St. Mary’s Vocational Awareness Day: Listening to God’s Call
On April 16, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School hosted a Vocational Awareness Day, inspiring students to a future in the calling.
The event opened with a mass in the school chapel led by Father Mark Morley and followed with a vocations panel session for interested students. Each member of the panel shared their unique story of how God called them to ministry in the Church.
Beginning the day with a bit of humour, both Rosana Golino, a Consecrated Virgin Living in the World, and Brother Terence Aylward, OH, a Religious Brother, recalled that when they first began discerning their vocations in Canada and Wales respectively, they were advised not to pursue a cloistered or monastic way of life because they “could never keep their mouth shut for five minutes!”
“Their stories reminded us that God is never limited in how He reveals the vocation to which He calls us,” said Chaplaincy Leader Don Hall.
“At times, God guides us by closing one door and opening another.”
Father Michael Mascarenhas, OFM Cap., a Capuchin priest from Hamilton and a graduate of St. Jean de Brébeuf Secondary School, also shared his faith journey. As a teenager, he was invited by his older brother to attend a rock concert, an experience he fondly recalls as an example of the simple kindnesses we should be attentive to, especially within our families.
Fr. Michael’s faith deepened in Grade 10, when he first felt drawn to a vocation centered on serving the poor. This call was shaped early in his life by his family, particularly his father, a teacher who organized food drives at his school. As a result, the family van was often filled with food destined for those in need. From a young age, Fr. Michael became aware of and open to the needs of the poor, an awareness that continued to grow over time.
After college, he began volunteering at the Good Shepherd Centre in Hamilton, where he encountered Christ in the poor in a profound and personal way. This experience drew him to the Capuchin Franciscans, whose ministry focuses on serving the marginalized. Today, Fr. Michael lives above St. Francis Table in Toronto, a restaurant run by the Capuchins that serves those in need. Father Michael emphasized that God never calls us to be someone else. Rather, God loves each of us unconditionally and calls us to be authentically ourselves.
Growing up in both Haiti and Florida, Sister Mary Pio once dreamed of becoming a model. In her younger days, she “liked high heels, dresses, and make‑up.” During her university years, she walked away from attending Mass and prayer, but God gently drew her back to Himself through Eucharistic Adoration. Initially, Sister Mary Pio wrestled with the call to religious life, as she had always envisioned being married and having six children.
Like Sister Mary Pio, Sister Mary Benedicta is a Religious Sister in the SOLI community. She credits the deep faith of her mother, especially her devotion to Mary and daily commitment to praying the Rosary, as foundational to her own faith journey. During childhood, Sister Mary Benedicta struggled with depression and was pushed through school while living with a learning disability. She gives full credit to God for her perseverance and vocation.
Father Mark Morley, the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Hamilton, concluded by sharing his own vocation story. During university, he phoned his girlfriend to wish her a happy anniversary, only to be told that their third anniversary would be their last. Although he felt more like crying, Father Mark experienced a deep sense of peace. He reflected that his former girlfriend recognized his vocation to the priesthood long before he did.
“Our St. Mary’s students and staff were blessed to hear these powerful, heartfelt stories, each marked by twists, turns, and God’s faithful presence,” said Hall.
Grade 12 and Student Trustee Joshua Canzio shared the same sentiment.
“It was really nice hearing about everything that took place during Vocational Awareness Day,” he said.
“It stood out to me how unique each person’s journey was and how God called them in different ways, sometimes by closing one door and opening another. What also stood out was how, despite the challenges and uncertainty in their journeys, they all ultimately found a deep sense of peace in following their vocation. I also liked the message that we are called to be ourselves, not someone else, which made everything feel more real and relatable.”
“We are thankful to our guests for their openness, their encouragement to ask questions, and their generous response to God’s call,” said Hall.
Photos by St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Co-op Student Porshalynn Lawrence.
