Single Catholics Express Struggles with Uncertainties and Church Vocations
“Marie,” a 26-year-old singer from the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock, shared her thoughts anonymously with Arkansas Catholic on March 17, highlighting the challenges faced by single Catholics in discerning their life’s calling.
The aged page 68 of Jeff Hines’s 1921 copy of the Baltimore Catechism sheds light on the concept of vocations, emphasizing that each individual is designated a specific task in life, termed as ‘vocation.’ This notion has sparked confusion and distress among single Catholics over the years, stemming from the elusive “etc” mentioned in the catechism.
Recent studies indicate a shifting trend towards embracing singlehood, with a notable 30 percent of adults in the U.S. opting to remain single, as revealed by a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center. This contrasts starkly with statistics from 1950, illustrating a significant societal transformation over the decades.
The Survey Center on American Life’s 2023 report identifies various reasons motivating individuals to stay single, ranging from disinterest in dating to prioritizing personal growth and career advancement. Despite this, the Catholic Church presents unique challenges to single individuals, often leading to stress and anxiety in the discernment process.
The evolution in the Church’s teachings on vocations, particularly regarding singlehood, reflects a departure from the traditional narrative. The contemporary catechism no longer explicitly addresses the vocation of a single person, emphasizing instead the consecrated virginity option for those renouncing married life.
Andrea Olvera, a 23-year-old parishioner at Our Lady of the Holy Souls in Little Rock, shares her journey towards embracing a vocation as a consecrated virgin, highlighting the internal conflicts and eventual peace she found through prayer and reflection.
The narrative extends to individuals like Elizabeth Reha, who observes a cultural shift towards prioritizing personal growth and career over traditional family structures, influencing the declining rates of marriage and the emergence of a more independent lifestyle among young adults.
The challenges faced by single Catholics in navigating societal expectations and Church norms are echoed by individuals like “Marie,” who emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of the concept of vocation within the Church to align with contemporary realities and individual aspirations.
Jessica Petter and Ben Rowse offer personal insights into their experiences as single Catholics, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and nuanced approach towards vocations, acknowledging the diverse paths individuals may choose in their pursuit of holiness and fulfillment.
In conclusion, the broader perspective presented by theological experts like Jeff Hines and Father Andrew Hart encourages a holistic view of vocation centered on the universal call to holiness and discipleship, recognizing the diverse expressions of this calling beyond traditional categories.
By embracing a more inclusive and compassionate understanding of vocations, the Church can better support and empower single Catholics in their spiritual journey towards fulfillment and purpose.