Youth offered chance to discover their vocation
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Justin Lam entered the work force after graduating from graphic communications management at Toronto’s Ryerson University a couple of years ago. But despite his current job as a customer label estimator, Lam finds something is missing in his life.
“There’s this feeling of emptiness from time to time where you go to work, get off work, go home, take a shower, go to bed and do it all again the next day,” said Lam, a member of Chinese Martyrs parish in Markham, Ont.
Lam is hoping the “Can You Hear It?” sessions, run by the downtown Toronto chapter of the Serra Club, will help him understand his vocation in life.
Set to begin on Sept. 18, the sessions focus on young people from 18 to 35, helping them reflect on how they’re going to serve God, whether through a call to religious life or not, said Zinnia Milburn, vice-president of vocations with Serra Club, an organization that aims to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
While the word “vocation” brings to mind calls to the priesthood and to joining a convent, Milburn said youth need to remember there are other ways to serve God outside of a religious life.
Led by Fr. Leonard Altilia, assistant for vocations with the Jesuits, Lam said the vocation sessions are about discernment and reflection — where youth will be taught different methods of finding their true calling through prayers, silent reflection and other methods in order to “hear God better.”
“Many youths, including myself, wonder what our purpose in life is. In today’s society we’re taught to get a good education, enter the work force and work towards a career.
“But is that it? Is there more to life than having a good job and earning money?”
Lam, who was at the initial brainstorming session for Can You Hear It? back in May, wondered what he could to do to figure out how to be a good Catholic. He believes the answer lies in these sessions.
Marino Jeyarajah, a youth club leader at Precious Blood parish in Scarborough, was also involved in creating Can You Hear It?
He said he wanted to be involved because he knows there is a demand for this sort of experience.
Club members told him they needed some help figuring out what they wanted to do with their lives and what God was calling them to do.
“In our youth group, a lot of members have been to retreats and sessions where they’ve experienced praise and worship. But they were looking for something more,” he said.
All sessions take place at the Scarboro Missions.
For information contact Milburn at (416) 305-5192 or e-mail zinniamilburn@gmail.com.
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