Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

About Elizabeth Ficocelli

Elizabeth Ficocelli is a best-selling, award winning Catholic author of fifteen books for adults and young people, including Seven from Heaven: How Your Family Can Find Healing, Strength and Protection in the Sacraments and The Imitation of Christ for Children. She has spoken at the LA Congress, NCEA, and various catechetical conferences, as well as at numerous schools and parishes. Elizabeth also hosts “Answering the Call” on St. Gabriel Catholic Radio AM 820, in which she interviews priests, deacons, and religious about their spiritual journeys and current vocations. For more information, visit www.elizabethficocelli.com.

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation

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Sunday, April 26th, is the 52nd Annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations

In a special message written for that occasion, Pope Francis defines the Christian vocation as “first and foremost a call to love.” Using the wonderful analogy of the call of Moses to lead his people out of bondage and into the Promised Land, the Holy Father explains that a vocation is a love that draws us out of ourselves and asks us to leave behind our comfort, false securities, and ego to move forward with trust, knowing that God will show us the way. “Those who set out to follow Christ find life in abundance by putting themselves completely at the service of God and his Kingdom,” the pope said. “The exodus towards God and others fills our lives with joy and meaning.” The reality is, everyone has a vocation, whether it is to the priesthood, religious life, married or single life. Each is important and each is a valid pathway to holiness. It is our responsibility as Christians to enter into a deep and personal conversation with God to discover exactly which vocation he may be calling us to. Once we discover and live that vocation with our whole heart, our lives will be all the richer – and so will the Church and the world. That’s because a vocation is a calling to service. It’s a way to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others and help establish his Kingdom here on earth.

Once we discern and begin living our vocation, our job is not over. We are to encourage and support others in their discernment and in their current vocations. That’s why the Church initiated The World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Together, we can pray that God will send laborers to the harvest. And that those laborers will respond with openness and generosity.

As part of my ministry, I have a heart for inspiring vocations. One way I do that is through the radio program I host for St. Gabriel Catholic Radio AM 820. Each week I have the privilege of interviewing priests, deacons, and religious sisters and brothers about their personal spiritual journeys to learn how they heard and answered God’s call and how they are living their current vocations. If you’ve never caught the show, I encourage you to listen Tuesdays or Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Previous episodes of “Answering The Call” are archived at www.stgabrielradio.com.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnother way I strive to inspire vocations is through my writing. As a parent, I particular recognize the need to encourage vocations in our children. We need to plant the seeds of awareness and openness at a young age so they, too, can begin their dialogue with God to discover their unique vocation. To that end, I’ve written a children’s book series called Where Do Priests Come From? Where Do Sisters Come From? and Where Do Deacons Come From? Each contains charming illustrations and text to make real to a young audience these men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving Christ and his Church. You can learn more about these books here: https://elizabethficocelli.com/books-for-youth/

This week, pray about it. In what way might you inspire vocations?

Elizabeth Ficocelli is a Catholic author of 15 books for adults and young people, a national Catholic speaker, a frequent guest on Catholic radio and television, and the host of “Answering The Call” on St. Gabriel Catholic Radio AM 820. For more on her writing, speaking, and media work visit: www.elizabethficocelli.com

The Sacrament of Baptism: Immersed in Grace

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baptism_babyInspired by Pope Francis’ recent attention to the seven sacraments — unique encounters with the Living Christ that should be made accessible to all Catholics — this monthly series will look at practical and creative ways the sacraments can come alive in our classrooms and in our homes.

Baptism is considered the gateway for all other sacraments. It marks the beginning of our Christian ministry as it frees us from original sin and makes us members in Christ and his Church. Baptism is most often conferred on infants and children too young to understand this important ritual. Therefore, our best option for evangelization is the parents.

Most parishes today offer a baptism class for parents wishing to baptize their children. This is our first opportunity to reach out and welcome these families. Preparing to have a child baptized can give parents an opportunity to reflect on their own relationship with God and the Church. We want to be able to answer their questions with charity and clarity to help them to understand the commitment they are about to make. Baptism in the Catholic Church requires parents to commit to raising that child in the faith–that is, to attend Mass regularly and see that the child is properly prepared for his/her sacraments. Through this sacrament, an individual joins our parish community in a special way and our parish is greatly enriched because of it. Baptism, therefore, is not a private family affair but a community celebration, which is why the sacrament is most often celebrated during or immediately following the Mass.

Here are a few suggestions to help enrich the baptism experience for the entire family:

Couple Prayer. Encouraging parents to pray together for the sake of the child they are about to baptize is an intimate and powerful experience that can truly unify a couple. Praying together for a tiny infant provides a great foundation and will segue easily and naturally to deeper prayer as the child grows and needs those prayers all the more.

Letter to Baby. Invite parents to write a letter to their child about the hopes they have for their son or daughter as he or she grows to follow God. This is an excellent opportunity for a parent to ponder their role in the spiritual life of their child. By putting their hopes and desires in writing, it deepens the commitment and can become a treasured keepsake.

Discernment of the Baptismal Name. The naming of a child has great significance and requires prayerful discernment. As Catholics, we have a wonderful tradition of naming our children after great saints. These holy individuals can provide our children with a strong and virtuous role model and a spiritual companion for life.

Choice of Godparents. Godparents are not figureheads in the Catholic Church but vital players in the spiritual life of the child being baptized. A carefully discerned Godparent will be convicted in their Catholic faith and committed to see that the child is raised as promised.

Easter Vigil. Easter Vigil is the Church’s grand celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, with the blessing of the paschal candle and the entrance of all the catechumens and candidates into the Church. Yet many Catholics have never experienced it. Enthusiastically and personally invite families to attend!

Baptismal Anniversaries. Mark the anniversary dates of each family member on the calendar. Celebrate those special days by reminiscing over photos or lighting the baptismal candle. This is a wonderful opportunity for the family to recite together the baptismal vows.

On-Going Catechesis. Even though most children will have already been baptized by the time they begin to understand this sacrament, it doesn’t mean there can’t be on-going catechesis. Choose biblical “water stories” (i.e. Noah and the flood, the crossing of the Red Sea, Jesus’ baptism, etc.) as a teaching tool for explaining the sacrament, since each of these events pre-figure baptism in some way. If a baptism is going to take place during a Mass you are attending, give your children seats with a good view of all the action, while quietly pointing out symbols such as the chrism oil, the candle, and the white garment. And remember, when it’s time to renew the vows, do it loudly and proudly!