Claire Brown is always seeking God’s will in everything she does.
For the music teacher who lives and works in the Blue Mountains and worships at St Finbar’s Parish, Glenbrook, this has allowed her to approach life with purpose, vitality and joy, knowing she is following the path He has laid out for her.
At the moment, this path involves living the vocation of single life, and Claire is “living it to its fullest”.
“Up to now, it has been His will and calling for me to be single,” she says.
“Whether it stays like this or changes, I continually surrender to His plans for my whole life – status, ministry, work, all of it.”
Claire says her vocation gives her many opportunities she would not have otherwise. Image: Supplied
She remembers one moment that reinforced this calling was during the Australian Catholic Youth Festival several years ago when Mother Hilda from the Benedictine Abbey at Jamberoo was taking a group in Lectio Divina. During the session, Mother Hilda read out several one-line Scriptures and told the audience that one of these might stick out to them, or that the Holy Spirit might reveal something else that God wants to say.
“And in that moment, I heard the words ‘I am yours and you are Mine’ and it gave me a real sense of being seen and known by God, and that I’m where He wants me to be.”
Claire says her vocation gives her many opportunities she would not have otherwise.
One of them is to be able to minister to family, friends, her parish and the wider diocesan community in ways that others may not be able to in their own vocations. This has included giving up weeknights and weekends for big church events and having the freedom to help family members or friends in need.
Another is the space and time each day to devote to prayer, including daily Mass and the rosary, which “is a great privilege and joy”.
Music is an important way she expresses her faith. Image: Supplied
Music is an important way she expresses her faith, and she uses it as a form of prayer, as she told Catholic Outlook a few years ago. At that time, she was also leading the Parish choir and St Finbar’s Youth Band, which she gave up in 2024 after 15 years.
“I’ll come down to my studio and play the piano, and it’s like a meditation and prayer time for me. I’m just able to process a lot through music.”
Faith is there in those more public moments, too, when she’s teaching students.
“I love music and imparting that love of music to others. I also have a great passion for worship in the form of music. It’s such a powerful way to reach people’s hearts and draw them closer to God.”
But even in the everyday moments of her vocation, God “works wonders and gives me joys,” Claire says.
She says when young people are discerning their vocation they should not compare themselves to others but “surrender to God”. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
“You can transform the world by playing music for hundreds, imparting gifts and skills to others, but also by hanging out washing or going for a walk.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of her favourite saints is St Paul, who, in his Letter to the Corinthians, talks of being called to be single. “When I read his letters, I feel his heart and angst for people to know and encounter Jesus like he did,” she says.
Another saint who is important to her is St Clare, especially the story of her fighting off invaders by holding up a consecrated Host. “We’re in a spiritual battlefield every day and we’ve got a mighty powerful weapon in the Eucharist.”
She says when young people are discerning their vocation, they should not be worried or anxious, nor compare themselves to others, but “surrender to God. Ask for and rely on His wisdom, guidance and grace.
“You have so much power in any and all vocations to change the world for God’s glory by living your life for Him.”
This National Vocations Awareness Week (3-10 August 2025), may these stories inspire all of us to listen more deeply to God’s call, wherever it may lead. Claire’s path in life aligns with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Community and Listening, Dialogue and Discernment.
To learn more about responding to God’s call, visit Discern My Vocation.
