ORLANDO  | “God is going to invite you say yes to Him in some sort of way. This is what we call a vocation” Father Zachary Parker said as he greeted sixth-graders from six Catholic schools at the diocese’s annual Focus 11 event at Holy Family Parish in Orlando.

It was the first Focus 11 led by Father Parker, who was appointed as diocesan director of vocations in June 2025. He said the event allows students “to pray and to have fun and just experience what it’s like to be with priests or religious sisters.”

“The idea of this day is just to be together and hear how God calls each one of us to say yes,”  he said. “(Through different activities) we can just open ourselves up to Jesus today and really ask Him, Lord, where do you want me to go? How can I be closer to you?”

The day began with Mass, celebrated by Bishop John Noonan. In his homily, Bishop Noonan shared that by building a relationship with Jesus through prayer, students will be entrusted with the mission to bring Jesus into the world.

“You’re going to have to pray, you are going to have to talk to Jesus everyday,” the bishop said. “And what is Jesus going to do? He’s going to help you, and maybe He’ll tell you what He wants you to do, so you can do great things. Like Mary said yes to the Lord, now, it will be your turn to say yes to the Lord.”

After Mass, students were split into three groups for activities. Sister Gianna Grace Perino, Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary and associate vocations director, led students in a time of guided prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. Outside, Sister Kristi Bergman, Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary and coordinator of faith development at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, demonstrated how to make a rosary keychain for prayer.

Father Michael Batista, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Cloud, and Sister Mary Rachel Hart of Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus shared their vocation testimonies and answered questions from the students. One student asked Father Batista what he did after he felt a call from the Lord.

“You have to start talking to people, right?” Father Batista said. “You have to start making connections.”

He reached out to the diocese’s vocations director who advised him on the discernment process. He then attended a vocational discernment group, visited a seminary, and went on retreats, all which helped him “listen to that voice more clearly.”

Throughout the day, many clergy and religious emphasized how to hear God’s voice and answer His call.

“When we talk about God calling us, maybe he’s not going to come like he did like to Our Lady,” Father Parker said. “(For) most people, it’s this quiet whisper. It’s this whisper in your heart that says, ‘that’s beautiful.’ To be a priest, to be a religious sister, is to give everything to you Jesus.”

Father Parker offered practical advice regarding discernment. The first step to discernment is prayer. 

“If we don’t have a relationship with God… we’re not going to hear Him,” he said. “Really listen to the thoughts, the feelings, the desires of our hearts, and what really stirs us, what pulls us, what attracts us, what calls us from within to say there’s something beautiful. … It’s this quiet whisper within us that says, ‘that’s awesome.’”

“Be brave and ask, Lord, what do you have in mind for me? Is this for me,” he added. “(A vocation is) not just something that falls out of the sky, but it’s an encounter with a presence, with someone who is here with us, in the priesthood and the religious life. Some experience, some sort of encounter with real people that draws us out of ourselves.”

Father Parker encouraged taking concrete action when discerning a vocation. “Otherwise, it becomes this … intellectual game I’m playing in my head, where it’s really not supposed to be that hard. It’s really supposed to be a relationship with our Father who calls us to something we already desire.”

The event gathered priests, religious sisters, youth minister and students from Bishop Moore. Six seminarians volunteered at the event. Father Parker also serves as the director of seminarians. He projected the diocese will double the number of first-year seminarians next year. He shared the reason as twofold: the election of an American pope, Pope Leo XIV, and a revival of faith, particularly a resurgence of men coming back to the Church.

“Many men are saying…  I want to give everything to Christ.” In response to false promises that this world has to offer, many young men are seeking “that which lasts forever, the real treasure in heaven.” Pope Leo XIV serves as a model of holiness. “They see Pope Leo saying yes to giving everything and they are doing the same.”

Focus 11 is one of many programs offered by the Vocations Office. They also host men’s and women’s vocational discernment groups and hold retreats for those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Starting next year, the diocese will host Focus 11 for eleventh grade students as well, giving highschoolers the opportunity to discern their call before graduating.

Whether someone is called to marriage, priesthood, or religious life, Father Parker encouraged everyone to boldly step out with faith in God’s plan. “Don’t be afraid, He’s going to call you to do something great.” n

To discern a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, contact the Diocese of Orlando Vocations Office at 407-768-3116.

By Lucas Blackwell of the Florida Catholic staff, March 26, 2026