When supporting vocations, it is easy to focus on young Catholics. But let’s remember how many converts to the Catholic faith have become priests and religious!

There is St. Augustine (354-430): baptized Catholic in his thirties, he later founded a religious order, and was ordained a diocesan priest and later a bishop. Or consider Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-1890), who was a priest of the Church of England until his conversion to the Catholic Faith at the age of 44. After a period of discernment, this new Catholic became a priest, headed a Catholic school, and influenced thousands through his writings.

What about these famous converts who went on to become religious sisters? St. Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947), born in the Sudan and raised in slavery, gained her freedom, was baptized, and became a Canossian Sister. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was widowed in her thirties; she would later enter the Catholic Church and found the Sisters of Charity.

Christ came for all; He may be extending a call to the priesthood or religious life among even those who do not yet know Him. On the 53^rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis made the point that “conversion and vocation are two sides of the same coin.”

 

We don’t need to wait for a special gathering of Catholics to support vocations. We can both evangelize and support vocations among gatherings where people come from many different faith backgrounds: at work, in family and social gatherings, and the like. How?

We can talk about the priesthood and religious life and tell stories of great priests and religious.

We can share stories about the personal impact priests and religious have had on our relationship with Christ.

We should also pray for the vocations of those who are considering the idea of becoming Catholic, those studying to enter the Catholic Church, and those who do not yet know Christ. Just as conversion and vocation go together, so evangelization and supporting vocations are two sides of the same coin.