Description: Host an event with a panel of people who present a short snippet about their chosen vocation — a priest, a religious brother, a religious sister, a married couple, a lay member of a religious order, and a single person. Follow the panel presentation with a chance for attendees to interact individually with these folks in a “speed dating” format.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: You should begin planning this event six to eight weeks in advance, in order to secure panel members. Advance prep time should only take a couple of hours: Securing the location, inviting the panelists, creating the publicity, and figuring out refreshments and hospitality.
- Volunteers Needed: An emcee (can be the program planner) and a few volunteers to greet people as they come in.
- Ideal Group Size: 10-15 is an ideal size for good conversations; however, it can be done with up to 50.
- Ideal Time for this Event: It can be held at any time, but a weekday evening would probably be best suited for this type of event. It should last no longer than two-three hours.
- Who is this for? All young adults. Because all vocations are represented, all are welcome. It would probably be most appealing to those who continue to discern their vocation in life.
- Supplies Needed: Nametags, refreshments, sound system (depending on location).
- Reserve the Space: An ideal location is one that allows for a configuration where the panelists can be in front of the group and then break off into smaller groups. A medium-sized parish hall is ideal. This event could also be held in a bar, coffee shop, or restaurant with a separate room for group events. Make sure the space is conducive to conversations.
Publicize the Program
- Beyond the local parish bulletins, you can provide your event information to your diocesan newspaper.
- There are also several vocation websites and Catholic young adult websites that will allow you to post events on their calendar pages. These include Catholics on Call, Vision, OYE!, Guide to Religious Ministries, and Vocations Placement.
- Facebook promotion of the event is also a good idea. Create an event page to invite those you know. Facebook also allows you to narrow your target audience and pay a reasonable fee to make your event known to whom you want to see it, if you have a budget for that.
Prayer for Program Planner: Holy Spirit, you created a special vocation for each of us based on the gifts you have given us and the true desires of our heart. Grant that we may be open to hearing and carrying out your plan for us. Amen.
Community Building: Refreshments should be provided, but the event lends itself to interaction. Participants will have two different settings in which to interact with members of the panel. First, in a more formal setting as they are given the opportunity to listen to the panel and ask questions. Second, in the “speed dating” format, they will be able to interact in a more informal setting.
Make It Happen
- Preparation: Arrive early enough to set up your space. If you are providing refreshments, set those up. Put out nametags and markers. Check the sound system. Greet your panelists and participants as they arrive.
- Part 1: Emcee will give a brief introduction to the evening, including a description of vocation as a universal call to holiness, which takes many forms as dictated by the will of God and the willingness to do the will of God. Include a reading from 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 (Many Parts, One Body).
Next, Each member of the panel (priest, brother, sister, married couple, lay member of religious order, single person) should prepare a short introduction of themselves, how they discerned their vocation and what their vocation has meant to them (three-five minutes each). Allow 10-15 minutes for general questions to the panel.
Tip: If you have a large group, it’s a good idea to gather these questions on notecards in advance or during the introductions and have the emcee ask the questions.
- Part 2: Align rows of chairs facing each other (perhaps at a row of rectangular tables). Ask members of the panel to sit on one side and participants to sit on the other. During three-five minute sessions, young adults can have conversations with the individual panelists, then move on to the next panelist. (You might want to use a bell or gong to announce the end of a session.) If there are more participants than panel members, allow for additional participants to gather and converse while they wait their turns to go through the line. Another option is to arrange participants in groups of six or eight and have the panelists move from group to group. Be sure to allocate time for longer sessions if working with more participants.
- Part 3: If time allows, gather the panel again to give reactions (stressing individual confidentiality) to the “speed dating” portion of the evening. Also allow for any additional questions from the participants (again — you might want to use notecards for anonymity). Finally, close with a prayer for vocations. Thank your panelists and participants. Be sure to provide information on how to follow up with the panelists, if appropriate.
- Thank yous: If you have stipends for your panelists, distribute those with thank you notes. Clean up and go home!
Ideas
- If time allows, and you have A/V equipment available to you, an additional segment could be added that would show clips from various movies that show a sense of vocation or call. Some movies that come to mind include It’s a Wonderful Life, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Simon Birch, Bruce Almighty, and Romero. This segment requires some additional planning time to sift through the movies to find the clips you wish to include. You certainly would be able to find other movies that show some sense of vocation, but this will give you a springboard to begin thinking about it. A young adult movie buff in your group might have some ideas! (This can also be done separately in advance or as follow up to this event.)
- Host a “progressive” dinner, where the groups rotate at each course of the meal — appetizers with one panelist, salad with another, main course with the third, etc. Invite people to bring in dishes or cook them together, if you have the space.
Help
- The USCCB devotes a section of its website to vocations and vocational resources.
Recommends
- There are many vocation prayers floating around. Search and perhaps assemble a few to distribute. This one is from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati:
“Prayer for Vocations”
Almighty Father,
You have created us for some definite purpose.
Grant us the grace to know the path
You have planned for us in this life
and to respond with a generous “Yes.”
Make our archdiocese, parishes, homes and hearts
fruitful ground for Your gift of vocations.
May our young people respond to Your call
with courage and zeal.
Stir among our men a desire and the strength
to be good and holy priests.
Bless us with consecrated religious and those called to a
chaste single life, permanent deacons,
and faithful husbands and wives,
who are a sign of Christ’s love for His Church.
We commend our prayer for vocations to You, Father,
through the intercession of Mary our Mother,
in the Holy Spirit,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr
