Sowing hope

“Across Europe there is an urgent need that Christian consciences listen to the calling”. We must ‘sow hope’, notably among the youth. “Priests, the first witnesses, must have the courage of vocation”. Thus stated Msgr. Wojciech Polak, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Gniezno (Poland), President of the European Vocation Service (EVS) and CCEE delegate bishop for Vocation, whom Giovanna Pasqualin Traversa interviewed in Rome on July 4, on behalf of SIR Europe, upon the conclusion of the audience the Holy Father granted to participants in the European conference of the pastoral of vocations,. The theme of the meeting that brought together 90 delegates representing 23 Countries of the Old Continent that ended July 5th is, “Sowing the seeds of the Gospel and of vocation: a Word that calls and sends”. Which “vocational geography” emerged from the conference? “The picture that emerged from the testimonies and the contributions of the delegates is varied. Each Country represents a specific situation, bound to the different condition of the local Church. However we understood, especially after the lectures of Austrian sociologist and theologian Paul Zulehner and of Italian psychologist and formator Amedeo Cencini, that the difficulties experienced in contemporary Europe are challenges that call us to a concrete approach. Across Europe there is an urgent need that Christian consciences become aware of the calling. Zulehner spoke of ‘sleeping vocations’, namely, those which fail to develop into priesthood or consecrated life. This is important and it’s up to the Church to identify these vocations and accompany them at a time marked by widespread fear of fulfilling one’s own vocation and the ensuing commitment. This is true not only within the Church but also at family and professional level”. How is it possible to intervene notwithstanding the different situations? “For instance, in confronting our daily efforts in the various pastoral centres we have come to realize that priestly vocations in Poland are increasing – there are currently some thirty seminarians – while Scandinavian Countries are witnessing the awakening of contemplative life. It is necessary to give renewed thrust to the Gospel of vocation, as Biblical scholar Rosanna Virgili declared. The Lord calls every man, each one within his own condition and in the places of his daily life. It is our task to draw close to these places without fear”.Father Cencini said that nowadays there is the fear of making a proposal, due to the ‘fear’ of upsetting consciences… “Indeed, and I am very much aware of this. I believe it is bound to the identity and to the self-formation of those called to propose this proclamation. More vocational courage is needed on the part of the priests. We must be the first witnesses of the proclamation, although at times we have to pay for it dearly”.Today you met the Pope. What was his message? “To the parable of the sower, that we chose as the subject of our meeting, Benedict XVI added the parable of the grain of wheat that fructifies when it dies. His Holiness called us to reflect on fecundity that ought to mark the pastoral of vocations. Pastoral animators ought to be capable of self-renouncement in order to fulfil the will of the Father. Benedict XVI calls us to be more authentic, more Christian, more convinced about our vocation when proposing it to others”.The Pope also asked you to “sow faith and hope”…“The word of the Lord that calls and sends us is always a word of hope. The love of Christ for man until the moment of his death on the cross is the true major hope we ought to transmit to others – being Christian implies this responsibility that nobody can escape – and which we must bear witness to. This especially important when it comes to the youth, often overwhelmed by bewilderment. All vocational animators, as all those proclaiming the good news, can only be men of hope”.The Pauline Year that just concluded and the beginning of the Priestly Year: which thrust for vocational commitment?“I am thinking of the two ‘icons’ of these events. Paul, a strong evangeliser, symbol of the courage of proclamation in any situation and capable of eliciting numerous vocations, and the Saint Curate of Ars, a model of priestly identity whose ‘humble way’ has been conveyed to us by Benedict XVI. The Pope summarized this way in five words: testimony, communion, daily engagement, listening and truth. These are key words also for each one of us, within our different geographic, social and cultural realities”.Thus, what is the primary commitment?“Contemporary pastoral care must be inspired by vocation, but only as relates to priesthood or consecrated life. Pastoral care ought to confront cultural changes, the so-called anthropological revolution of the past years. In turn, vocational pastoral care ought to be reconsidered from a missionary standpoint. This is also the most authentic way to proclaim faith in contemporary Europe”.