A Heart That Transforms “Sheep” into “Shepherds”

By Bro. Rafael Vargas, Associate Director of Vocation Ministry

(New Rochelle, NY – October 30) – Beginning this Sunday, November 3, we will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week. As I think about and pray for vocations, I keep being reminded of a dream Don Bosco had in 1844, just three years after his ordination.

Don Bosco recalled: “I was to tell my boys that the oratory was being transferred to the Valdocco area. I was, however, truly worried because I was, however, truly worried because I was uncertain about the exact location, the means, and the people to help me. On Saturday night I had a new dream which seemed to be a sequel to the one I had had at Becchi when about nine years old…

“At that moment many young shepherds came to watch over [the boys], but they remained only a short time and walked off. Then a marvelous thing happened... Many lambs turned into shepherds, and they took care of the flock. When the shepherds became too many, they parted and went elsewhere to herd other strange animals into pens.”

We are reminded that one of the charismatic fruits of our Salesian mission when lived out well, is that our own lambs become shepherds, who go out as disciples of Christ shepherding other flocks. Not only is this a part of our charismatic identity, but also of our identity as disciples of Christ. In John 21, when Peter encounters the resurrected Christ, he is given the following three commands: “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.” After meditating and praying on this scripture passage, it began to take new meaning for me as a Salesian.

Feed my lambs - Let’s consider these lambs as the youth with whom we normally interact and serve. They are those whom we frequently feed in our works (schools, youth centers, parishes, etc.).

Tend and feed my sheep - We can consider the sheep those the youth who have moved on from our works. They are now older and more mature, have new needs, and live in new situations. We have very little or no contact at all with them, and, eventually, totally forget them.

How can we tend to these sheep? We can do this by first paying attention to them, reaching out, being present, and tending to their current needs. They, too, must know and feel that they are still loved and have a Salesian home. Do we walk with them, and guide them in their new challenges in life? What is it that they are hungering for? Not only must we tend to them, but we must seek to feed them as well. Do we offer our young adults spaces to gather, pray, share, and reflect?

Taking inspiration from last year’s strenna, I truly believe that vocational animation needs to be focused on having not only a heart that transforms wolves into lambs, but sheep into shepherds. Vocation animation is not about fear of declining numbers; it’s a charismatic option. May Jesus, the Good Shepherd, teach us to have a heart like His, continually seeking His lost sheep and shepherding them. May we also continually go to Mary Help of Christians, seeking her intercession for an increase in vocations to our Salesian Family, especially to our religious consecrated life.