Over 500 students attend fifth annual Vocation Fair to ponder this question
By William Van de Planque | On Mission
APPLETON, WI — Each year at the Diocese of Green Bay Vocation Fair, eighth grade Catholic school students, middle and high school religious education students, homeschool families and youth groups from across the diocese gather to learn what it means to ponder the question, “What does God have in store for my life?”
Organized by the Office of Vocations in collaboration with the Office of Catholic Schools and Office of Evangelizing Catechesis and sponsored by St. Lawrence Seminary High School, this year’s Vocations Fair was the fifth annual diocesan event to promote vocations awareness and discernment, taking place at St. Mary Parish in Appleton on November 4 and 5, 2025.
Three hundred eighth grade students from all Catholic schools in the diocese attended the event each day. Two hundred students, ranging from fifth to 12th grade, attended the evening session for religious education students, homeschool students/families, and youth groups.
The event started with keynote speaker Sr. M. Karolyn Nunes, FSGM, of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, speaking to the youth gathered on the theme “Quo Vadis?” (Latin for “Where are you going?”)
Sr. M. Karolyn started with an interactive game titled “Saint Quote or Disney Quote?” and read a quote from either a saint or a Disney character. She engaged the students in her vocation story and led them in relational prayer with Jesus, teaching them the Acknowledge, Relate, Receive, Respond (ARRR) method.
The students then attended a vendor fair, comprised of religious orders and apostolates in the diocese that support vocations, an open gym with Diocese of Green Bay seminarians, and small groups hosted by priests and religious sisters.
Among the religious orders represented were: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Conventual Franciscans, Norbertines and Fathers of Mercy. The apostolates present were: St. Lawrence Seminary High School, Camp Tekakwitha, SPIRITUS Ministries and The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.
The event ended with Eucharistic adoration, giving students the chance to be in the presence of Jesus and to begin asking him what he has in store for their lives and vocations.
The Raising Vocations Collection funds ministries that accompany young people as they discover Jesus and explore a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. A few ministries are Steubenville Youth Conferences, priesthood discernment pilgrimages, and vocation fairs. Thanks to the generosity of more than 5,500 individuals and families, the Raising Vocations Collection was able to sponsor the 2025 Vocation Fair held at St. Mary Parish in Appleton this November.