Vocation: Grace and Mission – 1st Archdiocesan Gathering of Parish Vocation Promoters, a success

The resounding success of the first Archdiocesan gathering of Parish Vocation Promoters painted the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary (XACOSE) red!

On August 12, 2023, vocation promoters from the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Davao gathered to unite with their commitment to increase vocation and spread love and commitment to spread divine calling. The overwhelming number of participants ignited the enthusiasm of the vocation promoter coordinators including the religious community to adhere to God’s call to serve. Each vicariate was well represented with vocation promoters from different ministries and organizations. The unexpected number of promoters from the GKKs inspired others to strive to encourage youth and single men and women to join religious life or even solely offer life to God to serve people in their respective communities.

The activity is welcomed with a Holy Mass, the center of the activity, presided by the Vocation Director, Rev. Fr. Ronald Arcillas, Asst. Vocation Director, Rev. Fr. Alfredo Bustamante, with Rev. Fr. Orlando Angelia as member of the Vocation Promotion being the FLA director and Rev. Fr. Ranebe Magallanes. The unexpected attendance of the parish vocation promoters inspired Fr. Arcillas to do his best. His expression of gratitude is seen in his happy face. In his homily, he emphasized that the gathering points to the importance of listening and believing that God loves us and He is our strength. More of the activities were lined up to make the gathering memorable. A program was prepared, beginning with praise and worship, a talk on vocation promotion, sharing per vicariate, and games. Engulfed with happiness, Fr. Arcillas announced that out of 42 parishes of the Archdiocese, 35 parishes have parish vocation promoter coordinators and by 2025 all parishes will have vocation promoters.

Rev. Fr. Jeus Jardin, the procurator of XACOSE expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the parish vocation promoters for helping them in encouraging young men and women to enter religious life especially those potential students who would like to join the seminary. Fr. Jardin also shared integrating stewardship in the endeavors of the vocation promoters to help sustain the seminary in particular through their program dubbed as “Halad sa Seminaryo, Bugas Isa ka Kasako”.

This year’s theme, “Vocation: Grace and Mission” connotes commitment to serve and love to help. Fr. Arcillas intimately conveyed to the crowd that the importance of listening is the highlight of the promotion, listening is not by ears but by heart, and our way of serving should be expressed with happiness.

Other activities are lined up for this year’s vocation month. (Gresiel Ferrando)