By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald

Quo Vadis: Students learn about vocations

OSCEOLA -- Even though school is out for the summer, some 40 young people journeyed to Osceola June 15, for a day of learning. The annual Quo Vadis day, sponsored by the Diocese of Superior, is not about comprehending a new math style. The event, held at St. Joseph Parish, focuses on getting junior high school students to think about their vocations in life.

"Today you have a chance to say, 'Lord, where are you leading me?'" said Fr. Andrew Ricci, diocesan vocation director and pastor of the Sarona, Shell Lake and Spooner cluster. "The cool thing is, God lets you live your life in any way you want."

Ricci said that no matter what vocation a person feels called to: holy orders, marriage, religious life or single life; all should be lived in a holy way. "All four of these are ways to follow God," he said.

The day is put on with four objectives in mind: to allow young people a chance to interact with women religious, priests and seminarians; to learn about the different vocations in the church; to reflect on religious life and holy orders; and to be able to question the sisters, priests and seminarians in attendance. There is also another objective, to have fun. "Some kids may have never seen a sister in their parish," Ricci said. "Some kids may not see a lot of priests that might be younger."

Sr. Susan Ernster was there to promote vocations for her order, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse, Wis. Ernster said she did not decide to become a woman religious until after college. Following a volunteer experience with a program run by the FSPA, she started to consider religious life. However, the decision was put off. "I dated and I wanted to get married," she said.

After attending World Youth Day in 1993, Ernster talked with the FSPA's vocation director and decided to enter. "I had put the decision on hold for seven years," she said. "To me, it's the best way I can develop my relationship with Christ."

She entered the community in 1994 and professed final vows in 2001. "Now I teach high school theology in the Twin Cities," Ernster said.

Religious sisters live out their lives with other women in service to others. "We pool our resources and energy together so that we can make a difference," Ernster said. "We have evolved over the years. We still do teaching and health care, but we also have parish ministries, spirituality centers and work with the homeless and the poor."

Ernster said the mission of her order remains centered on Christ. For 127 years, at least two members have been praying continually before the Blessed Sacrament. "We pray for the needs of the world, the needs of our sisters and the needs of the dioceses that we serve," she said.

Sr. Bonnie Alho, who is a member of the Servants of Mary in Ladysmith and serves St. Joseph Parish in Rice Lake, said each religious community of women has a different focus. "Servites strive to be like Mary," Alho said. "We want to be compassionate."

According to Sr. Bernadette Kalscheur, of the Milwaukee-based School Sisters of St. Francis, her order's motto is all about trusting in the will of God and being flexible. "Because of that, our mission has changed over the years," Kalscheur said. She serves St. Patrick Parish in Hudson.

Ed Colosky, of St Anne Parish in Somerset, and Adam Librande, of St. Catherine Parish in Sarona, both students at St. Lawrence High School Seminary in Mt. Calvary, Wis., talked with the boys about being a student at the school. "We go to Mass three times a week and we go to morning prayer and evening prayer every day," Colosky said.

Not everyone who attends this college preparatory school becomes a priest. "The school rector tells us to keep our minds open to all vocations," Colosky said.

Librande added, "They show you different ideas on how to grow in your faith."

Ken Maciejewski, admissions coordinator at St. Lawrence, was present. "By attending (St. Lawrence), it gives a boy an opportunity to grow in their personal relationship with God," Maciejewski said. "We live Gospel values and try to make the world a better place."

Fr. John Anderson, pastor of the Bloomville, Harrison and Tomahawk cluster, organized a bus to bring students to Quo Vadis. Stops were made along the way to pick up others in Phillips, Catawba and Ladysmith. "I've come to it (Quo Vadis) almost every year from whatever parish I've been in," Anderson said. "This is a good way for the kids to see different vocations in action."

Fr. Thomas Thompson, pastor of the Osceola and Balsam Lake cluster, said this day is a chance for those in attendance to reflect on life. "It's about looking at the path God has for their life," Thompson said.

Jenna Barrett, 11, of St. Francis Parish in Spooner, was among those attending Quo Vadis for the first time. "It was a great experience learning about the sisterhood," Barrett said. "The sisters I met are all kind and loving."

Editor's note: For information on vocations contact Ricci at 715-635-3105 or go to the Diocese of Superior's vocations Web page at www.catholicdos.org/vocations.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005