Father Tom Whelan, O.S.A.
Father Tom Whelan, O.S.A.
Twenty years ago I attended the Orientation Program in Atchinson, Kansas with three new vocation directors from the Augustinians.
I am a full-time vocation director covering Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Northern California. I have an associate who takes care of vocations in Los Angeles and San Diego. For 20 years, I've been writing the province newsletter, which is sent to every inquirer to tell what the Augustinians are doing today.
Everything I learned about being a vocation director I have learned from NRVC workshops and publications. I have taken every workshop by Father Ray Carey, as well as many others, including this fall's "The Art of Accompaniment and Discernment." Workshops are great for learning; they are refreshing and helpful for motivation.
I've also attended every convocation since I have been a vocation director. In addition, I'm involved in the West Coast member area, especially the northern area. It is very helpful that we often we use Skype for meetings.
I am not a very excitable person, but I like our discernment weekends, including the fact that I don't have to put them together. Those in formation coordinate it. All I have to do is invite men who are discerning. I interview them first before they come to the discernment weekend.
I have been studying Spanish for about 18 years. I love music; I am a piano player who doesn't practice anymore. And I volunteer weekly at a Saint Anthony's Dining Room, which serves free meals to 2,000-3,000 people daily in San Francisco.
Contact Father Tom Whelan, O.S.A. at vocations@calaugustine.org.
Related Tags:
via Zoom
Thanksgiving
via Zoom
via Zoom
© 2024 National Religious Vocation Conference NRVC
( * ) Site design and programming by ideaPort, LLC
Leave a comment
This article has no comments or are under review. Be the first to leave a comment.
Please Log-in to comment this article