San Francisco, Calif., Aug 7, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Ignatius Press, a major Catholic publisher based in San Francisco has announced the launch of a new series--similar to the popular “Purpose Driven Life” series written by Evangelical leader Rick Warren--but focused on the particularly Catholic search for one’s life vocation.
The series, called “LifeWork,” is written by Rick Sarkisian, a vocational rehabilitation consultant who believes that society is sorely in need of what he calls a “culture of vocations.”
“Not only is there a shortage of priests and nuns” he says, “but also of Catholics in the broader Church community who have a true understanding of God’s calling to each of them…to a unique, unrepeatable plan for their lives.”
Sarkisian believes that one of the major problems among an often unhappy and unfulfilled U.S. adult population is that they tend to pigeon-hole particular aspects of their lives, trying to make improvements to their job, family, or leisure pursuits, but failing to see their lives as an integrated whole.
Ignatius says that they chose to publish the 9 book, 3 DVD work; aimed largely at young people because “concerns about life purpose are common to all age groups--but particularly those aged 16-25.”
“Once Catholics, especially, really understand what God is calling them to do in their lives,” says Sarkisian, “we will see a rebirth and resurgence not only in religious vocations in the Church, but in stronger marriages, more stable families, and healthier communities as a whole.”
“This then makes for a more stable and moral society. This is what we once had as a society and what we can have again.”
Officials from Ignatius Press pointed out that the “LifeWork” series “combine[s] Scriptural teaching, Catholic theology and the examples of the Saints for mapping out one’s life-approach.” The materials, they said, are “designed for helping teens, adults and families discover their true vocation in the Catholic Church today.”
For more information about the “LifeWork” series, go to www.ignatius.com.