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Do you think God only calls extraordinary people to do something special? Here you will find regular people, like you and me, who heard the invitation from God. They responded, and today walk with our people, faithful to God’s wishes. How will you respond?
By Sister Ana Julia Granados UlloaI felt the call to serve as a religious missionary at a very young age. I had an encounter with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and was impressed by their charism, spirituality, and the diversity of ministries they served. I met them almost by accident, when they came to my house to visit my older sister to see if she was interested in religious life. It was me, however, who responded to this way of life. I spent a year participating in vocational gatherings and discerning. I would get letters from Sister Francisca Kearns, who was the vocations...
By Carmen F. AguinacoAccording to a report on educational excellence, the 2010 census shows that only 20 percent of Hispanics in the United States had earned an associate college degree or higher. By comparison, 39 percent of Caucasians, 28 percent of Blacks, and 59 percent of the Asian population had earned college degrees by 2008. Moreover, demographic data positioning Hispanics at 22 percent of the total U.S. population demands attention and decisive action in the area of education. Here are a few colleges and universities that granted the most degrees to Hispanics in recent years: The...
By Carmen F. AguinacoI n the biblical story a eunuch wondered how he would come to have knowledge of the scripture and the liv¬ing Christ if no one explained it to him. Philip knew how to explain it to him and did so in a language that moved the man’s heart to conversion and discipleship.What language is spoken in the United States? It is likely that most people will say English. But did you know that in the United States 34.5 million people speak Spanish at home? And 4 million speak Chinese? That the Vietnamese population grew by 511% between 1980 and 2007? That 1.5 million speak Tagalog; 1....
By Mario DelgadoI am currently seeking an answer to the question: “Do I have a call¬ing to serve the Lord as a religious person or as a lay missionary?” Perhaps, I don’t have the answers yet, but I can begin by discerning my call with different steps that I must follow in order to find an an¬swer. First, I must pay attention to the simple signs and moments in my journey of faith where God is inviting me and revealing the opportunity to listen to his call.For some people, the call to religious life or priesthood begins as an intense inner attraction to the Lord Jesus. For others, it begins...
By Brother George Van Grieken, FSCCollege life really is a whole new world. There is no one to tell you what to do (go to class, do your homework, pick up your clothes, etc.) and no one to do things for you (meals, laundry, dust, give you money, etc.). How won¬derful! How liberating! And so it is, sort of. There are two ways to approach this new universe of experiences, with forethought or with “I’ll figure it out.” Either one may work, but you can guess which one is the better choice. Here are just a few pieces of advice that others may not have told you about:“God whispers to us in our...
By Israel MartínezMusic is one of the best means of expression and prayer. When we sing, we lose our inhibitions and can pronounce words, desires, and sentiments that perhaps we did not know. This is why it is a good vehicle for vocational reflection, as it invites you to consider the call from Christ. At the beginning of 2012, as part of the work being developed by the Spirituality Committee of La Red, the National Catholic Network of Pastoral Juvenil came up with the idea of convening a national contest on vocational singing. The goal is to invite young Hispanics to create songs that call...
Por Christine Cox Staff Writer at St. Mary’s CollegeDuring her years at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, Areli Bautista helped many people find their voices and express themselves. It’s a natural fit for Bautista who has a double major in communication studies and psychology.“I love serving as a communicator in any way possible to help my community and individuals in need,” she says. “I think that communication studies and psychology together will allow me to listen to those who are unheard, be the voice for those who are oppressed, and understand problems others face. Even if it is...
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By Jorge RiveraThis cannot go on! The reality is that today young Catholics are living in a very diverse society. The image of the United States has been transformed from “melting pot” to a tapestry of colors and shades. And we cannot continue practicing youth ministry as if this reality did not exist, or in separate compartments where one has nothing to do with the other but run parallel. Youth ministry needs to consider an approach that on the one hand is culturally specialized, and on the other walks toward unity among all young people. The bishops of the United States have emphasized this...
By Kyle ShinsekiI am a Jesuit scholar in the process of formation for the priesthood with the Society of Jesus. I grew up in Hawaii and during my childhood my parents did not attend any church. So when I entered the university, far from my family and friends, I felt a void, as if something was missing in my life. Almost without thinking about it, I bought a candle with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, like the one that was always lit in the home of several Mexican friends in Hawaii. This candle gave me peace in the midst of my new environment. Inspired in some way by the Virgin, I made the...
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