Vocation vs Job

Recently, a primary student asked me this question: “Father Joe, what makes you become a priest?” I said: “It is actually a very good question!” However, I was shy to give a clear answer. Should I say that it was a vocation? Would a primary student know what a vocation is? Should I not say that it is a job too because I need somehow to manage the finances, serve as payroll officer, as a liturgical and social animator, as life counsellor, as customer service officer, construction manager, as HR officer, as a complaint officer for anything that goes wrong in the parish, and much more. In these responsibilities, there are wide range of criticism, justified and unjustified. But am I not allowed to say critical things as a priest? Then I will hear, you are a priest, and you can’t do it! I can lend my ear to people, but I am not allowed to speak! I am on call 24/7, nursing homes, hospitals etc.

Then there are requirements, legal and psychological, that I have to meet in order to be a priest in a parish in Australia: professional development, supervision, training in all sorts of things. It does not end here…. I need to be honest, threats against my person are not uncommon among the calls to the priest.

Often, I feel that way: a job and not a vocation! So, I feel that there is a disconnect between my “doing” and “being a priest” because in essence, while a job is about “doing,” a vocation is about “being”. Vocation is a beautiful thing and there are many types of vocation. These are cherished roles. In my case, I cherish the beauty of being a priest. When individuals encounter genuine beauty, it can inspire them to live more virtuously, to cultivate kindness, and to seek a closer relationship with God. This suggests that beauty is not just a passive experience, but an active force that can shape and transform individuals and the world.

The concept of vocation can also be linked to the common good. Individuals can consider how their chosen vocation contributes to the well-being of others and society. Vocation, often understood as a calling, is intrinsically linked to responsibility. It’s not just about a job or career, but a deep sense of purpose and commitment that motivates an individual to act and contribute. This sense of responsibility involves recognizing one’s obligations, deliberating on them, fulfilling them, and discerning the best way to respond to situations and the world around them.

So, it is still worth to do the job? Personally, I would say yes. To me there is no better vocation than being a priest because this particular way of life often involving a sense of purpose and meaning beyond mere employment. It my personal response to reality, encompassing one’s whole being and not just a narrow definition of work or ministry.