One Year Later - Memories of a Catholics on Call Participant

“The place God calls you is the place where your
deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
— Frederick Buechner

Suitcases, check. Pillows, check. Watermelon (that won’t get eaten), check. GPS named Richard, check.
As we piled into my red Mustang, I wondered what in the world we had gotten ourselves into. There are few things in life that possess me to get up before 6:30 a.m., especially on a Sunday, but this Sunday felt different. My traveling companion, Sarah, and I were headed to Chicago. We called it a road trip, but our destination was clear. We were going to the Catholics on Call conference. With a mixture of excitement and nervousness, we programmed Richard (the GPS) and pressed, “Go.” We had not looked at a map. We had not consulted MapQuest. We were in the hands of God and the GPS.
One shopping mall, one gas stop, two bathroom stops, a Mexican restaurant and an ice cream cone later, we were in the Windy City—Chicago.

“In 200 yards exit left. Take the next exit.” “Got it,” I thought. Here we are. As we drove around the block searching for a parking spot, a large sign made it clear, as Richard said, that we had “Reached our Destination.” Little did we know that our journey had only just begun.
After being welcomed by the staff, our group met in a lounge. I knew this was not your “normal” group of young adults. Within a five-minute period, we had been awkwardly thrown into a group of strangers who were singing, laughing and just plain being loud.

Soon we settled into our table groups. As we completed introductions, I became aware of the diversity of this group. Everyone from trash collectors to models to missionaries to theology majors sat among us. As the week progressed, our free time and dinners made it possible to hear each person’s story. Each person had hopes, dreams, fears, desires and goals. Each person had talents and wanted to use them to serve God. That’s what made this group stand out.

Besides the remarkable community seated around me, I found myself in awe of each presenter. For example, did you know that there are editors of the Bible? Did you know that there are scholars who specialize in Islamic and Catholic studies? Did you know that Green Bay has a bishop who also memorizes poetry and writes books for all ages? These were the people who were talking to us, sharing their vocation stories, and even sharing lunch. Each person brought a different aspect of what it means to be called by God. The speakers shared their stories, their knowledge and their wisdom. At the end of each talk, we were given questions for personal reflection and meditation.

During the week we were given two opportunities to visit mission sites to see others living the call. The mission site I found most inspiring was the Backyard Mission. This mission began so gang members would have a safe place to come. We spoke to three gang members who shared their stories of jail time, life on the streets, and the comfort of knowing that at the Backyard Mission they would be listened to without being judged. One priest commented, “On the street these boys might be shooting at each other, but here they can be eating dinner together. We don’t see huge successes, but we don’t give up either.” On the ride home from the conference, I learned that Sarah had had a similar experience with the Harmony, Hope, and Healing mission site. She described the ministry as the result of one woman sharing her musical gifts with other women, whether homeless or just in need of healing and a caring environment. Because Sarah is a music major, I can understand how this experience would impact her.

Richard, the GPS, got in few words on the way home. For six hours, Sarah and I spoke about how much Catholics on Call meant to us and sang the songs stuck in our heads from various prayer services. At Catholics on Call we felt at home.
Other people had the same struggles and desire to serve God and Church. We all were discerning. Sarah and I both were encouraged to overcome fears and be comfortable using the gifts we have been given. We have been called.

As for the strangers that filled the room on the first day, these are our lifelong friends. Just as Jesus gave his first disciples companions, here in the 21st century we have companions.
This time, however, they have come in the form of trash collectors, models, missionaries and theology majors— all companions on the journey.

Emily Seiler of Benton, MO contributed this account on the Catholics on Call Conference for JOURNEY - a newsletter published by the Ursuline Sister's Vocation Office.