Called by Name: A Beautiful Evening of Faith, Fellowship, and Vocation
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
After a few weeks of rest following our refreshing LNS Young Adults Group (YAG) Retreat last month, our young adult community joyfully gathered once again to begin the second half of our 2026 Formation Evenings. What a wonderful way to resume our journey together, with an inspiring formation night that also fittingly concluded the Vocations Awareness Week in the Diocese of Broken Bay.
Held on Sunday, 9 August 2026, at St. Leonard's Church Hall following the 6:00 PM Mass, the evening centered on the theme "Called by Name: Discovering God's Dream for Your Life." It was truly a grace-filled night of prayer, fellowship, reflection, sharing, and discernment as we were reminded that every one of us is lovingly called by God to holiness and mission.
The celebration began at the 6:00 PM Mass, where our Young Adults joyfully led the congregation in singing. Their vibrant participation in the choir was a beautiful witness that young people are not only the future of the Church but an active and essential part of her life today.
Following Mass, everyone gathered in the parish hall for fellowship over a delicious dinner lovingly prepared by two of our own YAG members. Sharing a meal together created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, allowing old friends to reconnect and new faces to feel immediately at home.
The evening officially began with prayer, Scripture, and reflection before moving into a fun icebreaker that helped everyone get to know one another better.
Before our guest speaker began, we prayerfully listened to Pilgrim's Theme, a beautiful song that perfectly captured the spirit of the evening. Its message reminded us that we are all pilgrims journeying with God, learning to trust His voice one step at a time. The song beautifully prepared our hearts for the inspiring personal story and vocation talk that followed.
We were deeply honored to welcome Fr. Joey Frez, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Broken Bay, as our guest speaker. Drawing from his own vocation journey and the Word of God, Fr. Joey reminded us that discerning God's call is not simply about deciding between marriage, priesthood, religious life, or single life. Rather, it begins with becoming the person God created us to be, a disciple striving for holiness each day.
One of the most practical and memorable parts of Fr. Joey's talk was his invitation to cultivate the habits that help us hear God's voice. Everything begins with prayer, he reminded us. If we truly desire to know God's will, we must intentionally spend time with Him. It is in the silence of prayer that we begin to recognize the gentle voice of God calling us by name.
He also encouraged everyone to remain faithful to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Regular confession purifies our hearts, while the Eucharist nourishes and strengthens us for our journey of discipleship. These are not merely obligations but privileged encounters with Christ that prepare us to hear His voice more clearly and respond with confidence and generosity to whatever vocation He is calling us.
Following the talk, the young adults entered into meaningful small-group sharing and an engaging open forum. Participants reflected honestly on where God may be calling them, the fears that sometimes hold them back, and the concrete steps they could take to grow in holiness. It was evident that the Holy Spirit was at work as hearts opened, stories were shared, and faith was strengthened.
The evening concluded with a moving commitment prayer and the hymn "Here I Am, Lord." It was a beautiful response to God's invitation, a heartfelt "yes" to wherever He may lead us.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Fr. Joey Frez for generously sharing his witness and wisdom, to all our YAG leaders and volunteers for organizing another meaningful formation evening, to our choir for leading the parish in worship, and especially to our two young adults who lovingly prepared the sumptuous dinner that nourished both body and community.
As we begin the second half of our YAG journey this year, we pray that every Formation Evening will continue to help our young adults grow as joyful disciples of Christ. May we continue to seek God in prayer, encounter Him in the Sacraments, and courageously respond to His call, wherever He may lead us.
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