May 22, 2005

CNS photo by Theresa Laurence, Tennessee Register
Priests and religious aren’t perfect human beings—but they tend to be creative, wholesome people who feel inspired to serve God. Here, Sister Mary Olivia Shirley (left) and Sister Mary Ellen Westholtz provide flute accompaniment during a June 2004 Mass celebrated at the Dominican motherhouse in Nashville.

A number of factors can influence a decision in today’s vocation climate.

How did you know you were called to be a sister?”

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked this question, I’d be a wealthy woman. In my years as a vocation minister, I have come to realize that the real question for many is “Why would you do such a thing with your life?”

No doubt about it, fewer Catholics are choosing to be priests, sisters, or brothers. Even to consider a celibate vocation in today’s climate raises questions. Those making such a choice are likely to be considered very holy or very crazy—or more than a little desperate for something to do!

“Why do this with your life?” There are many possible and plausible answers, but let’s first focus on some factors behind such a question.

If there’s anything people can agree on these days about priesthood and religious life, it’s that there are fewer priests, brothers, and sisters and fewer people coming to houses of formation and seminaries, at least in North America. Yet we tend to compare every period in history to the late ’50s and early ’60s, when great numbers were entering priesthood and religious life. We need to keep in mind that the vocation explosion of that era was an exceptional phenomenon, not at all the usual state of affairs.

Yet it’s not only these vocations that face a crisis today. Married folks haven’t found it easy sailing either, as the growing phenomenon of divorce indicates. For a variety of reasons, the U.S. Catholic population is faced with serious questions about all vocations and about commitments to them.

The vocation climate today

People still choose religious life and priesthood, but the number is declining. We can pinpoint certain factors, however, that are influencing the number of those considering priesthood and religious life:

• The cultural trend is away from permanency. Lifetime commitments are often seen today as undesirable and impossible. Given the life expectancy in this country, committing oneself to anything for a lifetime is, for many, unattractive and impossible. People not only make lifestyle changes, but they may have three or more careers in a lifetime.
• Ministry options are multiplying. Vatican II, in affirming the common call shared in baptism, deepened our awareness of the dignity of each call—whether to the married or single life, priesthood, or religious life. The development of lay ministry, though a positive factor in today’s church, has a significant impact on those who are considering ministry options. These days one doesn’t have to be a priest or religious to be involved in ministry.
• Application processes are more extensive today. Religious communities and dioceses take great effort in evaluating candidates. Each person is assessed carefully to see whether he or she has the skills and talents to serve as a brother, sister, or priest. Desire is not the only consideration, and discernment is a two-way street. Not everyone who indicates an interest in priesthood or religious life may be invited to move in that direction. The underlying question is what will be best for the individual as well as for the people of God.
• The public image of priests and religious is under attack. Negative media coverage, particularly due to sexual-abuse lawsuits filed against dioceses and religious communities, has left many people with a sense of mistrust for church ministers and the inability to see this lifestyle choice as a credible, “respectable” option. Stereotypical images of priests and religious in TV and movie productions often fail to show a realistic, contemporary, and adult understanding of these lifestyles. They are often presented as silly, childish, and irrelevant. Priests and religious doing admirable work often go unnoticed.
• Family structures are changing. At times this has a negative impact on how one looks at options for his or her future. Families are generally smaller these days, and parents want grandchildren. As a result, some parents find it hard to encourage their children to consider priesthood or religious life.
• The social climate is not always supportive. Though the United States struggles to uphold positive values, it is increasingly marked by materialism and individualism, and we are bombarded with the message that “you can have it all.” Such an environment is not supportive of vocations.

Why be a brother, sister, or priest?

Given these hurdles and a modern climate sometimes hostile to cultivating church vocations, I can understand why people approach us with the question “Why would anyone want to be a religious or priest today?” Everyone, of course, has a different vocation story to tell.

In my own case, there were no thunderbolts. It was the encouragement of family members, teachers, and friends who saw talent and skills in me that could be used in this way. Finally it was the dare of a friend that pushed me to enter a community—a dare that said, “I can’t imagine you’d do this—or stay.” Not a good reason to join, but it got me in the door. And only a couple years later did it begin to dawn on me, “Hey, this might work!”

I could have made other choices, but this way of life calls forth my deepest sense of passion and commitment to God and God’s people. It is an ongoing adventure shared with members of my own community, other religious, priests, and so many others. My choice is at the same time both personally costly and fulfilling.

Good men and women today are choosing religious life and the priesthood. These people represent a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and experiences. Perfect people? Not! Yet they are wholesome and creative people who feel inspired to serve the people of God in a unique way.

The church needs to strengthen its priestly and religious ranks with happy, healthy people who have a desire to make a difference in the church and the world—even in the midst of struggle and confusion. We are looking for people for whom God is significant and who have a burning desire to be of service to others. The church needs people who have leadership skills and can work well with a variety of people. No one is born a sister, brother, or priest. Vocations are both God-inspired and homemade.

When we look at the life of Jesus, we notice that he was not halfhearted. Compelled to bring God’s healing presence and reign into the world, he looked potential followers right in the eye and invited them to join him in his mission.

Jesus’ call for disciples and co-workers must go out today as boldly as ever. His message and mission are still eminently worth sharing. To be a brother, priest, or sister is a way of responding dramatically to that call—not the only way but a highly significant way. Those who open themselves to the power of the Spirit and pursue these options with faith are surely helping to bring about a new dawn in the church.

The underlying goal is not to push more people into priesthood and religious life as if we were playing a numbers game. The goal is rather to call forth those among us who have what it takes to live and serve in this way. As we continue to shape the church of the future, we need generous and creative ministers among us. Consider it! This could be you or someone you know.

There are as many ministries as there are religious. Franciscan Brother Conrad Richardson distributes donated food and gifts at the Franciscan Brothers of Peace Friary in St. Paul, Minn. “My vocation is about love and offering help,” he said.
CNS photo by Dave Hrbacek, Catholic Spirit

Sister Cathy Bertrand, a School Sister of Notre Dame, is a former executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference.