Who has never wondered: “Why was I born?” or “Is there a mission for me in this world?” This restlessness, which can even feel existential, also appears in a vocational sense of faith for all those who walk a path of encounter with God. These questions lead to both small and great choices that can shape an entire lifetime. To respond to the desire to discover God’s Will, the Community offers the Shalom Vocational Path.
What is Vocation?
The word “vocation” derives its meaning from the Latin root vocare, which means “to call.” In the Catholic Church, your “vocation” refers to God’s call for you and your life. Jesus calls all of us in a unique and intimate way to know Him, love Him, follow Him, and serve Him.
God has placed on each one of our hearts the desire for fulfillment, which is a desire for deep and authentic happiness.
“The Lord’s call – let it be said at the outset – is not as clear-cut as any of those things we can hear, see or touch in our daily experience. God comes silently and discreetly, without imposing on our freedom. Thus it can happen that his voice is drowned out by the many worries and concerns that fill our minds and hearts.” Pope Francis
“A vocation to become a member of the Shalom Catholic Community is a calling from God. It is addressed to each and every baptized member of God’s people who, having had the experience with the Risen One who passed through the cross and with the baptism in the Holy Spirit (see Jn 20: 19-22), and professing the Catholic faith- receives the calling to follow Him according to the spirit of Shalom Community Vocation.” (Statutes of the Shalom Catholic Community)
The Shalom Charism is a way, inspired by the Holy Spirit, of living the universal vocation to holiness and the evangelizing mission of Christians.
The Shalom Community is composed of faithful people from all states of life: celibate for the Kingdom of Heaven, married, and priests, in unity and complementarity, thus reflecting the Trinitarian life and the mystery of the Church.
Vocation within the Shalom Community
A vocation to Shalom Catholic Community can be experienced in two complementary dimensions: Life Community and Covenant Community.
Life Community is the heart of the Shalom Community. Its members receive the appeal to a more radical offering of life and to a particular lifestyle, as full time missionary living in a community house. They embrace a call to dedicate themselves to prayer, fraternal life and service in the Work.
Covenant Community receives the call to offer their lives to Christ in the midst of family and professional activities, taking on the commitment to live according to the spirit of this Charism and also, at Covenant Community’s own level, the commitments of contemplation, unity and evangelization.
When someone is called by God to the Shalom vocation, they identify with this way of being, living, and serving; they find their own place in this specific way of being a disciple and a minister of Peace.
Vocational Discerniment Retreat Day
The first step in this journey is to participate in the Open Vocational Retreat at the Shalom Mission closest to you.
In this informational retreat, we’ll learn more about the Shalom vocation and the discernment process. We’ll also have moments of prayer to help us discern whether it’s time to request to begin a vocational discernment year with the Shalom Catholic Community
If you’re being called to continue and commit to this discernment journey, we will share more details on next steps.
Date: Sunday, January 11th, 2026
Time: 11 am–5:00 PM
Who Can Attend: Open to everyone
To register: CLICK HERE
For more information: (857) 500-9750 or vocationalboston@comshalom.
Time: 9 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Shalom New York (85 North 15th st. Brooklyn, 11222, New York
Who Can Attend: Open to everyone
To register: CLICK HERE
For more information: (929) 679-8859 or vocationalny@comshalom.
Location: Shalom Evangelization Center, 879 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON
Who Can Attend: Open to everyone
To register: CLICK HERE
For more information: (416) 901-5027 or toronto@comshalom.org
We look forward to welcoming you to the Shalom Vocational Discernment Retreat Day 2026!
