God's recruiters go for soft sell
Jesuits promote the option that the religious life is a viable choice when searching for a career
By Canadian Press
Sun, April 24, 2005
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Rev. Len Altilia knows most of the students at St. Marcellinus Secondary School won't seriously consider a career requiring vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
STRAIGHT GOODS
But the Roman Catholic priest wants the teenagers to have the straight goods on the job he chose at about age 15. That's when he realized he could combine his interest in teaching with his desire to be a priest by becoming a Jesuit.
"It's a pretty exciting life sometimes. I've met the pope a few times. I've met royalty," he told students in Mississauga, west of Toronto, at a recent career fair that focused on jobs offering spiritual rather than monetary rewards.
As assistant for vocations of the Jesuits in English Canada, Altilia, 57, is used to questions from teens. Although many want to talk about God, others, like the Marcellinus students, are also curious about the practicalities of leading a religious life in a secular world.
For instance, they wanted to know how do you survive if you don't get paid?
Altilia's reply: "Any money I do receive, I automatically turn it over to my community. When I was a high school principal I earned $70,000 a year for my community. I'm accountable for how I use the money of the community. I have a computer, cellphone, books, clothes, but ... none of it is mine."
What if you wanted to marry?
While studying theology at university, "I fell madly in love with a classmate. I had to face that choice. Obviously, I chose the Jesuits," he said, adding that in younger days he would occasionally think about marriage and children, but "I've been a spiritual father to thousands of kids."
When former students want God to be part of special times in their lives - marriages, baptisms and funerals - they often invite him to participate.
What jobs do Jesuits do?
Virtually anything. "There are 35 craters on the moon named after the Jesuits who discovered them," Altilia said.
"Are you serious?" gasped a boy at the back of the class.
"I don't consider it my job to recruit. It's not a numbers game," said Altilia as he walked to the next class to conduct a similar session.
But he acknowledged to students that the Catholic Church is struggling to attract North Americans and Europeans to the religious life.
"I think it's an issue of the loss of religious sensibility in the culture.
"Wherever in the debate do you hear about how religious values come to bear on the decisions of the culture?" he said.
"We just want to promote the option that the religious life is a viable choice," said school chaplain Shane Byrne, who organized this second annual religious career day with members of half a dozen Catholic orders.
Does the day have an impact?
"After doing these events, more people are open to it," said Byrne, who organized similar events at his previous school, St. Augustine in Brampton.
SIX INTERESTED
Six students there were sufficiently interested to take the next step of taking part in retreats and other events with religious orders.
There are few religious (the Catholic term for members of orders) working in Toronto- area schools.
And today's teens have little time for introspection, said Isaura Agudelo, 53, a member of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
"We come into the school to say there is another way to live your life," she said.
Sister Agnes Roger, vocation director for the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, also attended the fair, where she talked to Grade 9 students Liezl Truong and Patricia Baranowski about a life of service to the faith.
"My grandparents and parents expected me to be a priest," said Damien Min, 16, who as a shy boy was attracted to the kindness of the religious figures around him.
"Now I think there's another thing for me," said the teen, who is considering a career in the movie industry.
"I don't think my family would consider (joining an order) a career option," said Amanda Lawson, 15.
But the nuns who spoke "were really inspiring."
Learn more about what a vocation is