In this column, I will investigate the present situations in the Archdiocese of Vancouver and will demonstrate the ill effect that contributes to the decline in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Once the cause of the problem is identified, I will internalize the method to find remedies to combat and restore the health of Vocations in the Archdiocese. The final part will be the recommendations to help change the attitude, the values and the culture of the Archdiocese so that the need of more vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life is addressed. I hope that this column may help contribute and add new insights into the solution of “Vocation Crisis” particularly in the Vancouver’s Diocese and raise awareness of the need to promote Vocations.
Methodology
I will adopt the method in terms of Practical Theology to “See,” “Judge,” and “Act”, presenting the three different stages in the process of vocation’s development presented in three different parts.
The first part will consist of the compilation of evidences and facts from surveying the environment and situation of the Archdiocese of Vancouver “Ad intra” and also “Ad extra”. After having a better understanding of the general state of affairs internally and externally, I will advance to the second stage where the analyses and judgments of different issues that cause the decline in vocations have taken place. This will be the second part where many solutions are presented with different perspectives that will help build the vocation culture in the diocese. The third part will consist of the accumulation of recommendations and programs that can be applied to different levels of society: the individual, the family and the community at large. With these proposals, we hope to rebuild the foundation to promote vocations in our particular Church, the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
The tools that I will use to write this column are the two key foundations of Spirituality and Formation. The three parts will also be the integration of the three stages of the spiritual development from the tradition of the Fathers of the Church: purgation, illumination, and union. Adding to this tapestry is also the assimilation of the three levels of human development: egocentric, philanthropic, and selftranscendent.
(…to be continue…)
