Listening to stories about how others have found their vocation can help us discover our own calling, says Beth Doherty A couple of years ago, I was invited as a lay participant to a gathering of mostly priests and brothers. One of the sessions was a conversation about vocations, primarily to religious and consecrated life. It got me thinking. I'm a creative person that responds to visual stimulation. I read articles with nice photos, and listen to podcasts with engaging content. I watch videos and marvel at how a lens can be used to show light and shadow. I also have a short attention span like most members of my generation. If I'm not hooked quickly, the content is lost on me. The recent title of a book by Fr Richard Leonard SJ is one that makes you pick it up and read it: What on earth are you doing for Christ's sake? I wonder if we ask ourselves that very question when discerning what we might do in life? 
In 2014, Jesuit Communications relaunched PrayOnline (www.pray.com.au). One of the features of the new site, the PrayerPod, was born out of this desire to give people the tools to listen to the voice of their hearts. The first PrayerPod features the abovementioned author Fr Richard Leonard SJ, and he shares his personal vocation story. In a lively conversation, he recounts the years he enjoyed discerning diocesan priesthood at Banyo in Queensland, leading to his decision to try the Jesuits. 'In perhaps what was the best discernment of my life, I realised I was more of a specialist than a general practitioner. I left Banyo and entered the Society of Jesus, and I've been there ever since.' The PrayerPod podcast has looked at the holiness found in a variety of professions, and featured interviews with laypeople as well as those who have undertaken religious vows. We have looked at how different individuals use prayer, reflection and discernment to live out their vocations. There are interviews with journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, theologians, musicians, maths teachers, priests, nuns, consecrated missionaries and many more. 
One of the early podcasts is with Kerry Weber, managing director of America magazine, who wrote the book Mercy in the City in 2013. During Lent 2012, she made a decision to undertake all of the corporal works of mercy, and write about them. This included volunteering at an early‑morning breadline in New York City and sleeping at a homeless shelter. Kerry Weber is about to get married, and shares about the discernment process that accompanied her mercy project. She pays particular tribute to the spiritual directors and mentors that helped her arrive at this and other decisions in her life. 'When people start to know us well, and spend time with us, they really start to be able to guide us on what path we might choose', she said. One of the most hopeful things that I've discovered in recording these podcast is how God calls to holiness in different areas. I've spoken to maths teacher and university lecturer Fr Ashley Evans SJ about the experience of building a Jesuit school in Cambodia and learning to speak Khmer. Tori Harris, a Catholic musician living in Nashville, Tennessee, speaks about how her faith inspires her music. Her contemporary songs are used around the world, including by people in the Church hierarchy such as Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Theologian Matthew Tan speaks of a theological conversion, and his writing on social media and theology. Renowned Australian Jesuit Fr Frank Brennan speaks of living his faith through justice, in particular focusing on the human rights and laws affecting Indigenous Australians. Verbum Dei missionary Juana Crespi speaks of arriving in Australia with just $20 in her pocket and founding a new community in Sydney; and Congolese refugee Lulu Mitshabu speaks of mothering six girls, and struggling for the rights of women through her work with Caritas. In this year of Consecrated Life, and in the light of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, the Church is providing some wonderful examples of ways to live better. Each of these podcasts contains a message that will likely resonate in the hearts of the listeners. I personally find all of the conversations helpful. My hope in bringing them to you in this way is that they will speak so deeply to your heart so that music will emerge. A flutter of hope and inspiration that points you to your calling is the intent, and perhaps by listening, you will find what you are seeking. Beth Doherty has joined Jesuit Communications as Prayer and Spirituality Editor. Her new role will include being Associate Editor of Madonna magazine as well as Editor of PrayOnline. Find the podcasts at www.pray.com.au.
