Family Day for Vocations helps children learn about callings in the Church

Franciscan Sister Mary Amata Naville smiles while watching Joseph and Bethany Bedwell color at a booth during the Family Day for Vocations on Jan. 18 at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center in Indianapolis. Joseph and Bethany are members of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

Franciscan Sister Mary Amata Naville didn’t meet religious sisters as she grew up as a member of St. Mary Parish in Navilleton.

It was only when she was a student at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., that she first met members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration based in Mishawaka, Ind., and who operate Franciscan Hospital in Indianapolis.

Sister Mary Amata, 27, joined that community seven years ago and is now preparing to profess perpetual vows later this year. So, she was glad to see many children from across the archdiocese meeting many religious and archdiocesan seminarians at the first Family Day for Vocations on Jan. 18 at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center in Indianapolis.

“I’m grateful that these families have a desire to expose their children to priests and religious, even at a young age,” Sister Mary Amata said. “They can see that it’s a possibility for them, that it’s a joyful life. It’s fulfilling to do everything for Jesus in religious life or the priesthood.”

More than 100 people from families living across central and southern Indiana took part in the event that involved booths for crafts and games run by members of religious communities, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral across the street and a lunch for teens open to the possibility of vocations to the priesthood or religious life.

“We need to facilitate a culture of vocations in the archdiocese,” said Father Michael Keucher, archdiocesan vocations director. “Events like this help that culture to take shape really beautifully.”

‘It’s not our will. It’s God’s will.’

The archdiocesan Vocations Office sponsored the Family Day for Vocations. In addition to archdiocesan seminarians present at the event, representatives of six religious orders also took part: Benedictine Sisters from Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove; the Perpetual Adoration Franciscan Sisters; the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the Benedictines of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad; the Congregation of Holy Cross and the Legion of Christ.

“Planting seeds is what we’re doing,” said Father Keucher as he looked out on a number of young children visiting booths with their parents and siblings. “Maybe some of those seeds will germinate in 20 years. Maybe some in five years. But it’s happening. It’s happening through conversations that our children and families are having with religious and seminarians who are present. It’s really awesome.”

Sara Mattice recognized the importance of the conversations about vocations she’ll have with her four children, the oldest of whom is four, both now and in the years to come. She thought coming to the Family Day for Vocations was a way to start those conversations.

“I want religious life to be an option for my kids,” said Mattice, a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis. “These are their most formative years. The spiritual life is part of our family life. I want them to know that this is an option from when they’re little and are starting their prayer life.”

Nicole Fraley came to the event with three teenage daughters from their home in Connersville where they are members of St. Gabriel Parish. Another of her children is seminarian Jack Fraley, who is in his first year of formation at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis. When Nicole’s children were young, there was no event like the Family Day for Vocations for her to show them different options in religious life and ordained ministry.

As her children grew, she came to recognize that it was a key duty for her to help them discern their vocation.

“It’s not our will. It’s God’s will,” Fraley said. “When they were little, it became evident that they’re not ours. So, we have to make sure that they’re on the right path.”

Rosie Fraley, one of her daughters, is a junior at Seton Catholic High School in Richmond. She was glad to see so many families like her own at the event.

“It’s cool to see so many young families,” she said. “It’s important for little kids to know that there are different kinds of vocations.”

‘It’s encouraging for the future’

While Sister Mary Amata represented her religious community at the event, the Family Day for Vocations was a bit of a family reunion for her. Katie Kraft, a sister of hers, came to the event with her husband Jacob and their four children. Sister Mary Amata’s parents, Bob and Jenni Naville, also travelled to Indianapolis for the day.

Even though coming to the event involved a two-hour drive from their family’s home in New Albany, Jacob was glad to bring his young children along, saying that it would help normalize religious life for them.

“I don’t know what they’re called to be, but I want it all to be normal for them,” said Jacob, who is a member with his family of Holy Family Parish in New Albany. “I don’t want there to be a hurdle because it’s something odd.”

“It’s encouraging for the future,” said Bob Naville of the presence of so many children at the event. “They’re the future of the Church.”

Benedictine Sister Heather Jean Foltz, vocations director at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, was grateful for the event and said it was “a good opportunity to foster relationships” with families and young women open to a possible religious vocation.

“It’s a great way to talk to families about vocations and how we’re all called to love and serve God,” said Sister Heather Jean. “It’s great to see families nurturing that. It’s important for kids to learn from an early age that there are all different kinds of vocations in the Church.”

Benedictine Father Simon Herrmann had only been serving as Saint Meinrad Archabbey’s vocations director for about a month when he represented his community at the Family Day for Vocations.

“It’s a great opportunity for families to experience the dynamic gift of the Holy Spirit in bringing religious orders to the archdiocese,” he said. “My hope is that this continues to grow and that other families will have the opportunity to see that there are vast ways to serve the Lord in the archdiocese, both as diocesan priests and in religious orders.”

Switching roles

Rory Babb came to the Family Day for Vocations with his wife Diana and their four children, ages 6, 4, 3 and 10 months.

He was encouraged to see other young families like his own.

“It’s great to know that we’re one of many,” said Babb, who, with his family, is a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis. “We can support each other. It’s tough when you go to an event and you’re the only family with young kids.”

As transitional Deacon Isaac Siefker took part in the event, his thoughts turned back to his childhood when he first started to think about the priesthood.

“I’ve been thinking about seminary literally as long as I can remember,” said Deacon Siefker, 27. “I probably started serving at Mass when I was 6-years-old.”

Growing up in a family in which the faith was actively fostered by his parents has helped Deacon Siefker know that family life is critical in promoting priestly and religious vocations.

“To see families with faith and devotion [who] care enough about their faith to come out early on a Saturday morning is beautiful,” he said. “In some ways, I can see myself in these little kids. Their families are like the way my family was. But now the roles have switched. Now, I’m the guy in the Roman collar who’s supposed to be showing the happiness and joy that a vocation can bring you.”
 

(To learn more about priestly and religious vocations in central and southern Indiana, visit the website of the archdiocesan vocations office at www.HearGodsCall.com.) †