Vocation to Love at Notre Dame
Laughter, cats, and the smell of freshly lit candles fill the Younger home every Wednesday night as women file through the doorway and exchange hugs. Mugs of steaming tea in hand, they find a comfy position in the living room and begin to pray.
Vocation to Love (VTL), informally known as “girl’s group” among members of the Younger household, is a weekly gathering of women from across the tri-campus community, centered around book discussion, prayer, and fellowship.
Sponsored by the Sorin Fellows program of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture (dCEC), the group is led by Suzy Younger—a mother, FertilityCare Practitioner at Saint Joseph OBGYN, and Notre Dame marriage preparation coordinator. Though VTL is now a thriving community of 154 women, it all started with an informal conversation during Senior Week of 2016.
While on a trip to Silver Beach with a graduating mentee and her friend, Younger recalls how “seemingly out of nowhere” the women began to ask for advice about life after Notre Dame and how she knew her husband Dave was “the one.” Struck by the beauty of their questions, yet struggling to find an adequate response in only one afternoon, Younger recalled her feelings at the time, saying, “I was simultaneously moved that these were the questions most on their mind during Senior Week and yet overwhelmed at the thought of trying to answer them in just one beach conversation before they graduated. It seemed too little, too late. To truly answer the deepest questions of their heart, I knew I needed more time—as much time as I could get with them—four years, ideally.”
After the conversation, Younger shared how she felt called to help other women who were grappling with these same questions. Drawing inspiration from Blessed Basil Moreau—Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross—she stated, “I became convicted that we needed to cultivate a community of women, welcomed into a home and family life, where we could vulnerably share life and form our minds and hearts with a cup of tea in hand.”
Though much has changed as the group has evolved, Younger notes that the foundation of VTL’s mission has largely remained the same. She shared with the Rover, “Our name, Vocation to Love, comes from the understanding that each person who has received the love of Christ has the vocation, or calling, to give that love to those around them and to the world.”
Younger continued, “When we first began the group, my focus was on trying to offer the girls formation for living marriage and family life. But as the group continued we saw more and more religious vocations coming from our group as well. The vocation to love was not just for married life, but religious life, and truly for each and every woman no matter her vocation or state in life.”
Nine years later, VTL is thriving, and it has featured content ranging from the female saints of the Church—whom Younger calls “our sisters”—to practical skill-building in fertility awareness, stress management, and personal wholeness, such as the Reform Wellness program.
This semester, VTL is reading The Mindful Catholic, written by Catholic psychologist Dr. Gregory Bottaro. When asked why she selected this book, Younger cited the growing amount of stress and pressure she has observed among young women in her line of work.
Convicted in the role of the Catholic faith in mental well-being, Younger said, “To be able to sift through the many voices, perspectives, and pressures, we need to be able to discern from a place of mental clarity and in a state of physical and mental health. This begins with understanding who God is, who we are in His eyes as his daughters, and then flows to a better understanding of ourselves and on to how we live in relationships with others.”
Younger continued, “But truly the most impactful way I’ve seen God work through our group is the healing and joy that occurs when women are welcomed into a home environment, away from the stresses of campus life, and embraced as they are, for who they are, with all of their gifts, strength, talents, imperfections, and vulnerabilities. I have seen our group become a place of safety and warmth where girls release anxiety, find joy and friendship, and learn to practically trust God more in their life. … It’s simply incredible.”
Maria Murinova, a senior and VTL regular, shared how important the group has been for her mental wellbeing. She told the Rover, “One of my favorite things about VTL is that it brings students together in a home. It’s so nice to physically leave campus and all the stress, and I think it makes it easier to really reflect on the themes we talk about and just enjoy each other’s company.”
Murinova continued, “It’s been such a gift to walk with Suzy and all the VTL girls through the past few years, and I’m so grateful I encountered this community where everyone is open to sharing their joys and struggles with one another as we all strive for holiness.”
Today, the VTL network is continuing to grow. In addition to hosting Notre Dame undergraduates, the group has expanded to include students from St. Mary’s and Holy Cross College, graduate and law students, religious sisters, and even satellite networks with alumnae across the country.
Caroline Isom, a junior in McGlinn Hall, shared her love for the wide diversity of women whom VTL attracts, saying, “One of my favorite parts of VTL is witnessing the example of other women around me in different stages of life. It is such a gift to hear the stories of women of all vocations and journeys—sisters, undergrads, grad students, and more—and be united in our love for Christ.”
Isom continued, “When I was searching for other women of faith to surround myself with, VTL welcomed me with the warmest arms, and it’s been such a joy to draw others in myself. Everyone needs a community like that.”
VTL meetings are held weekly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Interested young women can find out more information through the dCEC’s Sorin Fellows program, or contact Suzy Younger at syounger@nd.edu.
Elizabeth Mitchell is a sophomore studying the Program of Liberal Studies and theology. Though she doesn’t care for cats, she has been mistaken for a grandma by her quadmates (and Spotify!) for being a self-proclaimed “tea fiend,” and loving old music. Contact her at emitche8@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: Suzy Younger
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