Every time people knock at the doors of our gates or when we meet people on the streets or at functions, we see them as strangers especially if we have never seen or met them before. However, when we give them the opportunity to introduce themselves to us, they cease being strangers but instead may end up becoming friends, acquaintances or companions.

In his homily during the conclusion of this year’s vocations exhibition day (September 24, 2010), Bishop Barry Wood, the auxiliary bishop of Durban had this to say:

“….many a times when we are invited to introduce ourselves we grab the opportunity to show what we are worth… our achievements, the degrees we have attained, our status, et cetera. However, for us religious, all we need to show is compassion. Let people who meet us look into our eyes and see compassion, because that is what Jesus brought.”

Vocations exhibition was inaugurated last year by the Kwa-Zulu-Natal Male Religious Vocations team and it has become an annual event. Its main aim is to introduce young people of the archdiocese of Durban to religious life. It is meant to open the doors of religious life to the young people. The association brings together all the different religious congregations within Pietermaritzburg deanery.

Having participated in the previous exhibition, the Consolata missionaries were no longer strangers to the event. We did not only participate in the organization of the event but also realized that the name Consolata is slowly becoming a common name on the lips of many.

This year’s exhibition brought together a total of fifteen different religious orders (sisters included) and was attended by over two hundred young people. During the occasion, the youth were divided into smaller groups and then given the opportunity to visit each table where various congregations had displayed their materials for animation.

It was during their visit to various tables that the youth got a chance to hear more about different congregations (their history, way of life, charism, pastoral ministry and much more). They used the occasion to ask questions about religious life and were also issued with pamphlets, brochures, magazines, icons, etc. However, the decision to embrace religious life remains a matter of personal choice.

As St. Paul says in Romans 10:14, “… how can they believe… unless they are told, …how can they hear unless someone is sent...” Vocations exhibition is one way through which we reveal who we are as religious to the young people.