BSVC is the right place to start purifying your intentions. Inspired by one other, you and your fellow discerner-- prays for one another, remind one another and inspires one another.
Like any other youth groups, BSVC also have its own set of rules and regulations. These are not to stop you from being who you are but to make yourself available to discern freely.
BSVC is a one of the portals to understand the other dimension of your personality... your future is glimpsed through this group. But what's inside the BSVC formation is not the totality of your entire vocation. Your stay in the BSVC can be only be fruitful unless you become open to the requisite of vocation discernment which is openness to formation and, at the same time, balancing your current way of life as a student or young professional.
While inside the group, it is very normal for the members to open to one another their current struggles in life that affects their vocation. Just try to listen to one another. In the many occasions that you will gather together, you will have your chance to be heard by other members; so start also recognizing the providence of God in your own vocation. Try starting retelling your vocation story to yourself. Do not be ashamed to admit to your self your humble beginnings since God is always working in the humility of our first few steps towards Him. Start appreciating other's stories as God work in their daily lives.
Normally, single male or single female are the usual member of the BSVC. Those who are in a commitment with their boyfriend or girlfriend are usually advised to nourish their present relationship.
About the intriguing question, about those who are in a relationship: if they are allowed to join in the BSVC? Rev. Fr. Kenny Joe, who was also a former BSVCian, answered, “BSVC is a test of vocation for all of the members. A test which gives them a chance to see beyond their present plans in life. BSVC provides a place where they can talk with God about God’s plan in their life. BSVC is a place where we open ourselves to the possibilities of other vocation other that what we are thinking or planning ahead of us. So, those who are in a relationship who chose to enter BSVC, I advised them to pause for a while and maintain some distance away from one another so that they can reflect more and pray more about the will of God in them. They need to free themselves from any commitments to freely focus themselves to God. I know it is painful, but we cannot serve two masters. But on the lighter side, they would understand that vocation is not all about being a brother-religious, a priest or a sister-nun at all! But, it is also about single-blessedness and married life! Discernment requires us to free ourselves from any commitments so that we freely decide when the right time for us to decide without any biased. That's why we discern carefully, at this stage, so that when we reach the point that we are about to choose what vocation is for us, we will go for it with maturity and with our full responsibility. We will go for it with God at our side. That’s why parents are very supportive because BSVC, as a vocation discernment club, co-journeys with their children.”
If ever someone has decided to enter a seminary, for males; or decided to enter a congregation for a nun, if a female... BSVC is also a venue to discern the charism of the candidate. There are future questions that are usually encountered when someone has already entered the priestly or sisterly formation like: "what charism is really fitted for me?" Charism is the work of the Holy Spirit within the person. Charism is an expression of our love that we can contribute for the growth of the Church.
When Religious are talking about Charism, it is like giving their occupation inside the Church. Some congregations dedicate themselves in teaching, helping the homeless or feeding the poor and the like. Some are dedicated to be Parish Priests under the care of a Bishop. Some became Religious-brothers who do specific task in the Church... and so on and so forth. At the end, the Charism is the specific expression of the love of Jesus Christ, a gift of the Holy Spirit, that animates congregations to serve the Church. Charism is the love of God, given through these different congregations, to the beloved of God.
BSVC has linkages to different seminaries and congregations in the Archdiocese of Cagayan that could help any BSVC member to purify his or her innermost questions. Most of the time, when the member's charism fits more the diocesan seminary or other religious formation, BSVC is recommending the person to go to where he or she most fitted. This is not a matter of sending away the person from the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament but a way of guiding the person to his or her better more suitable place so that the possibility of leaving any formation because of mismatched charism would be lessen.
Of course, the final decision is always given to the person concern. The person is given the ultimate freedom to choose for himself or herself.
The BSVC a gift of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament to the Church so BSVC is more concern on the success rate of its applicant whether inside the Coongregation of the Blessed Sacrament or even to different seminaries and other congregations.
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