October 20, 2020

10 days till National Vocation Awareness Week

#15 in a series of 25 short stories

1985 Final Vow retreat group in Napa Valley, CA. Group assembled from all over the world for this retreat.

Prior to making final vows in 1987, I was asked to make a 30-day retreat in the Napa Valley with 50 other individuals mostly my age.  That was a fantastic experience that I have appreciated all of my religious life.  Imagine being with 50 people your age all engaged in a similar commitment, sharing for a month your dreams and aspirations.  I was at the Christian Brothers Retreat Center in Napa from the middle of June until the middle of July that year.  I am still in contact with a few of the people who attended.  It was a very exciting experience and one that really inspired all of us as we prepared for final vows. 

By 1987 I was teaching full time at our community high school, St. Mary of the Valley and loving every moment of it.  The youth who attended were 99% excellent students who were capable of great things.  They might not have thought so at the time, some of them, but they were, and they have gone on to become excellent citizens and contributors to society.  I can say I have positive memories of all of the youth I taught and came into contact with.

Imagine being called to a life/vocation where your goal is to make Christ known to others and you are constantly inspired by those you come into contact with!  Religious life has been such a blessing to me in so many ways.  I thank God often for that call, the commitment to live it out and for the gifts He has given.