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Vocation Committee Corner bulletin announcements:
August:
Vocation Committee Corner
In the spring of 2006 St. Richard's formed a new committee to explore
the topic of vocation and to provide services to parishioners in this area. Each month the committee will be answering questions related to
vocation and will make program and event announcements to assist the St. Richard's community in their understanding and following of their own
vocations. If you are interested in joining this committee, we welcome your participation.
August Question: I'm thinking about changing jobs. What do I need
to know before making that transition?
Gone are the days of technical training in one specific
work area and staying with one company for several decades until retirement. These days it's quite common for most members of the workforce to
change positions and even organizations every few years whether due to the desire for more or different challenges, increased income, lifestyle
accommodation, or due to layoffs.
When changing jobs it's really important to take inventory of your (and your family's) lifestyle needs (income, work hours, commuting, family
activities); the outlook for the job and organizations you're interested in pursuing; your interests, skills, values, strengths, and challenges.
Job transition is hard. Be sure to surround yourself with loving and supportive people whether they be friends, family members, the St. Richard's
community, a career counselor, or job search support groups.
The word vocation comes from the Latin word "vocare" which means "to call". Listening to our callings can take lots of time and energy; but once we
define our callings and can put them into action, we are going to be much more energized and excited to find a job that fits our needs, provides an
organization with our unique set of skills and experience, and makes the world a better place for everyone. If you are in need of assistance with
job transition, please contact the Vocation Committee by emailing Sr. Sue at
srsernster@strichards.com
or calling her at 612.869.2426. We're here to help
September:
Spiritual Direction
What is Spiritual Direction? Spiritual direction is an
ongoing, one-on-one dialogue with an individual who is trained in spiritual direction. The director serves as a guide or companion in helping the
directee feel the presence of God in his or her life. Spiritual direction is not therapy or counseling, rather it is receiving assistance in seeing
one's own spiritual path more clearly.
How can Spiritual Direction help me? Those who have sought
the help of a spiritual director have found it can greatly strengthen their spiritual life and relationship with God. When our spiritual life is in
balance, we are more in harmony with our physical and emotional self.
Where can I go for spiritual direction? There are a
number of spiritual directors in the Twin Cities area. You can check online for a spiritual director (one site is Spiritual Directors International
www.sdiworld.org
) or you can contact the Vocation Awareness Committee and ask for assistance.
How much does it cost? The cost varies. Some spiritual
directors will accept whatever the person can pay, others have a more standard rate. A typical range is from $45 to $65 dollars per hour.
Soon you will be able to find more information about Spiritual Direction and other topics of interest brought to you by the Vocation Awareness
Committee by going to St. Richard's website and looking under 'Vocation Awareness Committee.'
October:
Volunteering and Vocation
Volunteering your time, energy,
and experience is a terrific way to express your vocation. Did you know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that approximately 27% of the
U.S. population volunteered through or for an organization between 2005-2006. Can you imagine all of the many more people who would be served hot
meals on a cold day, the elderly who would be comforted with a visit, the children who would have help with their homework – a role model,
someone to inspire them to be the best they can be if that percentage went from 26 to even 30%? Volunteering is a great way to help others, feel
good about yourself, and make personal and even professional connections. Some people use volunteering opportunities to gain experience in
different career areas so they can gain experience and contacts to transition to that field of work. So get out there and do God's work!
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