Exploring the Concept of Vocations

Students from the seventh grade at Austin Preparatory School in Reading recently visited the Pastoral Center in Braintree to explore the concept of vocation: who students are being called to become and how they are being invited to share their gifts and interests in the service of the Church.

This visit to the Pastoral Center was one of 10 concurrent site visits that seventh-grade students conducted at Catholic parishes and colleges throughout New England. The visits provided students with an opportunity to speak with people about their pathway toward service in the Church and they gained an appreciation that there are many ways to participate in the life and ministry of the Church.

While at the Pastoral Center, the students received a tour from Very Rev. William P. Joy, who is assistant vicar for administration and special assistant to the vicar general. Austin Prep Head of Middle School Michael McLaughlin accompanied the students on their trip. He said, “The students most especially enjoyed speaking with Fr. Joy and learning about the administrative structure of the Archdiocese. They appreciated his thoughtful responses to their questions and felt honored that he showed them where Cardinal Seán completes his work when he is at the Pastoral Center.”

In addition, during their visit the students spoke with representatives from the Catholic Schools Office, Human Resources, the Office of Respect Life Education, and Pilot Printing.

Associate Superintendent for Leadership and Mission Effectiveness Daniel Roy was happy to meet the students and hear about their learning. “It was wonderful to see this bright, inquisitive group of students taking such a keen interest in the ministries of the Church. This kind of experiential learning can be quite formative.”

About Austin Preparatory School
Austin Preparatory School is a Catholic independent day school serving 750 young men and women in Grades 6 through 12. The school seeks to cultivate the hearts and minds of our young students and provide an environment in which our students can successfully learn, grow, and develop beyond the classroom. www.austinprep.org

About Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Boston
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston educate more than 34,000 students in 112 schools. The schools offer a high-quality, rigorous education that is rooted in Catholic faith and values for students age 2.9 through grade 12. www.csoboston.com