Igniting a Culture of Vocations in Scottsbluff

By Julie Brown

Brrrriiiinnnggg, brrrrriiiinnngggg. “Hello, is this God? Are you calling to tell me my vocation?”

This scenario brought the students to laughter when Mrs. Brown’s cell phone rang during our recent Vocation Friday Assembly. Of course, they knew God would not be calling on a cell phone, nor were they going to hear His voice boom through her megaphone either, but how would they hear their call from God?

This past summer, I received notification from diocesan Superintendent Jordan Engle and the Vocations Office informing schools that our annual administrators meeting would be part of the Vocations Summit where all schools and parishes would be invited to learn more about how we could be part of Inspiring a Culture of Vocations within our diocese. I began thinking in advance what this summit might be about and how our school could further inspire vocations. We had received the Vocations Prayer, which would be easy to pray on a daily basis. We had implemented the Traveling Crucifix last year, which our families enjoyed hosting in their homes while praying as a family for vocations. We would continue that tradition this year, too, but what more could we do that would be fun, meaningful and would really help our students understand what a vocation is?

The summit was the inspiration I needed. While there, I heard a great presentation on our primary vocation, which is holiness. This was something I knew I could get the kids, ages 4-11, to understand. Speaker Sam Alzheimer mentioned a Bible school curriculum, “Discovery Mission - A Vacation Bible School,” a program I remembered seeing from my Google search on teaching about vocations. My interest was sparked and I continued a more in-depth search. I wanted something we could do throughout the year, not just for a week during vocations week. My mind was brimming with exciting ideas so I headed to find my religious education director, Terri Calvert. Terri is an extremely creative person who often helps me bring big ideas to fruition. After much discussion and idea sharing, our Vocation Friday plan was formed.

Using the John Vianney Bible school as our guide, we developed a plan to hold Vocation Friday once a month for the entire afternoon. Our 120 PK-5^th grade students would be placed in mixed-age groups and would move through five stations during the course of the afternoon. We quickly realized there would be a need for more help, so we reached out to our staff members serving on our Catholic Schools Week Committee for reinforcements. Together, we planned our first Vocation Friday for Oct. 14. T-shirts were ordered for all students and staff with a design that read: Vocation Friday - Called to Holiness. What an inspiring look to see every person in the building wearing that same reminder! Every person, young and old, shares the primary vocation — a call to holiness.  This would be lesson one.

School was abuzz that Friday as students and staff entered knowing that something special was happening that day, and special it was! The students had a blast as they moved through the planned activities. The afternoon began with a whole group assembly where Mrs. Brown asked, “Who might know what a vocation is?” and “How might we know what our personal vocation might be?” We discussed how God has a perfect plan for each of us when he designed our unique selves and he wants each of us to have a relationship with him so we can listen carefully to his whisper, then answer his call.

Students made a cell phone in the snack station to remind us that God indeed has a call for us. They played snakes and missionaries in the game station because each of us is on a mission to answer God’s call and there will likely be bumps (snakes) along the way, but we must continue to answer “yes” to God. The song God is Good All the Time had them singing and dancing in the music station, while a point perspective drawing in the art station reminded them that vocations are roads to holiness. In the prayer station, Mrs. Calvert spoke about what holiness means and how we can watch other’s examples, follow the lives of saints and pray more in an effort to answer our call to holiness. She provided students with special prayers and a family letter to share with parents in hopes of continued discussion at home. 

Once through the five stations, the students returned to the gym for a drama presentation about the conversion of Saul performed by fifth-grade students. A whole group dance party of the newly learned God is Good All the Time brought lots of excitement, as did the final group cheer of “Called to Holiness!”

When asked about the experience, fifth grader Reagan Schiff said, “It was fun! I liked learning that our first vocation is to be holy and that we will have to listen carefully and pray to know our next vocation because God will not call us on the cell phone or through a megaphone.” Second grader Zaylie Adams shared, “It was fun learning about how God calls you through our heart. I loved the dance and really all of it.  The day was just so much fun!” Other Vocation Fridays will focus on marriage, the priesthood and religious life. The final session will be “Sent Forth on a Mission.”  

We are on a mission! It’s to Inspire a Culture of Vocations and to have a blast while doing so. As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we are reminded of what a gift Catholic education is and how our schools can be instruments for helping our students discover their true calling. We give thanks to our parish, the diocese and many benefactors who so fervently support our mission. We are truly blessed. 

Read our latest issue of West Nebraska Catholic magazine and Julie Brown's article here: https://catholicmagazines.org/magazine-archive/west-nebraska-catholic/gi0123

Photos courtesy of Julie Brown