.

The Joy of Vocation

Just recently, after six years of ministering as an associate pastor at St. Anthony Mary Claret in Fresno, California, a parishioner came up to tell me and shared, “What I’m going to miss most about you is your joy. Don’t take any offense but you remind me of Santa Claus, you’re very jolly.” Needless to say, this made me smile and laugh quite a bit, precisely confirming this parishioner’s sentiment. It can be difficult to image the positive impact a smile or a genuine belly laugh can have on others, they should not be underestimated. The fact is that joy is really contagious and transformative. It is capable of softening hearts, connecting others, and changing lives. This is what I have personally experienced throughout the years, for it was the joy of many Claretian Missionaries that changed the trajectory of my life.

I grew up on the Southside of Chicago, attending mass as a family at Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is also the National Shrine of St. Jude. The Claretians were the priests and brothers serving the community since 1924. As a young adult, I was drawn to the joy shared by these missionaries. They were approachable, aways among the people during celebrations, gatherings, vigils, demonstrations, or services. Their ministry of presence brought joy, because they were at ease being themselves with each other and with the community. When I started discerning my call to religious life, I remember saying, “I can see myself being like them…joyful.” Joy is something that I try to embody as a Claretian, by accompanying others on the way and not taking myself too seriously.

Our founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret, in his autobiography describes a Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as “a man on fire with [God’s] love…Nothing daunts him; he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, and rejoices in suffering.” As missionaries, this joy comes from the experience of knowing God’s love. It is this very love that allows us to confront the challenges of life with joy. There is no greater joy than embracing who we truly are—beloved children of God.

-Rev. Agustin Carrillo, C.M.F.