For students at St. Ambrose University, the idea of vocation is less about arriving at a fixed destination and more about faithfully navigating a lifelong journey. Senior Ryan Sander is a music education major and the leader of Fellowship of St. Joseph, a men’s group dedicated to brotherhood and support in discernment. Ryan says he feels called to marriage and family, and describes vocation as an ongoing process of discernment—one that unfolds step by step in response to where God is leading.
“The definition of vocation to me in the most basic sense is following step in step with where the Lord is leading you,’ he says. ‘I relate it to the idea of discipleship, which, to truly be a disciple, is to follow your master or rabbi so closely that the dust of his sandals falls on your feet. Vocation is not solely about the destination but the journey it takes to get to the truest Vocation; unity with God in Heaven.”
University Values Shaping Student Values
St. Ambrose University is a Catholic university operating from the core values of Wisdom, Justice, Service, and Courage. Students every day are demonstrating all four of these values, and when it comes to courage, maybe in ways not always seen or known. Many of our SAU students, like Ryan, say they are discerning or praying about what they are called to do with their lives. This calling is their vocation.
“A vocation is the state of life that you are called to by God, specifically your state of life in relation to others,’ explains Father Dale Mallory, a Catholic priest. ‘Whether you are called to devote and commit yourself to a spouse/family, to the people of a parish, or to the mission of a religious order, when you are doing the thing that you are meant for, it gives your life meaning and purpose in the way that a regular job does not.”
Between these reflections, a common theme is discovered: discernment is not a single moment, but a process. Students describe it as something that unfolds slowly over time through prayer, conversation, and lived experience with God. Rather than receiving immediate certainty, many speak to the importance of patience and openness in recognizing where they are being called.
Words of Wisdom From Campus Ministry Leaders
While every student’s journey and vocation is unique, their stories often point to similar questions about their vocation and purpose. These moments of questioning are not framed as setbacks, but as steps necessary to understand vocation more fully. Fr. Dale shares advice for students asking these questions.
“Take your time – don’t make a vocational decision when you are upset. Take your time and make decisions when you are calm. If it is the right decision, then it will be true now and three weeks from now.”
Sander adds his encouraging thoughts with a simple yet powerful reminder. “You cannot force your vocation, and God won’t force it on you. You get to choose to follow him, and He will never call you to something that you truly do not desire.”
Psychology junior student, Anna Gute, says she has recently been feeling called to religious life, a call that brings her peace and uncertainty at the same time. Anna offers beautiful encouragement for any student struggling with their vocation in a similar way.
“The Lord is the maker of your heart, so He knows what will result in your ultimate good. He will provide you with the necessary graces to overcome whatever struggles you may encounter and will give you the best opportunity to share your gifts with the world.”
At a university rooted in faith, students say these conversations around vocation are not confined to the chapel; they are lived out in the choices students make, the relationships they build, and the trust they place in something bigger than themselves. Students agree that, though the process of discernment, while often uncertain, is an example of courage in itself.
In the end, students agree that vocation is less about having all the answers and more about the willingness to keep seeking. At St. Ambrose, students discerning their vocations continue to walk that path—step by step, guided by faith, shaped by community, and grounded in the belief that their lives hold a purpose beyond what they can immediately see.
Are You Feeling Called?
If you are interested in learning more about vocation and discernment, there are many resources available through Campus Ministry! You can learn more about Campus Ministry here. You can also follow them on Instagram at saucampusmin to stay informed on upcoming events! If you or someone you know is discerning religious life, you can find more resources here on the Diocese website.
