Vocations Weekend - November 21-22
November 30th, 2009 by Rev. Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P.
In the short essay below, Br. Thomas More Garrett, O.P., reflects on the most recent Vocations Weekend at the Dominican House of Studies.
Advent is a period of waiting, longing and begging. The Church invites us about the same time each year to contemplate in a special way our anticipation of an encounter with the Son of God in our lives.
For some, there are times when Advent takes on another dimension. The season of waiting, longing and begging does not limit itself to a period of four weeks or so. Regardless of its length, however, the season may conclude with nothing less than a decisive commitment to a radical change of life.
Last weekend, eleven men visited the House of Studies in Washington, D.C. to test their call to Dominican life. For several of the guests, the Province’s latest Vocation Weekend gave rise to their first visit to the studentate. For others, previous experiences at the House of Studies have been influential in their attraction to the Province.
The group of men came to the House of Studies with the variety of backgrounds that the community has come to expect. Many are students at either the undergraduate or graduate level, while others have not been in the classroom for some time. Among the visitors were a former Presbyterian minister and a physician. Men came from as far as Illinois and as near as the campus of the Catholic University of America located just across the street from the House of Studies.
The Director of Vocations, Fr. Bill Garrott, O.P. began the event with introductory remarks on Friday evening. The weekend included presentations by various friars who serve throughout the Province. These talks focused on subjects such as Dominican spirituality and the intellectual life in the Dominican tradition, as well as more practical areas such as the Province’s various ministries and its approach toward formation.
The centerpiece of the event, however, was Eucharistic adoration. Each guest, along with many of the student brothers, rotated hours of prayer during an all night vigil of Eucharistic Adoration that extended from Saturday evening through Sunday morning. This time gave each of the men silence to reflect on what led him to the Vocation Weekend.
Ultimately, the answer was before them on the altar. But Christ works through many instruments. Despite the diversity in background among the men, a common element of attraction to the Order for several of them was an encounter with a Dominican of the Province of St. Joseph. Nearly all had crossed paths with a Dominican or two over the past couple of years. Each of the men found an example of an authentic life lived in the service of the Church in those members of the Province whom he met.
As we enter this season of Advent, please pray for these men that each will find the direction from Christ for which they wait, long and beg. Keep the Province in your prayers as well as our community hopes to receive the graces this Advent to make good use of the many blessings God continues to bestow on the Province of St. Joseph.
