Are You Hearing The Call?

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The root of the word vocation comes from the Latin word, “vocare” meaning “to call.” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church a vocation is the call or destiny we have in this life and hereafter.
God has created the human person to love and serve him; the fulfillment of this vocation is eternal happiness (CCC 1, 358, 1700). So God has called each of us to a particular “call” or “vocation” in life. Through Baptism and Confirmation all Christians are called to follow Jesus Christ to be holy people who dedicate their lives to serve God and our neighbor. The call to follow Jesus leads to one of four paths in life: single life, married life, the consecrated life or ordination to the priesthood.

Do young people hear their “call” these days? In a culture full of busyness, noise and distractions especially from technology, many are not. Prayer, especially silent prayer, is a remedy for that. If we take time away from the world and instead dedicate more time to listen to God in prayer by meditating on Sacred Scripture, then He will surely lead us ever closer to our vocation, because we are doing His will. But He may not always reveal His will for us in the way or time we want or in the way we think. Sometimes God surprises us by using other people as instruments to help reveal our call. Other times he may speak right to our heart. The question is are we listening? Are we docile or open to how the Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives? Are we willing to give up everything to follow Him in life (Mt. 19:21), which will ultimately make us happy? YES!

Let us pray boldly for young people to help them hear and recognize their “call” and to respond generously to live out their vocation with joy either as priests, religious, spouses or singles. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Lk. 10:2, Mt. 9:38).

In Loving Response to God’s Call,
Fr. Jeff Allan

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Author: Fr. Jeff Allan

Biography - Fr. Jeff Allan, was ordained a Catholic priest on June 7th, 2014 for the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD). He graduated from Adrian College in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice. After working in the pharmaceutical sales industry for almost three years, he felt called to discern the priesthood. Before being ordained a priest, Fr. Jeff was blessed to receive three degrees from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. They include a Bachelor of Philosophy, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB), and a Master of Divinity (Theology). His assignments in the U.S. have included serving at multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit as an associate pastor and currently as a weekend assistant. Fr. Jeff is certified as a hospital chaplain through ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). He has had the opportunity of serving at three Metro-Detroit Area Hospitals since 2017 where he serves in full-time ministry as a Catholic Priest and Hospital Chaplain.

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