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Parent's Guide to Vocations
An Introduction
As Catholics, we believe
that God has a special plan for everyone. Life is not
a random haphazard existence; rather there is special
meaning and purpose to life. The meaning of life is a
question that philosophers and scholars have debated for
years. As people of faith, we believe that we are called
to know, love, and serve God. All people are called to
holiness (that is our common baptismal call), but then
God calls each of us to live out our lives in specific
and meaningful ways. For many that ultimately means to
marry and raise a family; for some it means living a good,
holy, single life in the world; for still others it is
a call to live as a priest or religious. As a parent,
you want what is best for your child, but (obviously since
your call from God was not priesthood) are not sure what
to do if your son mentions this possibility. What should
I say or do? Even if they never mention it, is this something
that you ought to bring up for them to consider? Whatever
the case, this section is for you!
- A
few thoughts to consider
- As a parent, you try
to instill values, to encourage your children in the
pursuit of positive goals, and to assure them of your
unconditional love. The first step is understanding
the differences between your experiences and theirs.
The “millennial
generation” is immersed in remote-controlled,
high-tech, competitive-edge materialism
Lifetime commitment
may seem like an irrelevant notion, whether in marriage
or priesthood.
Do you go to Mass
every weekend, just like your parents did? Today’s
high school and college students may find spirituality
in places you never thought to look.
Be careful of “vicarious
living” that is, trying to relive your life
through your children. You have been given your children
by God to nurture and guide, but not to make all their
decisions for them. When thinking about your children,
which is most important: “What do I want for
them? or “What does God want for them?”
- Balancing
Interfering with Interfacing
An important Reminder:
Don’t forget
to check out our other sections for parents on this website!
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