Vocation Increase

Next month of September is Vocation Month in the archdiocese. Many communities of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life from within and outside Davao will join the Davao Chapter of the National Association of Diocesan Vocation Directors in a month-long special prayer, search-in sessions and information campaign on vocations. In general the campaign/promotion is about vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Our young people are not the only focus of these activities. The parents, priests, even the children, in fact, everyone must know what vocation is all about. To promote, support, and pray for vocation correct and intensive information is necessary.

Most of all, the good example and lifestyle of us bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters are a big factor. I made a random inquiry with several seminarians on who is their most powerful inspiration. Without even pausing to think, their quick reply was Pope Francis!

In Davao and perhaps in the entire of Mindanao vocations to the priesthood is increasing remarkably. At the moment the students in theology at the St. Francis Regional Major Seminary are more than 140 seminarians! They come from different places in Mindanao. In the college (philosophy) seminary, there are more than a hundred!

There are two other regional seminaries — 1 in Cagayan de Oro City and 1 in Ozamis City. All dioceses have their own college seminary. It seems the “Francis effect” is felt worldwide.

But, as Pope St. Pius X used to say, “True vocation comes the heart of God and passes through the heart of a mother.”