Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Nathan Verallo, says vocations discernment doesn’t apply only to the priesthood. He believes young people can benefit from vocations discernment programs to find the best way to use their gifts to serve God and commit to offering their life as a prayer.
Fr Nathan says he and his Vocations Discernment Program Team, which includes Fr Adi Indra and Fr Jackson Saunders, aims to provide ongoing accompaniment so that young people can grow, mature, and find their own sense of purpose. “I think this guidance and support is something which all young people can benefit from when discerning a vocation, whatever that vocation might turn out to be,” said Fr Nathan.
“The program works towards individual human growth, to nourishing spirituality – these things are an end in themselves,” says Fr Nathan. “Through our program we aim to help participants to identify and appreciate their gifts – not to seek something new, but to discover things which are already within them. We also help people to understand their limitations, again something which is helpful to everyone.”
Support and guidance through the Vocations Discernment Program aims to help young people to discern their individual path. “There are so many ways to serve God and the Church,” explained Fr Nathan. “You might not become a priest, but you can serve as a professed brother or sister, or as a lay person in a variety of contexts, such as being married with children.”
For Fr Nathan, the key to missionary discipleship and perhaps even contentment in life is commitment. He uses himself as an example to illustrate his point. “As a priest, I said ‘Yes!’ to committing my life to the Church and every day for me is an ongoing of saying ‘Yes’. My commitment is not stagnant; every day I am acting out ‘yes’ in different ways in different contexts. To be able to do this, I need to be committed.”
Although the commitment of a priest to the Church has a very different scope, the commitment of lay people is also a commitment which is ongoing and transforming. “We grow as a person because we are nourished by our commitment,” Fr Nathan explained. “Commitment gives us purpose and direction. Without commitment we risk remaining in the ‘I’m still finding my purpose stage’. Our commitment nurtures and defines the person we want to become and the person we are.”
Fr Nathan gives more concrete examples of what he means by the circular nature of making a commitment and, in turn, being enriched by that commitment.
“I will never become a lesser priest in the Church when I’m shopping in the supermarket. I’m not a lesser parent if I’m at work and my children are at school. The role I have as a parent is nourished and defined by the commitment we give as a parent. It is the commitment which gives us meaning, purpose and direction – if you don’t have that, what will be left of you?”
"Committing to something doesn’t mean you have to always be perfect. As we grow in commitment we grow as a person. Commitment is not an end; it is an ongoing growth of ourselves, recognising our strengths and weakness, our capabilities and limitations.”
Image above: Sandhurst seminarians at Corpus Christi Collge, Carlton, Jhunel Mendez and Ryerson de Lai.
Vocations Discernment Session
Young people, from all walks of life, who are interested in discerning their vocation are invited to join Fr Nathan Verallo, Fr Adi Indra and Fr Jackson Saunders at a Vocations Discernment Session.
Sunday 26 May at 2:00 p.m. and finishing around dinner time.
St Kilian’s Presbytery
161 McCrae Street, Bendigo.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Fr Nathan Verallo:
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: 03 5722 1970
