Thursday, February 26, 2009

DAYTON DEANERY – Students at Carroll High School recently took a break from studying religion for a chance to interact with those who live ministry and community service every day.

About 35 religious communities and organizations participated in the school’s bi-annual vocations fair on Feb. 18. The students came through the fair throughout the day.

“All students participate in the fair unless they do not currently have a religion class,” said Dennis Brun, the school’s campus minister. “Some of our seniors took one of our summer electives, such as our Christian justice and service class, Christian service class or Navajo immersion class, and therefore, have one semester without a religion class.”

Every 30 minutes or so groups of students came in armed with questions for the exhibitors. The displays included photos and brochures from the various organizations. Some displays featured tools and other items that relate to ministry.

Each student was assigned to interview an exhibitor. They asked about their work, background and their organization’s mission. Students filled out their assignment sheets and dropped them in a box for door prizes.

One of the exhibitors, Franciscan Brother Tim Lamb, vocation director of St. John the Baptist Province, was surrounded by groups of students during the fair.

“They’re interested in the whole question of mission,” he said, dressed in his brown robes and sandals. “The answers, I think, have been kind of eye-opening. I think it’s important to give them an idea of what ministry is about.”

He explained the Franciscans’ lifestyle, education and the work.

“I really encouraged the men, and women, too, to take seriously their vocation,” Brother Tim said, “what God is calling them to do.”

Carroll Junior Daniel Danis said the fair gave him sense of the work the organizations do to help people around the globe.

“It’s eye-opening to see how much [need] there really is in the world,” he said. “It makes me feel like I need to get more active.”

Benedictine Sister Cathy Bauer also fielded questions about the joys and challenges of religious life, and how students can get involved. The fair gave the students an opportunity to discuss religious life more in-depth, she said.

“It’s a great opportunity to be with a group of young people,” Sister Cathy said. “I think high school and college students are a little more open to the options.”

The fair encouraged the students to learn about ways in which they can share talents with the community while contemplating their own vocations.

“My goal for the fair is to plant seeds for the future,” Brun said. “By talking with the quality people that come in, our hope is that our students will be inspired to live their life for others, just as our guests have chosen to do.  Living life for others can take so many different forms, whether it be in the health care industry, social work, a religious vocation, working for justice or living their Christian faith into whatever path they decide to follow.”

Boys Nathen Morris (left) and Michael Nwankwo, both sophomores