Over recent weeks, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Galveston-Houston "has been focused on vocations: priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and marriage," Rector & Parish Administrator Jeffrey L. Bame said in the church's Aug. 16 bulletin.

Bame noted that people who are seeking positions in the church, as well as parishioners, need prayer to receive strength to fulfill God's call in their lives.

"When the topic of vocations comes up, one of the frequent questions I receive, especially from young people, is, “What if I am single? Where do I fit in?” Bame said. "This question reveals an important reality: we must not only be committed to praying for those living out vocations, but also to accompanying and praying for those who are not committed to a permanent state of life and are still discerning God’s call in their lives."

Bame added that in his opinion, some of the promoters of vocations are misguided when they discuss the "single vocation."

"Sometimes, some promoters of vocations talk about the 'single vocation'— I personally believe that this is misguided," Bame said. "In fact, we often equivocate the term 'vocation' with what is really a state in life. 

"A vocation is a calling from God. Some states of life, such as priesthood (celibacy), consecrated life (virginity), and marriage are inherently vocations. Yet we can speak of the single state of life without calling it a vocation. ... Simply being single is not itself a vocation."