JARRELL: Helping young people discern God’s will with their charisms

As parents, we all want what is best for our children. But each person’s definition of best is different. Is best what gives them the most monetary success? Is best what gives them peace? Is best what makes them “happy?” 

As Catholics, we know that “best” is God’s perfect will. Yet, we find it hard sometimes to surrender to that especially when it comes to trusting our children to Him. It seems so contradictory. After all, He is the Creator of all things, including them. He knows all things and has only ever wanted for us the only true success: the salvation of our souls. 

God tells us that the moment He knitted us into our mother’s womb, He knew the plans He had for us. And, as one of my favorite doctors of the Church said, if we become who we were meant to be, we will “set the world on fire.” That feels like success. 

One of the ways the Office of Vocations strives to help the people who were created to be priests, religious and consecrated find their way to that vocation is by offering what are called Andrew Dinners. St. Andrew brought our first pope to Jesus, and so, in his honor, we have named these events in which we all are called to invite the young men around us whom we have noticed to be devoted, holy, and possibly being called to the priesthood to a discussion and dinner with Archdiocesan priests. Here they can ask the priests the questions they have and bring those answers to prayer and to God, who we all then pray will give them a clear answer on who He made them to be. 

For those of us who like science and statistics, we have seen a direct correlation between the number of new seminarians and the number of Andrew Dinner participants. So, we are working hard to increase both of those numbers.  

In that spirit, I offer you a notable opportunity… stay aware, look for the charisms in the young people around you and tell them when you see the ways God has gifted them. Our world is full of noise and chaos. When we can enjoy the “peace that surpasses all understanding” and, in that peace, hear His voice and see His spirit move, we can bring that divine love to each other in the form of encouragement, love and support. Maybe invite him to an Andrew Dinner. 

I’ve sat with other devout Catholic parents who say they know we need more priests, but it needs to be someone else’s son, not theirs. They don’t want that life for him. It’s too hard; he will be lonely; they want grandkids. 

So many times, we go through things in our life that feel difficult, but when we come out the other side and see what He did with our surrender, we are able to marvel at His work. For the families of priests, this is amplified as they watch their son become a shepherd of souls, a comforter to the afflicted, a mediator between heaven and earth. 

As a momma of four, this is what I want for my kids: fulfillment, peace and knowledge that they are doing God’s will.  I know this will look different for each of them, so we’re bringing it all to Him and searching for His voice. 

To be fair, most young men are not called to the priesthood or religious life, but if we truly trust God and want what is “best” for our children, shouldn’t we at least help them ask their Creator and listen intently for the reply even if it’s not what we thought or hoped for?

After all, He really does know best. 

 Ashley Jarrell is the parish programs manager of the Office of Vocations.