This week is National Vocations Awareness Week. Catholic Outlook invited members of our faith communities to reflect on the joys of their varied vocations and some sound advice for those still discerning God’s call in their lives.
Br Lawrie McCane FMS
Member of the Marist Brothers for 57 years
Catholic Outlook: Why did you decide to become a religious brother/sister? What called you to this vocation?
Br Lawrie McCane FMS: In the 1960s, it was common for young people to choose careers at a young age, and the same applied to young people who felt an early call to Religious Life. Consequently, I left home at age 16, to take a long journey from tropical North Queensland to the chilly town of Mittagong in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
The reasons for this youthful decision were varied. God leads us in interesting ways! Partly it was because I was attracted to a career in teaching, partly because I admired the Brothers who taught me, partly because those Brothers encouraged me towards a vocation in their Congregation, partly because I was part of a family with strong Catholic faith who also encouraged me, and partly because of the adventure of leaving home and travelling to a far distant part of the country. Somewhere among all these mixed motivations, the call of God was there. It was only much later in my Religious journey that I became more aware of a personal call and gradually was able to make a more mature response to that call.
What would you say is the biggest joy in your vocation?
Working with youth has been a source of much joy in my life over the past 57 years. For sure there are frustrations and disappointments, but my overall feeling about working with young people has been a great admiration for the admirable qualities of modern youth: spiritual searchers, socially and environmentally aware, inclusive and culturally diverse, adaptable and resilient. It has been a great joy to be part of their journey.
What is your favourite story from your vocational life?
10 years ago (2014), I was teaching in Marist College in Canberra. The Provincial visited to inform us that the community would close at the end of the year, and he asked me if I would like to join a new international community with lay people. This was quite different from all my previous appointments, where I lived exclusively with Marist Brothers. When the Provincial further informed me that the new community would be based in Western Sydney and we would be working with disadvantaged youth, particularly the Aboriginal community, I immediately agreed. The past 10 years have turned out to be extremely rewarding for me and I’ve greatly enjoyed living in a youthful, multicultural lay community and working in one of Sydney’s poorest suburbs.
Who is your favourite saint/s? What impact have they had in your life?
Our founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, is high on my list of favourite saints. Marcellin has shown me how to live simply, how to relate with young people, and how to work toward a fairer more just world.
Have you received any great advice on your vocational journey?
Some great advice I’ve received was from a good friend who reminded me that it’s important to slow down, to take time to enjoy nature, to go out with friends, to have some interests quite different from the usual work mode. In short, to live a balanced life.
What message would you have for young people discerning their vocation?
Follow your dream. Be patient with yourself. Live with the questions. Do what you enjoy. If a particular vocation looks attractive to you, give it a go. Importantly, as you discern, include times of quiet prayer and reflection as well as sharing your hopes and dreams with trusted others.
With the launch of the new Diocesan Pastoral plan, how do you in your vocation hope to strengthen communion, participation and mission in the Diocese?
I want to continue to be informed about the new directions we are taking … “Behold, we are doing a new thing!”. I am fortunate to be part of a thriving Parish community at Holy Family, Emerton. Fortunately, our Jesuits are leaders in listening to the new directions of Synodality, led by our inspiring Pope and of course Bishop Vincent. I am involved in some Parish and Diocesan groups which are involved in progressing the Pastoral Plan.
If you wish to learn more about how you can discern your vocation, visit the Diocesan website.
Learn more about the various Consecrated communities in the Diocese of Parramatta or across Australia.
