Vocations
“Every vocation is part of a divine plan… It is God who loves us, who is Love, who calls us.”
— Pope Benedict XVI
God calls many men and women to religious life. The call might be to the priesthood, the permanent diaconate, or to the consecrated life as a religious sister, brother or member of a secular order. Whatever the call, it is always personal and initiated by the Lord himself. While many are called to the vocation of the married life, fewer are called to a consecrated religious life. The content on this page will provide you with resources to assist you in determining whether or not you are being called to such a life.
MySoulProclaims.com
Launched on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, My Soul Proclaims is a web-based video ministry that seeks to share the joy of all vocations through the testimonies of priests, deacons, brothers, sisters and married men and women.
ForYourVocation.org
The first place you may want to explore is a website called ForYourVocation.org. This site provides a great deal of information regarding the various vocations within the Church, as well as several helpful videos and other tools to use to help with your discernment. Whether you are a man or a woman, take advantage of this excellent resource to help you better understand your options.
Diocesan Discernment Program
The Diocesan Discernment Program is an opportunity for men who are open to the possibility of discerning the vocation of Catholic priesthood to gather on a monthly basis for discussion, prayer and reflection. The program is for men who are in college, young adult and older men and also juniors and seniors in high school. The monthly Discernment Days of Reflection take place on a Saturday (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) in the Knoxville area.
In addition to the monthly gatherings, men in the program are encouraged to develop the habit of daily prayer (through resources provided by the
program) and daily Mass attendance. The men are asked to be involved in their parish community and in some form of service in their parish and/or local community. The men are also encouraged to meet monthly with a priest spiritual director. During the course of the program there are also opportunities made available for the participants to visit seminaries and experience seminary life as a means to help in their continuing discernment. To receive more information on the program, contact Fr. Michael Cummins at (423) 926-7061 or etsucatholiccenter@yahoo.com.
Diocesan Discernment Program schedule for 2011/2012.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 – Day of Reflection, Topic: Vocation, Prayer and Discernment, Location: Chancery
Saturday, September 17, 2011 – Day of Reflection, Topic: Living the Christian Moral Life, Location: Chancery
Friday, October 7 – Sunday, October 9, 2011 – Discernment Retreat led by Bishop Stika
Saturday, November 12, 2011 – Day of Reflection, Topic: Celibacy and Chastity, Location: Chancery
Saturday, December 10, 2011 – Day of Reflection, Topic: The Life of a Diocesan Priest, Location: Chancery
January 23, 2012 – March for Life in Washington, D.C. (exact schedule to be determined)
Saturday, February 18, 2012 – Day of Reflection: Community and the Church, Location: Chancery
Saturday, March 17, 2012 – Day of Reflection, Topic: The Call to Discipleship, Location: Chancery
Saturday, April 14, 2012 – Day Hike/Retreat
From the video featuring our seminarians at the top of this page, to Bishop Stika’s homily at the celebration of his 25th Anniversary of his priesthood, you’ll find some great food for thought within these videos. You’ll find contact information for diocesan vocations below the following videos.
Bishop Stika on the Priesthood
Bishop Stika on the Permanent Diaconate
Deacon Patrick on the Permanent Diaconate
Vocations Office
Director: Father Michael Cummins
The Catholic Center at ETSU
734 W. Locust St.
Johnson City, TN 37604
Office: 423-926-7061
The Vocation Office of the Diocese of Knoxville promotes priestly vocations through discernment opportunities, the Diocesan Discernment Program, the Diocesan House of Discernment and coordination with lay organizations in the diocese. The Vocation Office assists the bishop in fostering the formation of men who are preparing for the diocesan priesthood.
Vocation Promotion for Religious
Coordinator: Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM
Phone: 865-690-9266
The office of Vocation Promotion for Religious works to foster vocations to religious life through retreats, parish visits, and communication with the faithful.
