Invocation

Five young men and women and Fr William Massie from the Diocese joined hundreds of young Catholics, priests, religious and seminarians from across the country at the first ever national vocations event in July.

Invocation, which was held at St Mary’s College, Oscott, brought together more than 200 young people, many of who are discerning their vocation. And there was an added excitement with anticipation for the papal visit in September, particularly as Pope Benedict XVI will speak to bishops in the College Chapel, the scene of Cardinal John Henry Newman’s ‘second spring’ sermon.

The event was unlike anything ever seen in this country before. There was a colourful array of religious habits on show at the weekend, with some monks and nuns coming out of enclosed communities to help celebrate and promote vocations. We had a fantastic opportunity to meet others considering and living out their vocation from throughout England and Wales. But there was no sense of teenagers being badgered by their diocesan vocation directors or by the representatives of the different orders. Instead, the talks, workshops, discussion groups, Masses, liturgies, meals and social time provided a friendly atmosphere that promoted an example of how to foster a culture of vocations.

First and foremost, we were encouraged to find an ‘inner sanctuary’ in which to pray and ask God what his will is for us. There was plenty of opportunity for prayer, with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night in the chapel. A Reconciliation Service followed by a Blessed Sacrament procession around the grounds made up the Saturday evening.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, gave the keynote address on the Sunday morning. He talked about the three stages of Cardinal Newman’s conversion as an example of how to consider a vocation. He said Cardinal Newman described himself as possessing a natural religion and having a personal belief in God, which was followed by a realisation of the importance of dogmatic truth. His gift of presence with a Church of infallible teachings was the final stage at which point Cardinal Newman decided to become a Catholic.

The former Archbishop of Birmingham also explored ‘heroes of faith’, having a goal in mind, and being in company with others in pursuit of that goal as the three themes of a pilgrim’s badge. He said that an interior space, so that people can ‘hear the echo’ of God, was a key part of discerning a vocation.

There was an excellent talk by Dr Andrew O’Connell, Communications Director for the Presentation Brothers in Ireland, about the challenge to answer God’s call in the modern digital world. Sr Gabriel Davison, a Poor Clare nun, was one of a number of religious who came out of an enclosed community for the weekend. She spoke about her own journey, from an engineering degree (finding herself the only woman in a class of 80 men) to joining the Poor Clares and taking on radical poverty. Fr Christopher Jamison from Worth Abbey encouraged us to find that inner sanctuary to listen to God’s call.

A sense of how historic and significant the weekend was came as the Holy Father’s Apostolic Blessing for Invocation was read out at the final Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nichols. Part of the message from the Holy See read:

‘Particularly during this period of preparation for the Apostolic visit of the Holy Father, when this country has a special place in his thoughts and prayers, Pope Benedict XVI encourages all those present to continue to stay close to Our Blessed Lord as they strive to discern His will for their lives, and to put their trust in the power of the Holy Spirit who will give them the courage to say ‘yes’ to the Lord’s invitation.

‘His Holiness cordially imparts to all the participants in Invocation 2010 and to their families and loved ones a special Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of abundant graces from Our Blessed Lord.’

As well as the main talks, we had the chance to go to four workshops throughout the weekend on various different topics including witness, priesthood, discerning and decision making, and the theology of the body. Discussion groups gave us an opportunity to talk about the highlights of the weekend and look a bit deeper into personal vocation stories.

Organisers had hired two tepees and a large marquee to house dining tables, a ‘chill out’ and a bar. Each meal gave us an opportunity to sit down and speak to new people whether that be priests, nuns, monks, university students or seminarians. Evenings in the bar provided a more informal setting for people to chat, both with our own diocesan group and with people from other areas.

To see a Catholic event dominated by young people who were actively open to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or religious life was a delight. Invocation reminded us that there are many young Catholics both within and beyond the Diocese of Middlesbrough who are committed to their faith and prepared to seriously consider their vocation. Let’s hope that this fantastic event generates more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Richard Marsden