Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Lesson Starter : Working in Pairs: (i)What does the word Vocation mean? (ii)Who does the word apply to? Vocation The Word Vocation comes from the Latin word ‘Vocare’, which means ‘to call’. Vocation is God calling us to respond to tasks He wishes us to fulfill or how we should live our lives.

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week “Jesus has a specific task in life for each and every one of us. Each one of us is hand-picked, called by name by Jesus! There is no one among us who does not have a divine vocation!” “In the hidden recesses of the human heart the grace of a vocation takes the form of a dialogue. It is a dialogue between Christ and an individual, in which a personal invitation is given. Christ calls the person by name and says: "Come, follow me." This call, this mysterious inner voice of Christ, is heard most clearly in silence and prayer. Its acceptance is an act of faith” Pope St John Paul II on Vocation Lesson Starter : Reflection

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Listening to God Working in a group discuss: (i) How often do take time to pray, and listen for God’s voice in your life (ii) What stops young people listening for God’s voice ?

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Listening to God The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions. Eli’s eyes were so weak he was almost blind. One night he was lying in bed. Samuel was also in bed in the Lord’s Holy Tent. The Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy Tent. God’s lamp was still burning. The Call of Samuel

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Listening to God Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “I am here!” He ran to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel again went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” Again Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The Lord had not spoken directly to him yet. The Call of Samuel

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Listening to God The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “I am here. You called me.” Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. So he told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say: ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in bed. The Lord came and stood there. He called as he had before. He said, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.” The Call of Samuel

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Listening to God The Big Word – Ark of the Covenant The Ark of the Covenant was the chest in which the 10 Commandments were kept. The ark was a reminder of God’s presence among the people The Call of Samuel

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Listening to God The Call of Samuel Reflection 1. If someone asked you to describe prayer, what would you say ? 2. When was the last time you prayed ? 3. Why did you pray ? 4. Do you ever take the time to thank God for all He has given you ? 5. Do you find it difficult to listen for God’s voice in your life ?

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 2 – Vocation Story A Seminarian speaks…. As a class read over the Vocation Story from your booklet.

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Activity 1. Working with a partner discuss the following: (a) In the Vocation story above what obstacles were there that stopped the student priest from listening to God in his early life ? (b) What caused the change in the Student Priest’s life ? (c) In what ways do you listen for God’s voice in your life 2. Working in groups/pairs: Produce a collage/wall display on the theme ‘Listening to God’

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 2 – Vocation Story Extension Task On a large sheet of paper write the word ‘priest’ down the left hand side and for each letter think of a word starting with that letter that relates to the job of a Priest eg P…Prays etc

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week End of Lesson Prayer Lord, thank you for what you do for me. Thank you for always listening to me when others don’t. May I always, like the Prophet Samuel, hear your voice in my life. Amen Amen