Vocation Expo had a kick-off meeting on Saturday, 10 January, after which Father Paul asked the participants for reactions to three questions:
- What they thought about the Vocation Expo proposal
- What they hoped might come from it
- How they were feeling about being involved in the project
Here are some of the reactions.
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Sister Margaret
Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy
- To help organise the big picture
- Part of the Ignation family group
- Medaille Trust
Vision
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.
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Sister Pilar
Sister Hospitaller of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in charge of Pastoral of Vocations
Vision
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.
Outcomes
- A better knowledge of religious congregations.
- Awareness of their own vocation you live in life.
- Facilitate the contact with religious sisters / nuns / brothers / priests.
Reaction
I feel optimistic of this proposed event.
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Sister Emmanuel
Religion Sister of Mercy
I am here to share and get familiar with the latest thinking on vocations. For orders like mine I think there will not be a great increase in vocations due in some degree to our present comfortable life style. We need to get back to deep daily prayer to reflection on who we are of who we are serving. In other parts of the world we do have some vocations. I hope this Expo will start people into an enthusiastic mode of thinking and then move on to how and where we can move in our future searchings.
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Sister Françoise
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton – Canterbury
Vision
I came from Canterbury to see what this Vocation Expo is. It is an excellent idea.
- Great witness for the Church and 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.
Reaction
Fr Paul – well done!
-
Sister Clare
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Littlehampton
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.
Reaction
Feeling enthused and excited about this project.
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Sister Florence
Comboni Missionary Sisters
- 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.
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Sister Imelda
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Vision
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.
Outcomes
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.
Reaction
I feel very positive about this activity, but feel inadequate as to how to go about it.
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Sister Teresa
Sisters of Mercy
Vision
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.
Outcomes
To help people to understand and firstly to get to know what Religious Life and what it means!
Reaction
This has been a really positive approach to the project at hand – the day has been great – many thanks positive and heartening.
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Sister Geanalyn
Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Vision
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.
Outcomes
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 and communities.
Reaction
- 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.
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Sister Natalia
Comboni Missionary Sisters, representing the Congregation as Missionary Animator
Vision
- 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.
Outcomes
- To continue as a team alive in the Church: religious – priest – married people
- Give witnesses of communion and mission
Reaction
- Positive, appreciate the response to the inspiration.
- Hopeful to be committed and continue!
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Sister Helen
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Vision
- 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 as organised as the local group. Spiritual families/groups will now need to become very active in view of the very limited time available.
- Great possibility.
Outcomes
- 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 religious.
- A received sense of Church.
Reaction
- Pressurised – realise just how much still needs to be done and time is short
- Very hopeful
- This will be a wonderful event
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Sister Róisín
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Vision
- 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. organise the Franciscan family stand along with Helen, etc.
Outcomes
- 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.
Reaction
- As above!
- Enthusiastic and Daunted!
-
Sister Anne-Marie
St Raphael's Convent
- 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.
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Sister Laura
Comboni Missionary Sisters
Vision
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.
Outcomes
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.
Reaction
I'm filled with enthusiasm and curiosity, with joy but also a bit afraid because I don't know the English reality.
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Sister Natalia
Comboni Missionary Sisters
Vision
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.
Reaction
I feel happy to see that people believe in their charism and what they are is worthy to propose to other people