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Approximately a week before the pilgrimage invite your pastor or assistant pastor to present what their work as a priest involves. Here are some FOCUS QUESTIONS: When and how did you know you were called to the priesthood? What’s the difference between a diocesan priest and a priest who is in a religious order? What brings you the greatest happiness in your vocation? What one piece of advice would you give these young people?  

 Prior to the pilgrimage:

1.       memorize (as a class) The Prayer for Vocations prayed throughout the archdiocese.

2.       write a short reflection about what you know (what is life like) and how you feel about religious life?  

Define the following: priest, nun, monk Serra Club, seminarian, (religious) brother, mother superior, abbot, abbess, (religious) sister, monastery, seminary, pilgrimage, vespers, Gregorian chant. 

For the Vocation’s Pilgrimage, students should be instructed before hand to prepare questions for our hosts about discerning a vocation, the reasons for choosing a particular community and the meaning and experience of prayer in the lives of our hosts. Specific questions for each community might go as follows: What year was this order established? Who established this order, what do you admire most about him\her? What year was this community established at this location? How many members belong to this community worldwide? How many members reside at this community? How old is the youngest member, how old is the youngest member? How did you know you had a religious vocation? 

Questions for the Abbey & seminary: Where does the word "monk" come from? What do monks do? What is the motto of the Benedictine community? What is a junior seminarian? What responsibilities does a major seminarian have that a junior may not? How long does it take to study for the priesthood?

Questions for the Poor Clares' monastery: What does cloistered mean and how is it reflected in your community? 

Questions for the Dominican nuns at Queen of Peace Monastery: What does charism mean and what is your community’s charism?  

Another possibility while visiting Mission is to visit the Oblate cemetery. While visiting the cemetery it is possible to pray the office (http://www.liturgyhours.org) for the repose of the souls of our pioneers in faith and in thanks for their sacrifices and then discuss the community of saints. If your pastor or assistant pastor joins you for this day, it would be a perfect opportunity for him to help explain the above questions.