Fr. Kelly Vandehey, Sr. Beatrice LaFramboise, Sr. Charlene Herinckx, Dan Jones discuss vocations.
Sentinel photo by Ed Langlois

Think of them as the Oregon Vocations Squad.

A singular partnership of Archdiocese of Portland officials, leaders of religious communities and laity is hitting the road to inform young people about the high value of serving God as a priest or religious.

Members sense new interest in the life, but worry that youths today have few ways to really get to know priests and religious as role models. Most knowledge comes from media, which gives a skewed picture at best.

“They don’t have a chance to know we are real people who are happy,” explains Sister Charlene Herinckx, vocations director for the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.
Last month, a dozen vocations directors held a regular meeting at the Archdiocese of Portland Pastoral Center to address that problem. On hand were Father Kelly Vandehey, the archdiocese’s director of vocations, and members of the Serra Club, founded in the Northwest more than 70 years ago. The meeting bubbled with mirth and hope.

Among new projects is Focus 11, a vocations awareness program for Catholic school students age 11 and those in the 11th grade.

“Eleven-year-olds are wide open and juniors are at a key moment,” says Sister Charlene.

A pilot program is set for Wednesday, March 12, with students from All Saints, Archbishop Howard, Holy Cross, Holy Redeemer and The Madeleine schools in Portland. The session is set for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Holy Redeemer. More than two dozen groups will offer exhibits and talk to students face-to-face.

The current generation of young adults and youths is more open to communal life and lifelong service than prior generations, vocations directors say. The directors note long lines for confession at Catholic youth events. Even a decade ago, they say, high schoolers were not nearly so receptive.

To respond to the trend, the Oregon vocations committee has launched more school-based activities. It runs a vocations awareness group for 15 to 20 young participants at the University of Portland. Topics include trust, mission, prophecy, leadership, prayer and conversion. Other meetings have taken place at Oregon State University, and there are plans for groups at Portland State and Southern Oregon universities.

Students can receive a directory of religious communities in the area along with contact information. The committee attempts to have representatives visit the nine Catholic high schools in the archdiocese each year. Speakers show a clip from the film “Dead Man Walking,” which portrays the work of St. Joseph Sister Helen Prejean on death row in Louisiana. A speaker then explains how his or her ministry addresses a deep need locally.

Committee members respond to invitations to speak at grade schools. Youths often receive rosaries, medals and other items as door prizes.

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, Queen of Peace Parish in Salem hosts a committee-organized young adult coffeehouse on vocations with psychologist Father Ray Carey. Father Carey will discuss “Skills for Making and Keeping Your Life Choice Commitment.”

The Serra Club is continuing to work with pastoral councils to form parish vocations committees, offering booklets and other guidance. Holy Names Sister Janet Ryan has developed a power point presentation on how to develop a culture of vocation. Often, the committee helps facilitate field trips for student groups. Recently, 65 juniors from Blanchet School in Salem visited Queen of Angels Benedictine monastery and the Carmelite House of Studies in Mount Angel.

Surprisingly, there is not a sense of competition among the various vocations directors. In fact, if a director meets with a young person who seems better fitted for another community, that prospect gets referred.

“We guide people to the right community. It’s a matter of a good fit,” says Providence Sister Beatrice LaFramboise.

“Everyone has a vocation and we do not consider one better than any other — married, single, ordained, consecrated,” says Sister Charlene.

“Community is a big draw,” adds Sister Marietta Schindler, vocations director for the Benedictine Sisters.

Across the U.S., religious communities have been cooperating in vocations efforts. But it is rare when a diocesan office and a lay group committed to cultivating and supporting vocations join the team. The Oregon vocations committee began nine years ago.

“When I talk to vocations directors from other places about what we do, people are amazed,” says Sister Janet, vocations chief for the Sisters of the Holy Names.

“Serra nationwide takes note,” says local Serra leader Dan Jones, who sits on the committee. “People in other areas of the country are very interested. For us, it means we get more people to help in what we are trying to do. It extends our reach.”
Jones knows that, despite the committee’s efforts, family is where vocations start. That concerns him.

“Young people are no longer being encouraged by their parents,” he says.
Still, the vocations squad is optimistic.

“Many kids want to work with the poor,” says Sister Charlene, adding that the trick is to get them to pull the earphones out and listen to God.

The directors know that they seldom will see the fruit of their work, which could take years to emerge.

“We try to leave them with an idea of how they can make a good decision, how they can discover their gifts and talents,” says Sister Patricia Novak, vocations director for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. “We do our part and God’s got to do the rest.”