Reaction from kick-off meeting

Vocation Expo had a kick-off meeting on Saturday, 10 January, after which Father Paul asked the participants for reactions to three questions:

1. what thay thought about the Vocation expo proposal
2. what they hoped might come from it
3. how they were feeling about being involved in the project

Here are the reactions.

Sister Margaret

• To help organise the big picture
• Part of the ignation family group
• Medaille Trust

Think its a great idea – I am a big picture person so love the whole dynamics of the overview but hope enough people around me can see to the ‘detail’. Feel energised by the response of the people in the parish as well as what the Religious bring.

Always welcome any opportunity to work with other religious and this time with many other groups in the church who are ‘exposing’ others to the work of vocations and how they as individuals might contribute.

• A much greater understanding of what vocations means.
• An explosion to various vocational choices which help some people decide their own life choices.
• That someone might think about us.
• Excited and a little daunted.

Sister Pilar

The idea of the Expo is excellent and to meet as a group of promoters is of a help as how to go about in this ministry.

The outcome will be:

• A better knowledge of religious congregations.
• Awareness of their own vocation you live in life.
• Facilitate the contact with religious sisters / nuns / brothers / priests.

I feel optimistic of this proposed event.

Sister Emmanuel

Sister Francoise

I came from Canterbury to see what this vocation Expo is. It is an excellent idea.

• Great witness for the church / religious to work together in spreading the good news.
• Internet excellent for information.
• Well practical examples for young people to get involved with.
• Projects to help. Give their time to.

Outcomes

Better knowledge of vocation for everyone religious we are all spreading the kingdom in our apostles. May be we can work together in making more projects work. It has great vision and scope. I would be interested in Canterbury area where I live — Local issues that can be a witness for information.

Fr Paul — well done!

Sister Clare

Vocations Expo Vision

• Working for the kingdom together, not our congregations in competition.
• Laying groundwork of vocations.
• Awareness on national scale.
• Exciting challenge of Inter-Franciscan witness.
• Sound preparation and planning already begun. Excellent resources and facilities. The more people on-board, the better.

Thank you! Praise the Lord!

Outcomes

• Positive image of religious and Priestly vocation among young people.
• Greater awareness of their vocational options in the church.

After today

Sister Florence

• I’m here to participate.
• I’m really happy for this meeting.
• I think is a good idea to help young people to know what is the will of God for them.
• I think that what we plan to do will help them.
• I think with this meeting they will be involved in the church and we will have good Christians.
• I’m happy and I like to collaborate.

Sister Imelda

Having heard the proposal I became very energised. I feel religious have so much to offer the Church today and very few people really know who we are or where we came from. I feel that lots of young people are committed to serving God in different walks of life.

The outcome I hope will be to see religious life as a worthwhile vocation in the church and younger people will have a greater understanding of our lives.

I feel very positive about this activity, but feel inadequate as to how to go about it.

Sister Teresa

Having heard the proposal today:

• Being aware of the shortage of vocations to the Religious Life I decided to join the group and see / hear what is going on in this field. Coming with negative feelings (what’s the use!) I was heartened by the notion that the thrust of the meeting was to make others – all outside convents and other communities aware of who we are – what we stand for.

What outcomes from this:

• To help people to understand and firstly to get to know what Religious Life and what it means!

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• This has been a really positive approach to the project at hand – The day has been great – Many thanks positive and heartening.

Sister Geanalyn

Having heard the proposal on Vocation exposition for me, it was a very brilliant idea, and I am pretty sure it will have a positive outcome. Personally, as my first time to attend this meeting it energises me to look forward to working for vocations and especially, to collaborate for this EXPO. To work with other congregations is another positive idea.

As a whole I say that, the outcome of this EXPO will be brilliant, as I have mentioned above. And this will be a great material to share with the other parishes/communities.

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• I feel so welcome in the group, there is so much spirit of family, openness and sharing.
• I am so happy and feel wonderful being with others.

Sister Natalia

Having heard the proposal today:

• I see my dream being fulfilled of working as a Team in the field of Vocations
• The steps to achieve the vocation animation are good.
• I would like to involve people in my parish and surroundings.

What outcomes from this:

• To continue as a team alive in the church: religious – priest – married people
• Give witnesses of communion and mission

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• Positive, appreciate the response to the inspiration.
• Hopeful to be committed and continue!

Sister Helen

Having heard the proposal today:

• I feel very excited about the event. There seems to be a lot of energy around and I’m impressed at how well it’s being supported especially at local level where already much work and organisation has taken place.
• The event is ambitious but possible and will require it all to be organised as the local group. Sp Families/groups will now need to become very active in view of the very limited time available.
• Great possibility

What outcomes from this:

• A greater awareness of Christian vocation and a sense of Trust that all individuals are called.
• More collaboration between religious and lay and religious and religions

Re: vocations and ministry

• A received sense of church

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• Pressurised – realise just how much still needs to be done and time is short
• Very hopeful
• This will be a wonderful event

Sister Roisin

Having heard the proposal today:

• I feel enthusiastic and energised by the commitment and interest within the group present here, however I also have a sense of being daunted by the size of such a project and all that’s entailed.
• I’m extremely impressed by the help given to us by the many people. I hope to be able to be of assistance in whatever way I can e.g. organised the Franciscan family stand along with Helen, etc.

What outcomes from this:

• I hope and believe that as a result of this expo people will become more aware of what Religious Life is – it will bring us more together, shoulder to shoulder as fellow Christians in the extended family of the Church at large.

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• As above!
• Enthusiastic and Daunted!

Sister Anne-Marie

Having heard the proposal today:

• Curiosity brought me! Also to support Father Paul’s Plan. I am glad I came and I am in tune to what Father is trying to do. He has my support all the way, as I feel that we Religious have given much to the Church re schools and hospital in the past.
• Now in our retirement there is much we can do to support the church.
• I agree in all that Father is trying to do. I do hope that my community will be equally inspired to see the need of the church today.

Sr Laura

Having heard the proposal today:

• I think the proposal is very nice and with a real possibility of realisation. It will be great to work together with other congregations but I think that the time is not a lot, so we have to have clear ideas of how to do it.

What outcomes from this:

• The idea can help to wake up young people; to help to discover that there are different lifestyles and not only the one showed by society in general.

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• I’m filled with enthusiasm and curiosity, with joy but also a bit afraid because I don’t know the English reality.

Sister Natalia

Having heard the proposal today:

• I’m here because I wanted to see a bit of what is going on the religious life in London, Sr Natalia invited me and I thought that it was a great opportunity to do so, even if I probably won’t be here for the expo, to see that something new is happening brings me hope for the religious life is not sleeping, god continues working.

Feelings on this activity

• I feel happy to see that people believe in their charism and what they are is worthy to propose to other people

Steve - IHM Parishioner

Team to organise and publish event after hearing the proposals. The requirements to organise the event, develop each time we meet.

Today

• Set up requirements for Wed 29/4
• Set up exhibition
• Provide resources – required help.
• Organise accommodation volunteers to meet and take away their exhibitions.
• KSC may be able to help with this
• Security during the four days.
• KSC to consider having teams of knights available to police event pulling in from KSC and other parishioners.
• KSC to spread communication through to parishioners.

Outcome

Well attended, successful, organised event with parishioners comments from visitors and a follow-up with groups.

• What could we have done better!!
• How do we go for recruitment now?

How feeling

• Confident that it will be successful.

Sunshine

Having heard the proposal I think:

• It would be good for our youth to know about religious life. I have personally had exposure to religious life/people and it was a great experience. Youth of today do not have this contact or exposure.

What outcomes from this:

• People having an awareness of religious life as not boring and only prayers! But that people realise that religions do have fun / great experiences and also do great good for others.

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• Good Start - to develop this event
• Good ideas – gap year, combined exhibits.

Siobhan

Having heard the proposal today:

• I think it is a really good idea however, it needs everyone to be on board and committed
• We need to communicate the message and what it means
• We need to promote, educate and learn from this event
• Be open to new ideas
• Work with everyone involved and embrace the message

What outcomes from this:

• Better awareness of vocations and what else is out there
• Continuation of the work, for example; CD-ROM, smaller events, other parishes taking up the idea
• More closer community
• Better relationships with other communities

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• Makes me realise that there is so much to learn from others
• To understand that everyone is an individual and they all have a story to tell just like me!

Edward

Having heard the proposal today:

• Bring back awareness to the church
• Involvement of other parties, for example Union of Catholic Mothers

What outcomes from this:

• Reunion to the church
• People not having the church address (loss of the guide)
• A stronghold
• Spread the message

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• More energised to do more and spread the awareness

Shan

Having heard the proposal today:

• I am delighted of EXPO 2009
• I am proud and pleased to be in the core team
• I am planning actively to contribute all my activities to the success of this event
• Dedicated to make available myself for all the communicational meetings and more for the four days.

What outcomes from this:

• We can get our communities to engage in church and its activities
• Create a wake up call to involve our parishioners

Feelings on this activity/today’s event:

• Very encouraged and confident that “VOCATION EXPO” will be a success story