Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Lesson Starter : Working in Pairs: (i)What does the word Vocation mean? (ii)Who does the word apply to? Vocation The Word Vocation comes from the Latin word ‘Vocare’, which means ‘to call’. Vocation is God calling us to respond to tasks He wishes us to fulfill or how we should live our lives.

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week “Jesus has a specific task in life for each and every one of us. Each one of us is hand-picked, called by name by Jesus! There is no one among us who does not have a divine vocation!” “In the hidden recesses of the human heart the grace of a vocation takes the form of a dialogue. It is a dialogue between Christ and an individual, in which a personal invitation is given. Christ calls the person by name and says: "Come, follow me." This call, this mysterious inner voice of Christ, is heard most clearly in silence and prayer. Its acceptance is an act of faith” Pope St John Paul II on Vocation Lesson Starter : Reflection

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God Working in a group discuss: (i) In your own life so far, in what ways have you came to know God ? (ii) Can you think of anyone has helped you know God by the way they live their life?

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God One day Moses was taking care of Jethro’s sheep. Jethro was Moses’ father-in-law. Moses led the sheep to the west side of the desert. He came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in flames of fire coming out of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but it was not burning up. So Moses said, “I will go closer to this strange thing. How can a bush continue burning without burning up?” The Lord saw Moses was coming to look at the bush. So God called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Moses and the Burning Bush

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God Then God said, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals. You are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your ancestors. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have seen the troubles my people have suffered in Egypt. And I have heard their cries when the Egyptian slave masters hurt them. I am concerned about their pain. I have come down to save them from the Egyptians I have heard the cries of the people of Israel. Moses and the Burning Bush

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God So now I am sending you to the king of Egypt. Go! Bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt!” But Moses said to God, “I am not a great man! Why should I be the one to go to the king and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” God said, “I will be with you. This will be the proof that I am sending you: You will lead the people out of Egypt. Then all of you will worship me on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “When I go to the Israelites, I will say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you.’ What if the people say, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?” Moses and the Burning Bush

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God Then God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, ‘I AM sent me to you.’” Moses and the Burning Bush

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God The Big Word - Theophany The word Theophany means ‘God’s appearance’ This story of Moses experiencing God is an example of a Theophany Moses and the Burning Bush

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 1 – Knowing God Moses and the Burning Bush Reflection 1. Do you remember when and how you met your best friend ? 2. What sustains your relationship with your best friend ? 3. Since you started High School, have you tried to make new friends ? 4. In primary school we have learned a lot about God and taken steps to develop our relationship with Him. What did you learn about God when you: (a) made your First Confession (b) received your First Holy Communion (c) received the Sacrament of Confirmation

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 2 – Vocation Story A Priest speaks…. As a class read over the Vocation Story from your booklet.

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 2 – Vocation Story A Priest speaks…. As a class read over the Vocation Story from your booklet.

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Activity 1. Working with a partner discuss the following: (a) In what ways have you come to know God ? (b) What similarities are there between the Vocation Story and the Moses story ? (c) How does the Vocation Story above help us to know God ? 2. Working by yourself: (a) In the Moses story and the Vocation story, what could have been the obstacles that stopped them responding to God’s call in their life? (b) What do you think God is calling you to do with your life? Are you ready to allow him to do something special with your life ? (c) Can you think of anyone you know whose life has been changed by coming to know God ? 3. Working in groups/pairs: Produce a collage/wall display on the theme ‘Knowing God’

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week Focus 2 – Vocation Story Extension Task On a large sheet of paper write the word ‘priest’ down the left hand side and for each letter think of a word starting with that letter that relates to the job of a Priest eg P…Prays etc

Priests for Scotland Vocations Awareness Week End of Lesson Prayer Lord God, you came into the life of Moses and showed him that You were his friend. As I start First Year, come into my life and remind you that my friend, that you care for me and that you want the best for me. Amen b