The first ever national vocations discernment weekend has taken place at Oscott College in Birmingham.
The event, called Invocation 2010, was aimed at young men and women discerning a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life or simply wanting to find out more.
There were a number of religious communities represented, and Archbishops Longley, Smith, and Nichols celebrated Masses.
There were also talks by Abbot Christopher Jamison, who spoke about the theology of vocation, and Dr Andrew O’Connell on how fulfilment can never ultimately be found in a digital age of instant gratification, but only in Christ.
Meanwhile, Sister Gabriel Davison gave an account of her life in her community of Poor Clares, describing her vocation as “a love affair with Christ”.
Anna-Marie Treloar, a parishioner from Our Lady of the Rosary in Blackfen, Kent, said of the weekend: “I was only able to be there until the Saturday evening, but left wishing I could have stayed longer. The organisation and administration was very impressive from start to finish; the events ran very smoothly and professionally.
“Personally, I was delighted to see the unified national effort that had gone into the weekend, and the enthusiasm of the organisers that drove the initiative.”
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.