Discovering one’s vocation is one of the many Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) among young catholics, and this demands the enquirer to go through some specific steps to discovering one’s call in life.
however, vocation is a call by God to live a certain kind of life. Vocation comes from the Latin word: vocare, which means to call or to summon someone. In the bible we have seen individuals that have been called by God for someone specific missions, and in that summon by God they have been put in a state of life as either married or unmarried. Quick examples are the calls of Abraham, Samuel, etc. The call Abraham received was to abandon his family for a specific mission of founding a new people of God. Samuel was called to minister in the sanctuary of the Lord as a priest. Thus vocation entails being and doing.
The call Abrahan received was to abandon his family for a specific mission of founding a new people of God. Samuel was called to minister in the sanctuary of the Lord as a priest. Thus vocation entails being and doing.
St. Vincent was called to be a priest, and to be a minster of charity to the poor. He saw Christ in the poor. He would later refer to the Poor as his Lords and Masters. Thus, like Jesus, he declared that the spirit of the Lord is upon him, he has sent him to bring the good news to the poor! Thus St. Vincent had preferential/fundamental option for the poor. He would prefer to work among those living in the peripheries of life than working with the affluent of the society, though not in a manner to despise the rich.
Thus in 1625 in France, he congregated priests and brothers to help in the mission of bringing the good news to the poor. Hence priests and brothers of Vincentian origin are correctly designated as priests/brothers of the mission (Congregation of the Mission).
In Nigeria and outside Nigeria, priests/brothers of the mission undertake so many apostolates in service of the poor. They work in prison (correctional centers) as chaplains. They teach in seminaries as seminary educators and formators, they preach retreats, parish work, etc.
If you feel called to join them, kindly send notes to the vocation director so that your application can be processed in good time.
If you find this article helpful, please read this article: Six (6) steps to discovering vocation.