The Archdiocese of Atlanta has a thriving effort to encourage all kinds of vocations — and an example of that was on display recently:

A fireman. A doctor. A teacher. A rock star.

These are common responses to the perpetual question posed to children—“what do you want to be when you grow up?” But the archdiocesan Vocations Office and Office of Catholic Schools hope that the responses from fifth-graders in the archdiocese will also include occupations like priest, sister, deacon or brother.

The first fifth-grade Vocations Day was held Oct. 4 at St. Joseph Church and School in Marietta.

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated Mass for the congregation, which was made up of fifth-graders from all the schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

On this feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Gregory told the students that they, too, had the potential to do something unique, much like Francis did in giving his life to God.

“Occasionally 11- and 12-year-olds choose to do things that are quite unique, unlike what their parents might have thought they would do, and unlike what ordinarily might be the thing people think they should do,” he said. “There’s a wonderful freedom that young people have that occasionally we lose as we grow older.”

Francis, the archbishop told them, was like many of them. He “never wanted for anything,” always having enough food to eat and clothes to wear.

“Yet maybe when (Francis) was your age he already began thinking about doing something special, something unique, something out of the ordinary. He thought about giving his life to God,” Archbishop Gregory said. “In a sense, that’s why we’re here today at Mass because we would like you to think about doing something special with your life.”

“We know that God will give all of you wonderful futures, but maybe some of you might have an extraordinary future—something different, something out of the ordinary, something unusual,” he continued. “We would like you all to think about the very possibility of a church vocation, to maybe think of giving your life in a special way, as did Francis, to the service of God’s church.”

The children might already hear God whispering to them, the archbishop said.

Fifth-grade girls from St. Thomas More participate in the Oct. 12 Vocations Day at St. Joseph Church, Marietta. Forty-nine of the Decatur school’s students attended the event.

“You might wonder, ‘what would I look like as a sister.’…Or you young men might wonder what you’d look like in that vestment. That may very well be God speaking to you about your future.”

Archbishop Gregory himself began thinking of becoming a priest when he was their age, he told them.

“So I think that 11- and 12-year-olds have some wonderful visions about their futures,” he said. “And so I hope today at Mass that you allow some of these visions to enter your heart and mind.”

It’s a great idea, and a great opportunity to witness to the young. There’s more on what the kids saw and heard at the link. Maybe some other dioceses will try to follow this example? Can’t hurt. You never know what seeds might take root.

Photo: Fifth-grade girls from St. Thomas More participate in the Oct. 12 Vocations Day at St. Joseph Church, Marietta. Forty-nine of the Decatur school’s students attended the event. Photo by Michael Alexander, the Georgia Bulletin