VOCATION

The word vocation comes from a Latin word “Vicare” meaning “a call to serve”. It is a strong feeling that one has for doing a particular thing with his/her life believing that God wants it that way.

We are called to be sons and daughters of God and we can be children of God only in three ways: 1. Call to marriage life. 2. Call to consecrated life. 3. Call to single life. Each of the three ways is meant to make us live happily.

My concern here is on the consecrated life. Those who choose to live the consecrated life are those men and women set apart for God. They are made holy for a purpose and this purpose is fulfilled in the three ways by which the religious consecrate themselves through the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. While for the diocesan priests, they are consecrated through ordination.

A VITAL QUESTION: HOW DOES ONE KNOW THAT GOD IS CALLING HIM/HER TO ANY OF THE THREE?

One can discern this through prayers and contemplation, reading scripture, experience of others, through dreams, just to mention but a few.

Precisely, how do you know that God is calling you to join the little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu (LSMIG)? My idea about this is like falling in love! When you have fallen in love, you constantly have an attraction towards the person or thing; your mind is constantly occupied by that and just a mentioning of the name makes you have a feeling of a deep sense of belonging and attachment. Like Samuel who was alert all the time that the lord called him, a girl called to join the LSMIG has a constant yearning to be like them. (Ref. 1Sam.3:4-10). Is God calling you to this family, don’t hesitate, write to:

The Vocation Directress,

Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu,

P.O. Box 928, Gulu- Uganda,

East Africa.

Tel. 25647132386 – Gulu;   25641223047 – Kampala.

We recruit girls interested in joining our congregation through visits to schools, parishes and home visits as well. We give vocation talks to various groups of youths and at different levels. Given the current insurgency in northern Uganda, this task has not been easy, yet surprisingly, more girls have been touched by the lord to come and serve his suffering people. Praise be God!

HOW DO THE INTERESTED GIRLS GET TO THE CONGREGATION?

At various levels, the congregation has assigned sisters to be in charge of vocation. We have the following:

1. The overall vocation directress (OVD).  Her task is to co-ordinate with the zonal vocation directresses and to see that the activity is running smoothly.

 2. The zonal vocation directress (ZVD). She deals with the community\parish vocation animators and gives her report to the OVD.

 3. The community/parish vocation directress. Her work is to co-ordinate the aspirants with the (ZVD) and with the rest of the community.

In sum, all the members of the congregation have the responsibility of helping young girls and boys identify their vocation.

Blessed be God forever.

Joining the Congregation

This is a seed put in the ground to germinate and grow into many branches and produce abundant seeds/fruits.

Requirements for the aspirants (girls) who would like to join the institute:

1.      They should be catholic girls of good morals and behavior

2.      Practice Christianity by receiving the sacraments

3.      Girls from good Christian parents and background

4.      They should bring their baptismal cards, medical forms, recommendations from the Parish Priest, headteacher of the last school attended and a letter from their parents.

5.      The aspirants join the Congregation after senior four or six or after their professional training.