For adult Catholics, this question burns in their souls and guides their search for direction in life: What is God calling me to do?
In other words: What is my vocation? As some point out, there is vocation with a Capital “V,” as in the choice between religious life and marriage. There is also vocation with a small “v,” as in career choice.
This special section explores the topic by profiling those who have gone through the discernment process themselves and includes tips and comments from those who have helped others. The people whose careers are profiled are among those who responded to a query on the topic from The Catholic Spirit.
May you be inspired and informed by these stories to answer God’s call on your own journey down the highway of life.
Here’s help for navigating your vocation/career curves
Restless soul and unstable economy can lead to new direction in life
Road to religious vocation is clear when God’s driving from back seat
Priest ‘saves lives’ for sheriff’s department
‘In love with God’: Sister reflects on a life of service
Faith formation ‘doorkeeper’ focuses on hospitality
White Bear food shelf director: Parents modeled how to feed hungry
Historical fiction writer followed the story to spiritual destination
Life is a Highway – Reflections
Discernment resources
Career discernment
- “What Color is Your Parachute” by Richard Nelson Bolles
Priestly/religious vocations
- “The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living” by Father Timothy Gallagher
- “Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making” by Father Timothy Gallagher
- “To Save a Thousand Souls” by Father Brett Brannen, a guide for discerning a vocation to diocesan priesthood
- “The Consecrated Life” (“Vita Consecrata”), Blessed John Paul II’s encyclical on the consecrated life
