“We all have a vocation. We believe that God has called us to this life to fill a special need that no one else can accomplish.”
— St. Francis de Sales
Religious Alumni
Check out some of our alumni who are now living out their vocations to religious life! We thank God for their heart for the Gospel.
Very Rev. Henry Atem, V.F.
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Lawrenceville, GA
Fr. Ben Thomson
St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, Sandy Springs, GA
Sr. Josephine Mary Ceci, O.P.
Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Congregation of St. Rose of Lima, Hawthorne, NY
Fr. Arturo Merriman
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dalton, GA
Austin Thomas
Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, LA
Sr. Mary Jacinta Halbig
Daughters of the Virgin Mother, Mount Holly, NC
About Vocation
What is Vocation?
Vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “to call.” Everyone has the same vocation: to love. But, God calls us each of us in a specific way how to love and serve Him and others. How does He want you to live out the Gospel? The process by which we answer this question is discernment.
What is Discernment?
Discernment is when we — through prayer, reflection, and our daily experiences — discover God’s will. We listen to God’s voice, and we examine our desires and open our hearts to His. When it comes to vocational discernment, one might consider going to spiritual direction or going on a retreat for deeper guidance.
What Kinds of Vocations are There?
A person could be called to one of four vocations:
- Priesthood (for men, of course)
- Religious life: Nuns, religious sisters, religious brothers (e.g., monks and friars)
- Consecrated life: Consecrating oneself wholly to the Lord; single in the world, but married to Christ
- Holy matrimony
Resources for Vocational Discernment
Watch
Discernment
What Does God Want Me to Do? — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
4 Helpful Rules for Discernment — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
For Those Without a Clear Vocation — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
Straightforward Job and Career Advice — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
What’s a Sign from God (and What Isn’t) — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
When Your Desires and God’s Plans Are Different — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
Becoming Flexible to Accept God’s Will — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
What Does Surrender Actually Look Like? — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
How to Discern Pretty Much Anything — Fr. Mark-Mary, Ascension Presents
When the Best Decision is to “Stay the Course” — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
5 Common Discernment Traps and How to Avoid Them — Fr. Mark-Mary and Fr. Gregory Pine, Ascension Presents
“God, What’s Your Plan for My Life?” — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
Discern Your Vocation with One Simple Hack — Fr. Mark-Mary, Ascension Presents
3 Steps to Discern Your Vocation — Fr. Columba Jordan
How Can I Know God’s Will? — Fr. Mark-Mary, Ascension Presents
The #1 Mistake People Make When Discerning Their Vocation — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
On Marriage
How to Know if You’ve Found “The One” — Jackie Angel, Ascension Presents
Courtship — Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Marriage — Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen
What it Means to Submit to Your Husband — Jackie Angel, Ascension Presents
When Your S.O. Has a Different Vocation Than You — Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Presents
7 Reasons to Go on a Dating Fast — Lisa Cotter, Ascension Presents
Does Everyone Have a Soulmate? — Fr. Gregory Pine
Read
Discerning the Will of God: An Ignatian Guide to Christian Decision Making
To Save a Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood
Other Information
USCCB
Forms of Consecrated Life in the Church