to find the right fit for those who want to join a religious order.
“I would encourage them to ask Jesus and Mary what they want for them in their own life,” Sister Mariana said, adding that it is important for people not to be afraid to respond to God’s call. “Jesus calls everyone to understand where He wants you.”
Sister Maria shared her thoughts on how to allow divine intervention when considering a vocation.
“I think it's to hold yourself at the mantle of Our Lady, and she'll guide you to where God wants you to be and not to be afraid. Whenever He actually tells you, ‘Come, I’m waiting for you. Follow me.’ And just say ‘yes.’ Just say ‘yes,’ (and) not to be afraid of it,” Sister Maria said.
A misconception that they feel is common about women in religious life, and religious life at large, is the freedom afforded there.
“I think some people believe that they're not going to have freedom, but I believe that freedom is actually doing what Christ is asking you to do so that you can be a saint the way he wants you to be a saint. And I think people just make a mistake on what freedom is. And that's something that we as religious have to try to teach them so that they know that freedom is just God himself that's there with you," Sister Maria said.
Sister Maria added that not all saints come from religious life.
“There are many different ways that you can be a saint. This is one way, and even married life is also a saint way. But a lot of people just see married life, and they forget that there are also other ways, like religious life, to be a saint. There isn’t only one specific vocation in life,” Sister Maria said.
