Welcome to this week’s Living Word!

Our Word of the Week is Vocation.

The word vocation originates from the Latin verb vocare, meaning “to call”.

As we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Eastertide, traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, this week you are invited to listen more closely for the Shepherd’s voice. Whether you are discerning an important call within your life regarding your future or you are simply seeking to follow God’s will in your daily tasks, be assured that you never walk alone. Let us open our hearts to the abundant life Christ promises and which we strive towards achieving as a school community at SSPP, since the scripture we will begin the week with is where the words of our mission statement stem from: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Section 1: The Voice of the Shepherd

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

R./ Glory to you O Lord. +

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

The Gospel of the Lord

R./ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

For you as Sixth Formers, the word “vocation” might feel like more of a big deal. At a point in your life when you’re trying to discern what your future might look look and you’re having to make some pretty big decisions it can feel a bit stressful. You might be confident about what your future holds for you, but equally it’s okay if you don’t know yet!

You are no doubt surrounded by voices telling you who to be: UCAS personal statements demanding you define your identity; league tables suggesting your value is tied to a grade or a destination; social media dictating what “success” should look like. The list goes on…

In the Gospel, Jesus says the sheep follow the Shepherd because they know his voice. Discerning your future isn’t about making the perfect plan; it’s about learning to recognise the resonance of Truth in your heart. The Shepherd doesn’t shout; he calls you by name. His voice is the one that brings peace rather than panic and purpose rather than just productivity.

God is interested in who you are becoming, not just what you are doing.

Discussion Questions:

• Which voice is currently the loudest in my life? Is it the voice of comparison, the voice of parental expectation or the voice of my own hopes and dreams?
• If you stripped away your grades (predicted or actual) and your career ambitions, do you know that you are still “called by name” and loved unconditionally by God?
• When you think about your future, what is the voice that brings me the most sense of peace?

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Section 2: Vocations Quiz

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