More than 70 Year 10 students have recently taken part in the first Archdiocesan Vocation Reflection Day.
The 3 April event was designed to help students from Irene McCormack Catholic College reflect on their understanding of a vocation in the context of one of life’s biggest question of “who am I meant to be?”.
Co-ordinated and led by the Vocations Office, the Reflection Day at IMCC brought together clergy, religious sisters, Vocations Office staff and Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) youth leaders to guide students through engaging discussions, interactive games, and personal testimonies.
The day featured four themed breakout sessions, a hot-seat Q&A panel, games, concluding with Mass in the college chapel.
The Vocations Office collaborated with Catholic Youth Ministry, St Mary’s Cathedral, Bayswater Parish, and the Little Sisters of the Poor to bring the day to life.
“The Vocations Reflections Day at Irene McCormack Catholic College helped year 10 students – who are starting to reflect on their careers and future pathways – an opportunity to view their thinking through a vocations lens,” said Vocations Office Director and St Charles Seminary Vice-Rector, Fr Joseph Laundy.
“The day was about helping young people recognise that their life is a gift from God and are called to give that gift in a way that brings glory to God, purpose and joy—not just to themselves, but to the people around them.”
Breakout Sessions: Exploring Vocations Pathways
Students rotated through four breakout sessions exploring different vocations: priesthood and diaconate, religious life, marriage and family, and the ‘gift of self’.
Together with Cathedral Assistant Priest Fr Kenneth Acosta-Garcia and Deacon Marco Ferraioli, Fr Joseph led the session on the priesthood, sharing their personal journeys towards this vocation.
Fr Joseph spoke about leaving a career in medical science to pursue the priesthood, calling it a transition from “lab coat to vestments.”
Fr Kenneth, who arrived from the Dominican Republic in 2008, shared how he first felt a call to the priesthood at just nine years old.
Deacon Marco, who is originally from Rome, shared how he entered Redemptoris Mater Seminary in 2015 and was recently ordained a deacon in 2024.
Following their talk, students participated in a creative “One Word Vocation Story” game—crafting stories – inspired by biblical parables such as the Good Samaritan and showing kindness to strangers – sentence by sentence using only one word at a time, judged by the presenters, and sparking joy and laughter across the groups.
Sr Mary Pauline and Sr Rafaele Amelie from the Little Sisters of the Poor offered a gentle, yet powerful glimpse into religious life.
Sr Rafaele, marking 50 years of religious service this year, reflected on the small but significant signs through which God guided her vocation.
Students engaged in a lively “Yes/No” game designed to mimic the challenge of saying “Yes” to God’s call—drawing parallels to the Gospel story of the disciples who left everything to follow Jesus.
In the marriage and family session, Catholic Youth Ministry Director, Adam Phillips, a married man for over 25 years, spoke about the importance of discernment and commitment in relationships.
“Marriage isn’t about finding ‘the one,’” he shared. “It’s about choosing to grow, serve, and love one another every day.”
Students explored their values through a “Would You Rather?” activity, fostering deep discussions about priorities and personal choices.
In the “Gift of Self” session, Mark and Le-An from Catholic Youth Ministry encouraged students to reflect on their identity, talents, and purpose.
Through a drawing and listening game, students were reminded that listening—both to God and to others—is central to discovering their vocation and building meaningful connections.
The Invitation to Respond and Closing Mass
The day ended with a light-hearted but meaningful “Invitation Relay” game—reminding students of the Gospel parable where a king invites guests to a wedding banquet.
“Each of us receives an invitation from God,” explained Fr Joseph “What matters is how we respond to it, to accept it or reject it.”
Mass followed in the college chapel, celebrated by Fr Joseph and assisted by Deacon Marco.
Students led the Prayers of the Faithful, asking for courage to listen and trust where God may be leading—whether that be priesthood, religious life, marriage, or another path of service.
The Gospel of the day, from John 5:31–47, emphasised the need to listen to the testimony of others and the voice of Scripture—aptly echoing the day’s theme of recognising and responding to God’s call.
In his homily, Fr Joseph reminded students: “Your worth is not measured by what’s on the outside, but by what’s within. God sees the heart. Your vocation—your calling—starts there. Pay attention to what resonates within your heart.”
Looking Ahead
IMCC’s Assistant Deputy Principal Catholic Identity, Ms Fran Christie shared her thoughts to all involved prior to school finishing for the day.
“This has been such a powerful and positive experience for our Year 10s,” Ms Christie said.
“Opportunities like this play an essential role in the integral development of the human person, inviting our students to reflect deeply on who they are called to be.
“It is a privilege to accompany them in their spiritual growth and vocational discernment. I’m already looking forward to building on this with the Vocations office for future years,” she said. For more information on the Perth Vocations Office school engagement offering on the topic of vocations, please visit: https://vocations.perthcatholic.org.au/