05 Oct 2003

I reply 'How many did you ask?' When in a good mood I interpret their question as interest. When in a bad mood, I react defensively. I reckon that about 10 out of 120 confreres take an interest in vocations ministry (less than 10). This is because they are demoralised and they don't know how to invite.

The Redemptorist context is one where one confrere Fr. Tony Flannery has written a book about the 'Death of Religious Life?' He told the story of a Redemptorist in a hospital bed, who asked an attending male nurse to consider the Redemptorists. It was the first time in twenty years that he invited somebody. When asked why he had asked after such a long time, he said it was down to the efforts made by the vocations team in recent years.

I told my vocation story. As a 24 year old accountant I went to Sudan with as a volunteer. There were six dimensions to my story; -I got involved in a community. -I began to read the scriptures, especially the new testament, and began to focus on the person of Jesus. -I listened with a mixture of frustration and curiosity to the poor of Sudan speak of their sense of God. - In moments of fear, I prayed and had a sense of Presence. -I began to articulate what I was experiencing and thinking at a faith level to friends etc. - From My time in Sudan, I developed a new interest in the poor, and underdogs. My vocation grew out of these stepping stones.

Vocations Ministry: I reluctantly accepted the Provincial's request to take on the vocations job. I attended the Ferdinand conference, and developed a vocations strategy around the following points: - Listening to the Redemptorist Confreres Vocation stories. -Asking others what they thought about Redemptorists - Working towards a mis-sion statement. - Organising a calendar of events to extend the Redemptorist vocation to expand our pool of contact with young people. - Involving lay people in an advisory group. - Creating a vocations culture whereby all confreres take responsibility for the vocations ministry.

The Vocations team visited the Redemptorist communities and we told them the Ferdinand story and we asked the confreres why they joined and why they stay. Many said it was the best community meeting in years. So many of our meetings have become business focused. The feedback demonstrated the significance of the personal invitation in so many vocation stories. We distributed the handout -'Your role in nurturing vocations to our congregation', and the handout 'Communicating the Invitation'. We had good input and discussion on these papers.

THE VOCATIONS TEAM AT THE SERVICE OF EXTENDING THE INVITATION :
We attempted a process of telling the Redemptorist story to all we meet. We produced a new newsletter called Copiosa. There was excellent feedback on this. Produced twice a year. We experimented with publicity campaigns for missions and novenas, all the time trying to get the Redemptorist story across. This included press releases, making contact with local radio etc.

We have organised a calendar of events so that confreres always have a pro-gramme to which they can invite people they meet. The strategy is to invite young people to an event/programme, so that they might get to know us. This is a better strategy than just boldly asking people straight out to join the congrega-tion. The calendar of events includes: - Discernment retreats.- A two year immer-sion experience in Brazil. - A soul-mate programme - A nine-week mission in the Phillipine islands. - A three-week programme in the U.S.A - A youth pilgrimage to Bonn. - A month-long community experience involving pastoral experience, prayer and community living.

Inviting young people to live in our communities for a few months. Hospitality is vital! It is challenging! We stress the importance of youth ministry. We have one community dedicated to youth ministry and others that are interested. We encourage key people to pray for our ministry, including my mother. Ask communities to contribute to the Vocations Ministry budget. Nothing like money to get people talking/evaluating etc.. All the time looking for ways to keep the charism alive. I used the overhead of the quotation from a young man on a Redemptorist mission. Keep asking ourselves, what is our charism, and how can we keep it alive? Getting the communities to form study groups to read articles on religious life and the vocations ministry. Often there are good articles in Review for Religious. See Vocations Ministry as challenging the Province about the quality of our prayer life, our community life etc. Campaign for resources from the leadership team.

Practical examples of Redemptorists taking responsibility for Vocations Ministry :

· A confrere distributing Redemptorist prayer cards on third-level colleges.

· A Redemptorist student putting posters and leaflets in third-level colleges.

· Improving the website. Telling confreres stories on the website.

· Getting the help of our publications side in the production of the newsletter.

· Seeking the involvment of a member of the Leadership team on the Vocations team.

· A confrere who annually organises a Redemptorist Information Day.

· Another confrere who organised an Open Day in one of our communities, offering local people a chance to visit and tour our home.

· A confrere while on holidays, placing vocations literature in neighbouring parishes.

· Communities willing to invite people to stay. A warm reception offered when I visit with potential candidates. Warm hospitality without smothering visitors.

· Asking the Provincial to thank any confrere who refers somebody to the Vocations team.

· Getting confreres to help at the interview panels and to act as spiritual directors.

CONCLUSION
I believe that many confreres have lost the nerve about inviting, but are happy to see people coming. It is not a bad starting point. I told the story of a young man being very impressed with a homily preached by a Redemptorist before I joined. It left a lasting impression on me. I am now thirteen years a Redemptorist, and I have never told that Redemptorist the difference he made to me. So much of our ministry is like that, we don't see the fruits, or the seed growing. Value what we do and our ministry.