The Viatorian Community invites you pray, reflect, and act for National Vocations Awareness Week, November 2-9, 2025.
The Church upholds the lifestyles of single life, married life, religious life, and priesthood as the states of life in which we live out our baptismal calls. In the Viatorian Community, we honor our professed religious brothers and priests who respond to this call by their vowed living as well as the single and married people who respond to this call by their commitment as Viatorian associates. Each Viatorian discerns and enacts a response to the charism of our founder, the Venerable Louis Querbes, as we “strive to live a lively and enlightened faith by serving the Word” (Province Charism Statement).
We invite you to continue or renew your personal discernment with Episode 99 of Viatorian Voices: Conversations on the Way. We gathered a panel to reflect on faithful discernment: Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, a religious brother since first vows in 1987; Associate Ann Perez, an associate since her initial commitment in 2018; and Viatorian Youth Leader Madeline Denk, a two-time Viatorian Youth Congress leader. They reflect on clarity in discernment, types of prayer to utilize in discernment, and what a Viatorian vocation means for them.
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Br. Rob recommends the Suscipe, the “take, Lord, receive” prayer of St. Ignatius. “This brings an overwhelming feeling of calmness. The verse relaxes me. I give it all to God, and God will provide what I need to keep moving forward,” Br. Rob said – much in line with Fr. Querbes’ reliance on God’s Providence.
Ann endorses the calm focus facilitated by Taizé Prayer services. “It’s a way to stop, pause, and think about where God is calling me to go. With the quiet, the dark, and the music, it’s a way to slow down, especially when things are so busy,” Ann said.
Madeline loves the habit of daily Scripture readings, even if she lapses from it at times. “We get caught up so much in a hustle-culture mentality and putting our worth in how much we can do. The Gospel of John, especially, reminds me how my worth is in the love of God and that my vocation is in loving people,” Madeline said.
Hear the full “lightning round” on these key discernment topics on Ep. 99 of Viatorian Voices on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
After you listen, consider journaling on some of these topics, reaching out to a friend or Viatorian for a conversation, or adding an intention around discernment and vocation to your personal prayer. And, if these topics remind you of someone with a possible vocation to ministry, association, or religious life, consider sharing your thoughts with them to be a voice of God’s invitation. Those interested in discernment accompaniment should reach out to Viatorian Vocation Ministry and utilize our Discernment Resources.