In Los Angeles, Vocations Programs Flourish

"God provides the music, but we're free to work out the dance steps," said Father Richard Martini, Director of Vocations for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, as he described the process of discerning a vocation. To extend the metaphor, if discernment is like learning to dance, then Father Martini's office is the Arthur Murray's of the vocations world, offering a staggering variety of programs and events to help people explore the idea of priesthood and religious life.

Father Martini shares his passion for assisting people in the process of discernment with Sister Kathy Bryant, a Religious Sister of Charity and Sister Director of the office, and Father David Velazquez, a Missionary of the Holy Spirit and Director of Hispanic Vocations. The three have created a multi-faceted and dynamic program.

For adolescents, the centerpiece of the program is Vocations in Progress, a group for teenagers exploring vocations which meets monthly. Father Alex Aclan is its director. "It meets two key needs experienced by young people considering religious life," Father Martini said. The first is anonymity. "It's hard for teenagers to admit an interest in being a priest or nun," Father Martini said. "People often look at them like they're crazy. This way, they don't have to tell anyone about their interest unless they choose to do so."

The second need is for affiliation. "Most peer groups don't support the idea of a vocation, so this program allows the young people to gather on a monthly basis and support each other." Father Martini said the program today works with approximately 100 young men, most of whom attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. Soon he hopes to hire someone to run the girls' side of the program.

For adults, the vocations office provides a smorgasbord of activities, with at least one event every month, so interested persons can be "plugged in" right away. Two of the most popular events are the "7/11 Ministry Days" and the "Run for Vocations." The former offers 100-200 people the opportunity to shadow a priest, brother, or sister for a day. In collaboration with the religious orders, the vocations office matches candidates with their areas of interest. Everyone gathers at 7 a.m. for prayer, and then scatters to the various ministry sites. At 3 p.m., they regroup for Mass, sometimes celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony, and then an evening of dinner and entertainment.

The "Run for Vocations" is held annually in conjunction with the Los Angeles Marathon. Runners, including a fair number of priests and nuns, circulate a sign-up sheet for people willing to pray for vocations for each mile they run. In addition, each runner carries a prayer sheet of vocation candidates to pray for during the race. The vocation runners are easily identifiable through their lime green t-shirts with the motto, "I do not run aimlessly."

Another activity is the Vocations Anonymous program, through which priests and sisters run support groups for individuals undergoing discernment. "It provides a chance for people to be affiliated with others thinking about the same things, in an atmosphere free from pressure," Father Martini said.

An opportunity for women is the Sister Series, which includes monthly presentations, each led by different sisters who explain one aspect or another of formation and the lifestyle of women religious. The talks are held at a convent of the speaker. "It's a great chance for women to learn about the different possibilities which are out there," Father Martini said.

The vocations office also sponsors a series of retreats. For women, there is a preached retreat. The office also sponsors a coed, silent retreat. On the silent retreat, participation is limited to 30 participants, and each is assigned an individual director.

Men interested in the seminary can attend one of the "Come and See" retreats, which are offered twice a year. There are separate retreats for candidates for the theologate, men who do not yet have a college degree, and Spanish-speaking candidates. The retreat is held at the seminary, and the goal is to get a "slice of life."

To identify men who might want to consider a vocation, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles annually asks each priest to look around his parish and to name two men who might be candidates for the priesthood. Some pastors ask members of the parish to help submit names. This "naming event" usually takes place during the Easter Season. Father Martini follows up with phone calls, which often lead into the Project Andrew dinners which Cardinal Mahony hosts six times throughout the year. Nine men, plus two of the vocations directors, join Cardinal Mahony at his residence for a dinner and conversation. "The conversation is very light," Father Martini said. "The guys are able to ask questions of the Cardinal, often about how he discovered his own vocation." Father Martini says his vision for the vocations program is "20/20" - twenty men entering the theologate, and twenty at the college level. He's closing in on the number for the theologate, saying "We'll probably hit twenty this year."