News

5-16-2006

LEXINGTON, KY - Tech savvy young people now can look to the Internet for something new - assistance in determining what God wants for them. The Catholic Diocese of Lexington launched this week a new campaign themed "What's in your heart?" that includes an interactive website, movie theater and radio ads, and opportunities to talk with people who have taken steps to incorporate faith into their lives every day.

"There are so many options for young people today that it can often be overwhelming to make many of the decisions with which they are faced- marriage vs. the single life, how and where to raise their family, attending church or not," said the Very Rev. Mark Dreves, who serves as the vocation director for the Diocese.

"We are developing new ways to help people of all ages, and especially those in their teens and early adult years, begin thinking about life decisions as they relate to their relationship with God," said Dreves. "It's a very empowering approach to living a rich and rewarding life."

A new website, IChoseYou.com, is a key element in the program. It offers original content that helps individuals in their searches for meaning and links to many other resources that may be of interest, such as daily meditations, music, Bible readings, inspirational stories, sermons, and blogs. It also offers personal stories from a variety of people and opportunities to chat with others and ask questions anonymously.

The website name comes from the passages, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I chose you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you." (Jeremiah1:4) and, "You did not choose me, but I chose you." (John 15:16)

Dreves said many Catholics traditionally have viewed vocations only as full-time roles within the Catholic Church such as that of a priest or sister, and that it's something of a foreign term to non-Catholic Christians. However, the word vocation means, "being called" and it applies to all Christians and involves a prayerful approach to answering God's call to holiness.

"This is not your father's vocation outreach program, that's for sure. We want to take people by surprise," said vocation office coordinator Erick Sandstad. "We want to create a fun, rewarding experience that will encourage people to feel comfortable, wherever they are in their discernment process."

"The need for priests has been only one of the considerations in our efforts. This is a mission diocese, so reaching out to others is part of what we do. Our goal is to create an environment in which all people are tuned into their spiritual lives and can be more accepting of their personal calls, whatever they might be. We believe that will not only result in more priests, deacons and sisters, but also many other kinds of vocations," added Dreves.

The Catholic Diocese of Lexington, a mission diocese, covers 50 counties in the central and eastern half of the state. It has 64 parishes and missions serving more than 48,000 Catholics and thousands of non-Catholics through its charitable programs.