(ANS – Manaus) – On 11 April 2026, 130 catechists from the Manaus, Brazil province (BMA) gathered online at the invitation of the provincial, Fr Felipe Buzière. The main aim of the event was to present the 5th Vocational Congress of Brazi, from a vocational perspective This will take place from 4 to 6 September 2026 in Aparecida (SP). The formation session was led by Fr João Mendonça, with the support of Fr Francisco Lima and Fr Wellington Batista. Drawing inspiration from the biblical passage “If you hear that voice, say: ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’” (1 Samuel 3:10), the meeting traced the vocational journey of the Church in Brazil from the 1990s to the present day, highlighting the vocational congresses and the experience of the Year of Vocations. During the presentation, emphasis was placed on the promotion of a culture of vocation, particularly within parishes and religious institutes. However, the need to integrate this dimension more deeply into the process of Christian Initiation (CI), especially in catechesis, was also emphasised. The speaker also presented practical ways to strengthen the vocational experience, through stages such as awareness, awakening, formation, discernment and choice, always in the light of the Word of God and in response to the needs of the community, society and the Church.
