Few things in modern America are more countercultural than becoming a Catholic deacon, priest or sister. Why would people want to give their life and freedom, and limit their own choices, just to serve Christ in the Catholic Church?
On Aug. 18, Family Theater Productions seeks answers to those questions in a new YouTube series titled God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories.
Producer on the series is Jay Cooney (Christopher Award-winning Special Abilities: Living Fully With Down Syndrome, Telly Award-winning Grace in Grief: Hope After Loss), with help from FTP producer-at-large Father Vince Kuna, C.S.C.
Together, they gathered the vocation stories of several men and women who’ve taken this path -- a deacon, priests, and religious sisters -- and learned a few things themselves along the way.
Why was it important to you to create a series on Catholic vocations right now?
Following the election of our new pope, Americans seem to be showing an increased interest in vocations to the Catholic Church. This series is a way to dive into those topics and to hear some perspective from the people serving in those vocations, who say "yes" when God calls us each day.
After doing these interviews, what do you think are the major misconceptions about vocations to the clergy and religious life?
One misconception that I heard from a few of our participants was that their parents were scared to lose their son or daughter to the Church. On the contrary, rather than losing their own child, they found themselves inhabiting a role as a parent to the many others in the religious community, growing their circle of family.
As a lay person, what surprised you the most?
What surprised me the most was the theme of freedom that kept appearing when priests spoke about taking vows. For myself, I always viewed vows from the point of view of restricting freedom rather than broadening it. It seems that for many, vows allowed for a deeper relationship with God on their journey towards sainthood.
Vocations like these are so countercultural, so was there a common thread among the people who said yes?
A common thread that I heard from the people who said yes to God's call was trust. Whether discerning their vocation, or responding with obedience, it was often an act of trust that moved the needle from contemplation to action.
What can people who may not choose to be ordained or enter religious life learn from the folks you spoke to?
For the folks watching who choose not to be ordained or enter religious life, I hope that this series will help them understand the vital role that these vocations offer our world, through service to the Body of Christ, and by guiding Catholics on their journey through the Sacraments toward deeper relationship with our Creator.
What did working on this series remind you about your own vocation?
The series reminded and humbled me that I'm to be working on being the most holy of priests and bringing others to holiness in their own lives. Especially with the day we spent with the Carmelites in Alhambra, California, it really hit home that I need to do better in the spiritual life when considering the end goal for every baptized Christian is sainthood.
What is a challenge in a religious vocation that somebody might not expect?
One challenge that is overlooked is the vow of chastity taken by religious and ordained priests. It's a challenging vow coming up in formation, and still challenging after ordination and/or final vows.
There's a lot of days that a religious sees the joy of a married couple with a brood of children. But there's always a reminder of the sacrifice the religious makes and the sorrow that goes along with it.
This comes through in almost every interview: the discernment process balances the choice between two joyful vocations: marriage or religious life. A choice for one sacrifices the other.
What is an unexpected joy?
The unexpected joy is tied to the challenge. In a supermarket of beliefs and truths, it's the vows that might make the difference. What other faith or secular position gives up marriage, riches, and freedom for their truth? I know this in a general as well as a particular sense.
Numbers are up in Catholic conversions, and I think this is due in large part to online evangelization. Think of the nuns' TikTok video where they're playing Frisbee, which garnered millions of views.
In my first parish in Southern California, I met the lovely wife of a Catholic parishioner friend of mine. She was unbaptized and a little brazen in her atheism.
But after subsequent visits with her family, she became amazed I had given up the opportunity for marriage and family for the Truth. An authentic witness can be the first step down the road to OCIA, which she completed a few years ago.
During production, what moments and/or interviews affected you the most?
During production, I got emotional every time they asked the interviewee what his or her favorite Biblical passage was. Almost every single time, the person responded: The Prodigal Son. It's the best allegory for the life of faith.
With the younger son who strays from the father's homestead, it's a reminder no one (including oneself) is beyond the mercy of Christ. The older, faithful son stands as a witness to never become too self-assured and smitten with our own fidelity ... there's always an opportunity to do better and especially to be more understanding with those who might stray.
And of course, as religious leaders, we're specifically called to be the father in the story: someone to offer love and mercy to those like the two sons on the spiritual extremes and everyone in between.
God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories launches Aug. 18 on Family Theater Productions' YouTube Channel, with new episodes every Tuesday. Click here to watch.
Also, click here to listen to an episode of CatholicMom's Momcast featuring Father Vince.
Image: Family Theater Productions
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