“How can we attract two novices for next September?” That was the six million dollar question we put to ourselves at our recent Carmelite Vocations Team meeting. Admittedly it wasn’t the easiest of nights to have been talking about such things having been bombarded all that day with wall-to-wall coverage of the Ferns Report in the media. How does one possibly encourage a young man to seriously consider life as a priest or brother in such a climate? It’s hard to be enthusiastic about promoting vocations when one’s own vocation is challenged to the core at times like this.

Sometimes I think my personality prevents me from yielding more fruit. There’s a stubbornness within me that I recognise. For example, I’ll make as good a pitch as I can for vocations or participants for World Youth Day or the Lourdes pilgrimage or whatever. I’ll most likely reiterate that appeal at least once or twice more, but after that don’t expect me to headhunt individuals. I can be as stubborn as a mule once I’ve said what has to be said!

It seems to me the young people I want to reach must be hearing what I’m saying, they must read my ads in this publication each month and the other promotional literature I produce. Could it be that what’s missing is a deeper kind of listening? I’m reminded how on a number of occasions in the Gospels Jesus is recorded as saying, “let anyone with ears to hear listen” (Mt 11: 15; 13:9, 43; Mk 4:23; Lk 14:35). What is he suggesting? I think he is saying that although human ears hear many sounds, many words, there is a different, a deeper kind of listening that results in spiritual understanding. The implication being that if we honestly seek God’s will and are open to it, we will have that spiritual hearing, and hence Jesus’ parables, and any sort of appeal to our generosity, on whatever level, will take on new perspectives. “If today you hear God’s voice”, the psalmist urges, “do not harden your heart.” (Psalm 95: 7-8)
I have great admiration for any young person who is willing to go that extra mile for Christ, and generously give of his-her gifts and sometimes, an entire life, for the upbuilding of God’s kingdom. These young people stand out from the crowd. They deserve our encouragement. Thank God we have many fine examples of teenagers here in Knocklyon who enrich parish life immeasurably by generously giving of their time, energy, enthusiasm and talents; for this we rejoice.

Wouldn’t it be marvellous if some of the young people currently involved in parish activities might, in a few years time, at least explore the possibility that God may be calling them to serve His people as religious and priests? We need to intensify our prayers to the Lord of the Harvest now so that this may become a reality in the future.
If you are a young person reading this, I encourage you to reflect on and have the courage to live out St. Paul’s advice: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mould, but let God remake you.” (Romans 12: 2)
You see my brother Carmelites and I every Sunday at Mass. You hear us, you know our different styles, our idiosyncrasies, our good points and bad. Many of you know us to talk to. Some of you know us quite well – you know our struggles; you know our hopes and dreams.

At this stage I have become convinced that the best advertisement of all for Carmelite Friars is the reality of who we are. We’re not perfect, as you know only too well, but we are certainly human, and I believe that therein lies one of our greatest strengths.

Philip Brennan, O.Carm.