Month of vocations in The Philippines

 September: The Month of Vocation

A mission with a Brotherly Touch

Launching of the Vocation Month in the Archdiocese was held on September 1, 2022 at San Pedro Cathedral with the theme “Family: Seedbed of Vocation.” This solemn celebration was the opening of the activities pertaining to vocation -married life, priesthood, religious life, single blessedness- promotion within Davao, Digos, Tagum, and Mati (DADITAMA), to be participated by all parishes, catholic schools and colleges, and partner agencies from the local government units (LGU’s) and public schools.  

The Gabriel Taborin College of Davao (GTCD) organized its program for the annual vocation animation within the Archdiocese. The GTCD, from the vocation launching to the different public-school visitations remained consistent – the promoting vocations, and drawing students closer to God through the mission of the Brothers of the Holy Family.

The launching of vocation month in GTCD marked the response, and participation of the Brothers to the vocation promotion. The vocation promotion started with a simple but, with a strong opening – the parade of the representation of saints, followed by a short talk about vocation-sainthood, and its impact to one’s life as a baptized Catholic. Every Wednesday during the month of September, the morning prayer was conducted with the theme of one call story from the Bible at GTCD. And Every day, there was a post about vocation on many themes like what is vocation, what are the different types of vocations we have in the Church, who are called by God and why are they called etc.….          

The vast work for the vocation promotion was carefully planned by the Brothers headed by Bro. John Bosco Sebastin, FSF. Bro. Bosco started with the communications for approval of the public-school visitation; the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional, and Division offices of Davao Oriental, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur (including the new province of Davao Occidental). And of course, this includes the religious schools -Holy Cross Schools- of the said provinces manage by the Religious Communities of sisters.

 

Brother Bosco, untiringly extended his school visitation by including Cebu City, and the island of Bohol. In the same manner, personally he handed letters for approval to the school administrators. And in such a way to be in contact with some of the religious communities who in one way or another is of help to the ongoing vocation animation program.    

The school visit focusing on the promotion of vocation in general, and emphasizing vocation for brotherhood for the Brothers of the Holy Family. Grade 12 was the target audience of the vocation promotion. However, because of their minimal number, grades 10 and 11 at times were invited to participate. Twenty to thirty minutes of encounter with the students -short introduction; short video presentation; collection of participants basic information- has been fruitful in one way or another, and this is followed with communication through messenger or text messages by the postulants.