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It has been said that the eye is the window to the soul, that which gives us life and gives us a sense of who we are and where we are going. The gift-plan, the dream for each person – our call or our vocation – comes from God who is at the center of our soul, at the center of ourselves.  Within every person, no one excluded, there is an original gift of God which waits to be discovered. A vocation culture is fostered in our world in a mysterious, yet concrete way as we live out the truth of being who we are and doing what we are called to do, in love. The eye is also the window to the world where we experience the call of "need" which tugs at our heart and invites our response. That's why an eye has been chosen as part of the design. The various pictures give witness to the 'universal and yet particular' understanding of vocation: called to life, called to be Christian and to be Church; called to our various states in life and to our personal vocations. The design, created by Kathryn Whiteside, was printed in a poster and bookmark for the parishes of the Archdiocese of Regina, 2005  Listening Together for God's Voice Heard God’s call lately? God invites us daily to relationship and to mission - to respond in love. We see this in scripture - Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Jeremiah, Mary and Jesus, and we experience it in our lives. The ‘big’ picture of God’s call can be explained in the following way: God the Father, calls us to ‘life and love’ (the human vocation)  God the Son, Jesus, calls us to ‘discipleship and communion’ (the Christian vocation)  God the Holy Spirit calls us to witness and mission (the Church vocation) Within the Church we are called to vocational lifestyle choices, whether married, single, ordained or consecrated, and to particular missions - all part of carrying on the mission of Christ. All of this is part of a “vocation culture”, a culture in which each person responds to the mission to which they are called. As a diocese we try to foster a vocation culture by praying and evangelizing; by being a worshiping community who serve and witness, and by mentoring and inviting, especially youth, to discern God’s unique call to them. (Source: Conversion, Discernment, Mission: Fostering a Vocation Culture in North America) "Get a job. Make money. Feel good.” Practical? Yes, a person has to eat. But isn’t there more to life? What are your reasons for getting out of bed in the morning? What gives your life meaning and purpose? Are you ready to allow yourself to be called by another (or by Another)? Is there a sense of mystery in your life?  A sense of incompleteness, an openness to God? Do you have the ability to dream and think big - to make something beautiful for God? Living in freedom and truth and love? Are you grateful?  These are some of the qualities and attitudes of a vocation culture, a culture in which each person identifies and responds to God’s dream for them and carries out the mission to which they are called. Questions?  Talk to God about it, or to a wise mentor.

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