The Commission for Priests and Religious of the Rajshahi Diocese in Bangladesh organized a day-long vocation seminar for students at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Bonpara on June 15.
The event drew enthusiastic participation from approximately 181 young people, ranging from secondary school students to university-level youth, representing various parishes across the vicariate.
With the theme “The Call of Jesus: I Will Make You Fishers of Men” (Matthew 4:19), the seminar aimed to inspire youth to reflect on their personal vocation and deepen their spiritual journey.
The program began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Father Michael Corraya, convener of the Commission for Priests and Religious, and concelebrated by the host parish priest, Father Dilip S. Costa. The Mass was followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp, a vocation-themed hymn, and a welcome address.
In a keynote talk, Father Uzzal Rebeiro invited participants to listen attentively to the voice of Christ in their hearts. “Each of us is called by Jesus,” he said. “Even before we were born, He knew us and had a purpose for our lives. A vocation is not just about priesthood or religious life—it is about saying ‘yes’ to Jesus and walking with Him.”
He further encouraged the youth to nurture a life of prayer and openness to God’s will: “Do you hear Jesus calling? Do you love to pray? Are you ready to proclaim His Word? The call of Jesus is a call of love. And when He calls, He also assures us, ‘I am with you’—just say yes.”
Participants engaged deeply with the session, reflecting on their personal faith journeys. One young attendee shared, “This seminar helped me look inward in silence and prayer. I feel closer to understanding my calling.”
Religious priests and sisters from various congregations later shared testimonies about their own vocational journeys, highlighting the unique charisms and missions of their respective communities. These stories offered the youth real-life examples of committed discipleship and service in the Church.
The seminar concluded with a feedback session and expressions of gratitude to all organizers, speakers, and participants.
The event left a strong impression on the youth, many of whom expressed a renewed openness to discerning God’s call in their lives.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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