Celebrating Vocations at Cotter Schools

Submitted by JANA KORDER

Vocation is not just a calling—it’s a journey, one that we encourage our students to explore and embrace. One day out of each month of the school year, students in grades 7-12 dedicate time to learning about vocations during special Vocation Days, inspired by the diocesan efforts to increase vocations and Bishop Barron’s commitment to increase the number of priests. His vision calls for renewed efforts to foster a culture of discernment, prayer, and support within Catholic communities. Using a curriculum created by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, this regular celebration invites students to reflect on God’s call in their lives, whether it may lead to religious life, marriage, or single life.

This past November, in celebration of National Vocations Awareness Week, we expanded our focus from Vocation Days to a full Vocations Week offering meaningful experiences during religion classes. Students listened to vocation stories from a diverse group of individuals within our faith community. These reflections center on themes of vocation, experiences of discernment, and ways in which people have heard God’s call.

Brother Juan Manuel Hernandez Bernal explains, “Our goal is to help young people explore the many paths God calls us to, including the lifestyles of Lay and Christian Brothers.”

This year’s presenters included:

• Brother Juan Manuel Hernandez Bernal, a De La Salle Christian Brother and volunteer in Cotter’s Campus Ministry Office

• Father Michael Churchill, a diocesan priest serving as chaplain of Cotter Schools

• Jerry and Susan Windley-Daoust, a married couple and parents of Cotter alumni

• Sister Mary Andrea Lesko, a Sister of Mercy and elementary teacher at Cotter

Each day, students watched a video featuring one of these inspiring vocation stories. They then engaged in thoughtful discussions, sharing how the stories impacted them and reviewing discernment tips offered by the presenters. Each session concluded with a special vocation prayer, fostering reflection and prayerful consideration of their own paths.

Cotter’s chaplain, Father Churchill, said, “In addition to sharing my vocation story via the video for all of our students to watch and pray with, I was able to jump into some of the classrooms afterward to allow students to ask questions about priesthood and religious life. They had very good questions that showed real interest and desire to learn and grow as Christian disciples.”

These moments of reflection served as a powerful reminder of Cotter’s Catholic identity and our commitment to nurturing the faith life of our students. We are grateful for the individuals who shared their stories with our students, providing invaluable insights into their own vocational journeys. Through their words, students witnessed the beauty and diversity of God’s call, and we continue to pray that our students will discover and embrace their unique vocations.

Jana Korder works in communications, marketing & brand identity for Cotter Schools in Winona.