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Literacy is most commonly defined as the ability to read and write. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. Reading and writing abilities vary across different cultures and contexts, and these too are constantly shifting. Moreover, lliteracy is critical in helping us make sense of our world. From the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we are constantly making meaning of the world around us. Literacy has traditionally been thought of as reading and writing. Although these are essential components of literacy, today our understanding of literacy encompasses much more. Alberta Education defines literacy as the ability, confidence and willingness to engage with language to acquire, construct and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living. Language is explained as a socially and culturally constructed system of communication.

Nowadays, ‘reading’ encompasses complex visual and digital media as well as printed material. An elderly person who can read the newspaper might struggle to get information from Google. Similarly, different cultures will have different perceptions of literacy. The writing traditions of the English language make reading comprehension an essential part of literacy, but this might not be as important in cultures or groups that rarely read printed material.

Add to this the many people who move between cultures and languages and you have a world where ‘literacy’ is almost entirely relative. Beyond the functional level, literacy plays a vital role in transforming persons in the chosen vocation into socially engaged and effective citizens. Therefore, upon understanding the various levels of literacy, on Vocations literacy is very important: Being able to read and write means being able to keep up with current events, communicate effectively, and understand the issues that are shaping our world.

Therefore, becoming effective in the chosen vocations, in becoming good workers in His harvest requires becoming literate in one’s own chosen vocation and the world where we live in. We are far behind in this literacy, especially of the religious and priestly life today.

The field of communications and media has undergone rapid transformation, at times pushing the end users into injudicious impulsive conclusions and reactions. The surfacing of print as mass medium had lead to the beginning of a new literary culture. The dawn of TV had paved the way for a mesmerizing animated image culture. However, the advent of Internet makes a drastic change in the life culture of people today all over the world. Cell phones have become ubiquitous, thanks to the feature and smart phones that their users can take photographs and videos: to the extent everyone with such cell phones can capture images now making them potential news photographers or video makers.

We should not hesitate to admit that: the impacts of media have affected catholic VOCATIONS to the core. Are we Vocation literate? Do we have the ability, confidence and willingness to engage with the world today (read and write)? Yes we need the VCATION LITERACY: to acquire, construct and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living.

Similarly in the communication scenario of a Religious or Priest today: is he or she media educated? Media literate? Do we know the media? Or we just use the media without knowing its grammar, language, dangers and potentials?

In the theological scenario: on different disciplines that characterize our religious word, are we really literate to offer a counter alternate to the changing world of today? In the Scriptures, Spirituality, Sociological turns, Missiological thrusts, Understanding God, understanding the other, Social concerns, Religious practices, Devotions, faith living experiences etc.?

The impact of all these on VOCATIONS has been enormous, and now the newspapers and magazines are struggling to survive because people have become used to getting their news, for free on the Internet. We have iPhones, iPods, iPads and any number of incredible new devices and gizmos. Through emergence of new social networks, the real relationships give way to the seemingly comfortable virtual relationships. The new interactive media has an enormous impact in the lives of the people today: it influences our thinking pattern, beliefs, and relationships, to the point that it affects our value system and changes the society.

ARE WE really ILLITERATE on our existence as vocation?