Dear parishioners of Saint Patrick parish Community, in order for all to have a better knowledge of the Vocationist Fathers and Sisters, their spirituality and field of work, we are going to place in the bulletin on a weekly basis for a while the catechism of the Society of Divine Vocations (a.k.a -Vocationist Fathers)
Catechism of the Society of Divine Vocations – ( Chapter Nine )
81. Does not one get the impression that our rules are exceedingly complicated, our duties too numerous and our activities too extensive?
They would not only look excessive, but they would really be such if all rules, activities and duties were meant for the single religious however, since they concern the Congregation as a whole, they are not excessive.
82. What do we mean when we say: our works, rules and duties concern the whole Congregation and not a single subject?
We mean that, among all the works, rules and duties through which the Congregation strives to lead to universal sanctification, only some of them are common to and mandatory for all; the rest are restricted to a single individual, so that everyone may and ought to specialize in on of them only.
83. How do we explain the criterion for the distribution of our observances, functions and works?
Every single subject, barring those duties that are common to every faithful, the religious and those who are ordained, is to be committed—permanently or at least for a continuous period of three years—solely to one activity of our Congregation, and will simultaneously fulfill only few other functions. Meanwhile, during his work, he will be bound only by those religious observances that are more in conformity with and helpful for his work and assignment.
84. Is, this specialization in one of our activities and in a few of our functions, contingent on Superior’s will or on the subject’s choice?
This specialization remotely is contingent on the personal ability and on the choice of the subject, and proximately depends both, on the Superior’s will and on the wisdom of obedience. All these elements put together form everyone’s specific vocation in the great common vocation.
85. Why does our Congregation include so many activities, functions and observances?
Our Congregations is essentially clerical, and therefore it can and ought to extend itself to every possible priestly apostolate, including all the activities of the priestly ministry, always mindful of the Lord’s revelation: “In domo Patris mei mansions multae sunt”, in my Father’s house there are many mansion”.
86. How is it possible to achieve the formation and training for every activity and function of our Congregation?
Our Formation and training is basically the same as the Holy Church imparts to Levites, who aspire to priestly ministry.
87. If our formation and training is identical to the one administered to the diocesan clergy, how do we identify ourselves as religious?
Our congregation adds, to the formation and training of the diocesan clergy, one year of novitiate, two years of apprenticeship and two years of advanced training; during these periods, a specific formation and training for the single activities and functions can well be administered.
88. Can we see some danger of fragmentation and schism between the various classes and categories of Religious?
This danger certainly is not any more real than elsewhere, when we name the places of our activities; note how these names well describe the different programs and ideals of each function, and how these functions well correspond to the different elements of the work of sanctification. 89. Why have we decided to train and use specialists even in the spiritual field? We have been compelled to do that both, by the universal principle that “ad plura intentus, minor est ad singula sensus”, a sense that tries to care about a variety of things loses its strength in its care for a single activity”, and much more by the words of the Lord: “Non sum missus nisi ad oves quae perierant domus Israel”, “I have been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”, and also by St. Paul’s words: “Non misit me Dominus baptizare, sed evangelizare”, “The Lord did not sent me to baptize, but to evangelize”.
90. By which common bond are our religious unified in the midst of all these distinctions?
They are unified in their common goal of worship, apostolate and achievement of the Divine Union, which consists in the spreading of the ascetical Catholic teachings through holy books and the practice of the lives of the Saints, in a spirit of universal service and in the devotion to the Holy Trinity and in the fidelity to the inspirations