Formed in the Roman Catholic tradition, Awakening Vocations unites sacramental spirituality with a theology of vocation that equips men, women, young adults and youth for personal response to God's calling to ministry in the Church or mission in the world.
From discerning personal vocation to moving parishes and organizations toward their mission, Awakening Vocations equips men and women of all ages to fulfill God's purpose for their life.
Vocation consultant and director Mary Sharon Moore believes that parish-based vocation discernment for every man, woman, young adult and youth must be the norm, not the exception; the priority, and not the add-on. Mary Sharon believes that every one of us is personally called and uniquely gifted to live as Jesus lived, generously for the sake of the world.
Awakening Vocations director Mary Sharon Moore, M.T.S., blends experience in Roman Catholic adult faith formation with a process of vocation discernment that clarifies God's calling and animates authentic response. She brings a fresh understanding of personal vocation to individuals, parishes, and workplace settings.
Mary Sharon has a graduate degree in theology from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, California. Her parish retreats, workshops, and parish missions have spread throughout her native Pacific Northwest to the rural Midwest. Mary Sharon is an active vocational consultant, spiritual director, and frequent speaker and writer on topics of Christian life. She also is a nationwide teacher of the Called & Gifted Workshop of the Catherine of Siena Institute, a program of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.
Since 1985 Mary Sharon has provided career coaching to federal employees, corporate communications workshops in high-growth companies, weekend retreats for management teams, career and vocational guidance to young professionals, and coaching in public speaking.
Inspired by her Christian faith, Mary Sharon believes that the Church in all her members is called to live as Jesus lived — lovingly, boldly, and generously for the sake of the world.
Links Here are some links you may find helpful concerning vocation discernment, prayer, and resources for mature Christian faith. We welcome your comments at info@awakeningvocations.com about organizations and resources that have been helpful to you in these areas of Christian life.
Vocation Discernment • The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.usccb.org) offers a wealth of documents on Church life, from encyclicals and papal teachings to the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letters, including "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us." See especially their Vocations page (www.usccb.org/vocations).
• Serra International (www.serra.org) supports vocation discernment to priesthood, religious life, and active lay Christian witness in the world.
• For a vibrant understanding of the Church’s mission and the awakening of vocation, the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (www.dspt.edu), a member school of the Graduate Theological Union (www.gtu.edu) in Berkeley, California, offers a variety of entry points into discerning God’s calling and the mission of the Church in today’s world.
• Catholic Engaged Encounter (www.engagedencounter.org) and Worldwide Marriage Encounter (www.wwme.org) support engaged and married couples in vocation discernment to Christian married life.
Prayer • Lebh Shomea House of Prayer (www.lebhshomea.org) in Sarita, Texas, is dedicated to awakening the individual heart to God’s voice and to discerning God’s calling. The directors, Francis Kelly Nemeck, O.M.I., and Marie Theresa Coombs, canonical hermit, are authors of books on vocation, including Called by God and Discerning Vocations to Marriage, Celibacy and Single Life.
• St. Isaac of Syria Skete (www.skete.com) is a premier resource for sacred icons, devotional items, books, other media, seasonal items, and gifts to enrich and deepen prayer.
Resources for Mature Christian Faith • Catherine of Siena Institute (www.siena.org) offers workshops in the theology and discernment of charisms to equip lay apostles for the Church’s mission to the world.
Contact us at: Awakening Vocations Mary Sharon Moore, M.T.S., Director 4150 Oak Street, Eugene OR 97405 541.687.2046 | Toll-free: 1-888.687.2046 info@awakeningvocations.com
