Now we have a third volunteer! Here are her details:
Name: Janelle
Gender: Female
Age: Thirties
Vocation: Consecrated Life
Janelle is our third volunteer. Janelle is sure she's called to consecrated life but now has to discern what to do and where to go within that vocaction. I will post Janelle's entries as she gives them to me but you can also check out her blog: letitbedone.blogspot.com
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Where It All Began
Hi, I'm Katherine, and I want to share with whoever wants to listen/know about vocations. But just so that everyone out there will understand where I'm coming from, let me trace back to July 2008.
Looking back, I guess I wouldn't think that I would be the person I am today if I haven't gone to World Youth Day. I'm 16, and I went to WYD08 in Sydney, Australia almost a year ago. I was only 15 when I went to Sydney, and I was almost not allowed to go to WYD at all because I was a year younger than the age limit. On 2007, I joined a group that prepared me, along with all the other participants in our group, spiritually and physically for WYD the following year. I did go to all the meetings and preparations that they required us to go to for us to be qualified to travel all the way to Sydney. But even though I went to those spiritual preparations, I unfortunately still took my spiritual life for granted.
It was difficult to qualify for WYD, because it was a really long process. I needed permission from my parents and the school, a letter from the principal, a lot of travel papers, etc. Plus, I risked missing 2 weeks of school to travel - or so I thought. When a friend told me about WYD, and that the next one would be in Australia, I thought, "I haven't been to Australia yet, so why not apply!" I was so hyped to travel on my own, without my family for the first time. I looked at going to Sydney as an awesome travelling experience. Even though I was told that it would be a deeply "spiritual experience", I dodged that thinking that I'd enjoy the trip as if I were travelling like a tourist. Even though I was a Catholic that time (always have been and always will be), I didn't quite see the importance and gravity of my faith and my religion.
Soon, days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months, and those months finally reached July 2008. I became more nervous than ever. I was so close to backing out of my trip. I became hesitant for two main reasons. The first is that I didn't want to leave my family, that is now one member short, for two whole weeks. On September 2007, my dad died. I applied for WYD on June 2007. I didn't see what was so wrong on leaving back then. The second was that I was on my second to the last year until I finally would be done with high school. It was risky to miss school for so long!
But once I got to Sydney, everything changed. I started praying more, and I didn't even realize it until I got back home from Sydney. I didn't miss my family as much. I guess that's because I prayed to my dad to guide my family, especially my mom, to not worry about me so much. And Dad really did help! My mom didn't call everyday like she was so nervous. In Sydney, I met a lot of new friends. Once we got to the school where we were supposed to stay in, we already met our first Aussie friend.
The second day in Sydney, however, was, I guess, the turning point of my life. WYD hadn't officially started yet. There were still a few days until the Opening Mass of WYD. I met a lot of people on that second day in Sydney. Though, there were 2 people that stood out among the rest. I guess it's the Holy Spirit's subtle way of changing me. It was because of these two good friends of mine that I changed my life. Through their little ways, they touched me and I somehow changed.
A lot has happened on those two weeks in Sydney. Those 2 weeks of my like made the 15 years of my life seem like it never existed. The Opening Mass, when I actually cried because it was so beautiful. The Theology of the Body talk, when I first learned about JP2's GREAT teachings. Witnessing the re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross. The overnight vigil with the Pope. And finally the Final Mass - all of these events, and all experiences in between them really changed my life.
I soon then realized that I didn't "risk" missing 2 weeks of school. I opened myself, with the divine help of the Holy Spirit, to change my life. I found out that God was actually calling me to a better life.
Looking back, I guess I wouldn't think that I would be the person I am today if I haven't gone to World Youth Day. I'm 16, and I went to WYD08 in Sydney, Australia almost a year ago. I was only 15 when I went to Sydney, and I was almost not allowed to go to WYD at all because I was a year younger than the age limit. On 2007, I joined a group that prepared me, along with all the other participants in our group, spiritually and physically for WYD the following year. I did go to all the meetings and preparations that they required us to go to for us to be qualified to travel all the way to Sydney. But even though I went to those spiritual preparations, I unfortunately still took my spiritual life for granted.
It was difficult to qualify for WYD, because it was a really long process. I needed permission from my parents and the school, a letter from the principal, a lot of travel papers, etc. Plus, I risked missing 2 weeks of school to travel - or so I thought. When a friend told me about WYD, and that the next one would be in Australia, I thought, "I haven't been to Australia yet, so why not apply!" I was so hyped to travel on my own, without my family for the first time. I looked at going to Sydney as an awesome travelling experience. Even though I was told that it would be a deeply "spiritual experience", I dodged that thinking that I'd enjoy the trip as if I were travelling like a tourist. Even though I was a Catholic that time (always have been and always will be), I didn't quite see the importance and gravity of my faith and my religion.
Soon, days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months, and those months finally reached July 2008. I became more nervous than ever. I was so close to backing out of my trip. I became hesitant for two main reasons. The first is that I didn't want to leave my family, that is now one member short, for two whole weeks. On September 2007, my dad died. I applied for WYD on June 2007. I didn't see what was so wrong on leaving back then. The second was that I was on my second to the last year until I finally would be done with high school. It was risky to miss school for so long!
But once I got to Sydney, everything changed. I started praying more, and I didn't even realize it until I got back home from Sydney. I didn't miss my family as much. I guess that's because I prayed to my dad to guide my family, especially my mom, to not worry about me so much. And Dad really did help! My mom didn't call everyday like she was so nervous. In Sydney, I met a lot of new friends. Once we got to the school where we were supposed to stay in, we already met our first Aussie friend.
The second day in Sydney, however, was, I guess, the turning point of my life. WYD hadn't officially started yet. There were still a few days until the Opening Mass of WYD. I met a lot of people on that second day in Sydney. Though, there were 2 people that stood out among the rest. I guess it's the Holy Spirit's subtle way of changing me. It was because of these two good friends of mine that I changed my life. Through their little ways, they touched me and I somehow changed.
A lot has happened on those two weeks in Sydney. Those 2 weeks of my like made the 15 years of my life seem like it never existed. The Opening Mass, when I actually cried because it was so beautiful. The Theology of the Body talk, when I first learned about JP2's GREAT teachings. Witnessing the re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross. The overnight vigil with the Pope. And finally the Final Mass - all of these events, and all experiences in between them really changed my life.
I soon then realized that I didn't "risk" missing 2 weeks of school. I opened myself, with the divine help of the Holy Spirit, to change my life. I found out that God was actually calling me to a better life.
Second Volunteer: "Katherine"
We have our second volunteer!
Name: "Katherine"
Gender: Female
Age: Under 18
Vocation: Still discerning
"Katherine" is our second anonymous volunteer. Katherine isn't sure yet which vocation she's called to, though she is thinking about Opus Dei, but she wanted to share her process of discernment with us in hopes that it may encourage others to discern and help people in their own journey. Like with Anne Marie, I'll post Katherine's entries in the group and in the blog as she gives them to me.
Name: "Katherine"
Gender: Female
Age: Under 18
Vocation: Still discerning
"Katherine" is our second anonymous volunteer. Katherine isn't sure yet which vocation she's called to, though she is thinking about Opus Dei, but she wanted to share her process of discernment with us in hopes that it may encourage others to discern and help people in their own journey. Like with Anne Marie, I'll post Katherine's entries in the group and in the blog as she gives them to me.
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