Adorable kids describe funny misunderstandings about the Catholic Church during powerful Vocation Days

'When you become a priest, you can't retire.'

Fifth-graders took part in a two-day Vocations Days at Archbishop O'Hara High School, where their confusion and misconceptions about the Catholic Church were clarified, corrected and eradicated.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Children don't experience events the same way adults do, and their comprehension skills are still developing. Due to their inability to think as critically as older kids and adults, wires are often crossed and incorrect conclusions are drawn.

From confusing ushers as "hushers" to believing Joseph's name is "Verge" - as in "Verge n' Mary" - children's misconceptions about church, the clergy and even names have entertained adults for years. 

During this year's Vocations Day, one boy wasn't wrong when he said, "When you become a priest, you can't retire," but the line certainly drew laughter and smiles from people who heard about it later.

When asked about nuns, one girl responded, "I just thought they were people who prayed all the time."

Diocesan vocations director, Father Richard Rocha, understood how such misunderstandings can lead to unfulfilled religious encounters, so he posed an important question regarding vocations and youth: "Is it too early to think about the priesthood? Is it too early to think about religious life as a sister? No. That's why we brought you here today," he said in his homily.

"We all have a plan. Put God in that plan. Do his will."

The Vocations Office gathered almost 700 Catholic home-schooled and privately educated fifth graders for the Fifth Grade Vocation Days at Archbishop O'Hara High School, where he delivered Mass and asked what the children thought about nuns, priests and the Church.

Several answers led to the realization that the kids had several misconceptions and misunderstandings concerning priests and nuns. 

Roy Gutirrez said, "Priests are just like regular people" and was swiftly corrected by classmate Zavian Lindsey, who said priests are unable to retire before adding, "You are always a priest."

One girl learned nuns "can't be married because they are married to Jesus," and each child learned that being baptized leads to original sin being washed away and any sins we incur later can be forgiven if we genuinely ask during confession.

During the two-day event, Father Rocha encouraged the children to pray for God to reveal His will for their lives, adding, "That's the only way you are going to be truly happy."

Sister Teresa of the Sister Servants of Mary agreed and informed the kids, "When the Lord calls us to that one vocation, that's where we'll be the happiest."

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