"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” -Matthew 9:37-38
Many Catholics encounter men or women who they have an inkling might be called to priesthood or consecrated life, sometimes within their own families. But how can we encourage them to ask the deeper questions, or to consider entering formation to more deeply discern the possibility of the call?
The first step is to pray! Pray for these men and women, as is the role of the lay faithful in bringing about vocations, as is the role that Jesus entrusted to each of us.
The second step is to start a conversation. We should never push someone by stating things like "You were meant to be a priest!" or "You're supposed to be a nun for sure!" But gentle conversations between brothers and sisters in Christ can open the floodgates for many to really see themselves taking the next steps in discernment.
Finally, taking steps like filling out the form below (together or on behalf of the man or woman you've been praying for) can help us to pick up that conversation in a more focused way.