Serra Club Vocations Essay
Student finds hope in priestly, religious and married vocations lived faithfully
By Faustina Darnowski (Special to The Criterion)
The Baltimore Catechism defines hope as the “virtue by which we firmly trust that God, who is all powerful and faithful to his promises, will in his mercy give us eternal happiness and the means to obtain it” (#3).
This promise of eternal life is sanctity, or living in God’s divine will. The Second Vatican Council addressed this universal call to holiness, which is brought about through faithfulness to our vocation, our calling in life. Our vocations bring hope to others. Priests and nuns who tirelessly serve others and adore God, spouses who love each other and who bring joy and beauty into the world through their marital love and spread the joy of Christ to others.
Many priests and religious have given me powerful advice in seeking God’s will, but one that has stood out the most for me was from a Domincan nun. She said, “Faustina, live in the present moment. That is where you will find God, and he will find you. The past is in his mercy. The future is in his providence. And the present is in his hands.”
This is so true! All the saints—religious, married or single—lived every minute with a burning desire to serve God. We each try to be holy in our state in life: a holy teenager; a holy businessman; a holy mother; a holy sibling; a holy student.
This is how Blessed Carlo Acutis, Giuseppe Moscati and SS. Zelie and Louis Martin all became saints. This is how anyone can become a saint: by doing all things with great love. That is what St. Thérèse of Lisieux described in her autobiography The Story of a Soul as the “little way” to holiness.
Pursuing a vocation brings hope into my life because living God’s will is the most joy-filled thing to do. For me, the dream of becoming a nun is what drives me to do my best now as a daughter, a sister and a student. By living my daily duty now, as faithfully as possible, I am getting ready for the next part of my life following God.
The inspiration of my parents gives my siblings and I the model of devotion to our callings. When they heroically adopted five children with special needs, when they deny themselves plenty of sleep, relaxation and extra vacations to be able to take care of us, we see how beautiful love for God and others is! This is hope in human form.
Like the faithful servants in the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30), we are called to take what our Lord and Master gives us and to double it with our efforts. God wants us to use and enjoy our gifts, not just for ourselves but for all. I am preparing to know where God is calling me to build up his kingdom with my God-given talents by trying to live my duty of the moment, namely being a good daughter, a good sister, a good student and a holy teenage girl.
Taking time as a family and as an individual for daily prayer and meditation, and especially seeking God’s will by attending daily Mass and weekly confession, definitely make his plans for me and my family clearer. Good, holy friendships and yearly retreats also give me valuable time and perspective to truly examine my life and to make sure I am living my vocation as well as I can for God.
Hope is an anchor that keeps us all from abandoning our station in the storms and trials of this world, which truly is often a “valley of tears.” Now, as you live your life and pursue with great fervor the vocation to which you have been called, go about with these words from St. Paul in your heart: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13).
(Faustina Darnowski and her parents, Doug and Adele Darnowski, are members of St. Michael Parish in Bradford. She recently completed 11th grade as a homeschooled student and is the 11th-grade division winner in the Indianapolis Serra Club’s 2025 John D. Kelley Vocations Essay Contest.) †