The momentum for vocation promotions in the Philippine Province has been growing, fuelled by the creativity, passion, and personal experiences of our vocation promotions (VocProm) team. Inspired by how they were accompanied in their own discernment, our team members bring a deep sense of mission to their work. What makes our initiatives vibrant is not just the effort to invite young men to “come and see,” but the commitment to accompany them as they listen to God’s call.
Our VocProm initiatives have become even more dynamic with the inclusion of international Jesuits who have experienced different ways of discernment and formation. Their unique perspectives and stories enrich our approach, allowing for diverse, inspired, and deeply personal strategies in guiding young men. More than structured recruitment efforts, what truly sustains this mission is our commitment to fostering a culture of discernment—one rooted in prayer, relationship, and community.
The strategy, if we may call it that, is simple: we allow our team members to dream. Each member of the Vocations Promotions team has the freedom to explore creative collaborations with students, faculty, and lay partners across our institutions. These collaborations have expanded our network, strengthening our efforts and allowing more young men to encounter the Jesuit way of life.
However, beyond simply inviting them to “come and see,” we recognise that what truly makes them stay and discern more seriously is the formation and accompaniment we provide. At the heart of a generous vocational response is a deep and personal relationship with God. That is why our activities are designed not just to showcase the Jesuits but to cultivate encounters that nourish and deepen one’s intimacy with the Lord. Through well-crafted and creative experiences, we seek to help young men say a life-giving “yes” to their deepest desires and vocation.
This vibrant momentum in vocations promotion is not just a result of structured strategies but of personal encounters—where discernment happens in relationships, in moments of grace, and in the shared journey of faith. Two of our team members—Scholastics Bien Cruz SJ and Jeff Miraflor SJ—reflect on these experiences.
Bien highlights the heart of our mission: accompaniment. More than recruitment, our work is about walking with young men as they seek God’s call in their lives. Meanwhile, Jeff offers insights into the communal nature of discernment in the Philippines, showing how our efforts create spaces where young men not only meet the Jesuits but also find strength in one another.
A ministry of accompaniment
By Bien Cruz SJ
Vocations Promotion is often compared to recruitment and marketing, as we invite and guide young men to consider the Jesuit life. We assess their suitability, present the beauty of our Jesuit vocation, and help them discern their path. But at its heart, VocProm is not about recruitment—it’s about accompaniment.
This ministry is more than handing out brochures or hosting events. It’s about walking with young men as they grow in their intimacy with God, who calls them. One of the most rewarding moments is seeing them realise that they are deeply loved and, in turn, capable of responding with love. Many seek direction in life, caught in the pressures of career, security, and independence. VocProm offers them a space to pause, reflect, and listen to God’s voice through retreats, conversations, and immersion experiences.
This work is deeply personal. Every time I accompany someone in their discernment, I revisit my journey to the Jesuits. It wasn’t books or brochures that led me here—it was the friendships that revealed God’s presence and gave me the courage to say yes.
My experience shapes how I guide others. More than advice or resources, true discernment happens in relationships—where trust, shared experiences, and companionship help us listen to God together. No one discerns alone. In the community, we illuminate the path forward, walking side by side towards Christ.
The strength of communal discernment
By Jeff Ryan Miraflor SJ
Having experienced vocation promotions both in the United States and now in the Philippines, I’ve noticed a unique strength in how discernment happens here—it is deeply communal. At Arvisu Candidacy House and in the Vocation Discernment Program (VDP) recollections and immersions, I’ve seen the same faces return, not just to talk to Jesuits but to share their experiences, questions, and struggles with one another.
Discernment here is not just an individual journey. While every VDP has a personal mentor, they also find wisdom and reassurance in each other. This sense of community only grows stronger when discerners become candidates living under one roof, journeying together towards the novitiate.
This communal approach has also shaped our newest initiative at Ateneo de Manila University: Java with the Jesuits. Originally started at American Jesuit universities, this initiative offers free coffee and doughnuts to students, faculty, and staff, providing an informal yet meaningful space for conversations. While the coffee and doughnuts draw people in, what truly makes the experience special is the encounter—some students meet a Jesuit for the first time, despite being at the university for years. These simple moments of connection can spark curiosity, deepen faith, and, for some, plant the first seeds of a vocation.
We’re excited to see how this new community grows—fueled by sugar, caffeine, and the grace of good conversations.
Walking together toward God’s Call
The journey of discernment is not meant to be walked alone. As our VocProm initiatives continue to expand, we see that what truly inspires young men to consider this life is not just our activities, but the relationships they form—relationships that help them listen to God more clearly.
At the core of this work is the conviction that vocation is ultimately about one’s relationship with God. Seeing Jesuits in action may inspire young men, but what sustains their discernment is their deepening intimacy with the Lord. Our role is to create these encounters, not just between them and the Jesuits, but more importantly, between them and Christ. This is why every recollection, immersion, and conversation is crafted not just to inform but to transform—to help them listen, respond, and take that next courageous step towards God’s call.
In the end, our mission is not just to invite them to “come and see”. It is to walk with them as they listen, discern, and, in God’s time, take the courageous step of saying “yes” to their calling.
Watch this vocation promotion video produced by Jesuit Communications Philippines:
Fr Richard Sumera SJ is the vocations director of the Philippine Province and the convener of vocation directors in the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.