A key way we can promote vocations is by providing young people opportunities to give of themselves. Rather than do things for them, let them participate in ways where they can exercise real responsibility. Why?

For one thing, giving the young such opportunities simply recognizes their human dignity. But there’s another reason, particularly important for us as people concerned to promote vocations.

According to the preparatory document for the Synod on “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment,” (2018), where there are no “opportunities to participate,” many young people give in to “resignation or fatigue in their will to desire, to dream and to plan” (Section 1.2). In a nutshell, young people who lack opportunities to give of themselves or to exercise responsibility stop desiring. They stop asking, “Who am I? Why am I here? What does God ask?” They stop thinking about vocation.

So if we want to promote vocations, we have to give the young “opportunities to participate.” What does this look like? Here’s one example.

During a recent conversation with some young adults, one young woman related a story of her work at a Catholic camp. The camp leaders honored her with the task of running the crew which manages camp set-up, activities, and meals. She was supposed to make sure her crew rested and had time to pray. Unfortunately, she overscheduled her team. They ended up overly tired, and they missed Eucharistic Adoration. She expected the leaders to remove her and give the responsibility to someone perhaps older or more experienced.

However, to her surprise, the leaders did not replace her. They respected her capacity to give herself to others; they gave her an opportunity to learn from her mistakes and participate in a real way. Her second time leading the crew, she succeeded in making sure they were well-rested and had time for prayer.

Sometimes, to avoid mistakes, we do not entrust real responsibilities to young people. But, with reasonable regard to safety and observing Christ’s commands, we need to find opportunities for young people to participate in meaningful ways as often as possible. The more we recognize them as people capable of gift, the more capable they become of giving themselves to Christ.