Teaching as a Vocation
The term vocation comes from the Latin ‘vocare’ which means to call. The Porta Fidei retreat is about renewing and hearing once again the call of Christ into a radical relationship with Him and into the vocation of teaching. In this sense, the vocation of teaching is explored in a different way than in a group of graduating students still discerning their future vocation. We sometimes need a reminder of the link between our career choice and this life-giving vocation which provides us with the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ by serving the young people we teach.
The 1982 Vatican document Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith reminds us that as lay educators we should “be profoundly convinced that (we) share in the sanctifying, and therefore educational mission of the Church.” Jesus calls us into this vocation of teaching and gives us a task, a mission to accomplish - to go and make disciples.
In the lead up to Proclaim Lismore Staff 2019 we reflected on the Proclaim Lismore journey and were asked “Why do we have Catholic schools and why do we work in them? Why did you choose this path? Watch This is our why to be reinvigorated in our vocation as Catholic educators.
In this transcript of her Porta Fidei talk on Teaching as a Vocation, Deb Rennes shares personally on the sources of grace that have enabled her to live out her vocation as a teacher.
More highlights and reflections on the Porta Fidei Retreat can be found in this reflection video.
Although the Porta Fidei retreats were all cancelled in 2020, we remain hopeful that they will return in 2021. The dates and venues are already locked in. Keep an eye on MyLearning next year. We hope to see you there.
- 17-18 June - Bonny Hills
- 19-20 August - Invercauld House
- 2-3 September - Coffs Harbour