Being active in social networks like Facebook is a good way for vocation promoters to attract potential aspirants to the priesthood and religious life nowadays. A good example is Sister Tracy Dugas, who has been using Facebook “to make herself accessible to those contemplating a commitment to Jesus Christ.”
Most of the more than 39 million Facebook members worldwide are students, so vocation promoters will miss a lot if they don’t make good use of this technology to support and promote vocations. Recent studies show that 60% of the members log in daily and spend an average of 19 minutes per day on Facebook. I am sure that among those millions of people who log in to Facebook everyday, a good number of them are discerning to respond to God’s call to priesthood or religious life.
Vocation promoters need to be where young people are. And for now this means that aside from promoting vocations in churches and schools, they need to be actively present in social networking websites like Facebook.
I am always suspicious when a member of my own community omits Brothers in vocation recruitment. Our Founder wanted Brothers from the beginning as he did priests. But because of the clerical mentality of the Church he had to begin with priests. It is no wonder why Brothers are so few in our congregation, when our own members (priests) forget who we are. The title of your article could certainly include Brothers.
@Brother Warren – thanks for pointing that out. I have just changed the title to include brothers.