Dear Friend in Christ,

My name is Andrea Barlaan, and I’m writing to you from the bottom of my heart — to share a little about my journey and to ask for your financial support and donations as I take the next step in following God’s call in my life.

My Background

I was born in the Philippines, my immediate family immigrated to Calgary 16 years ago and I was raised most of my life here where I was blessed to grow up in the Catholic faith. Over the years, I found myself drawn more deeply into service within the Church. Growing up I was passionate about music. SoI joined the choir at my local church, where I experienced the beauty of praise and worship in community. I also had the privilege of serving for four years with the Serra Club of Calgary, where I supported, promoted and prayed for vocations. Little did I know that by praying for vocations I would be called to consider a vocation.

The Importance of Fundraising

This fundraiser is important to me because the importance of discerning and having vocations in the Catholic church is needed now more than ever today. As I read in the Calgary Diocese impact report “promoting vocations is the responsibility of the whole Church. Together, we foster a culture of listening, encouragement, and courageous response to God’s call..”

Biblically in Matthew 9:37 it says “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” This means that people are the harvest—lost souls waiting to be saved and brought into God’s kingdom. The problem was not that there were not enough people to harvest, but that there were not enough laborers to do the work.

How the funds raised will be used: $1000 will be used monthly for rent, utilities and food in the community. And this $1000 multiplied by 9 months comes down to $9000.

The Call to Sabbatical Year

Now, God is inviting me into something even deeper: to live and discern through the Sabbatical Year with the Seeds of the Word Community — a Catholic missionary community devoted to Scripture, prayer, and evangelization. This community helps young people grow in faith, silence, and discernment, all while immersing themselves in the Word of God and the life of the Church.

I felt the call in my heart to say “yes” — to give this time in my life to Christ through this community. It's not just about me — it's about listening to God's voice, deepening my prayer life, and being formed into someone who can go out and serve others with love and purpose.

But I can't do it alone.

I’m reaching out today to humbly ask: Would you be willing to sponsor or fund me as I live and discern God’s call, in the Sabbatical Year with the Seeds of the Word? Your support — spiritual or financial — would help cover the cost of formation, community life, and the basic needs that allow me to say yes to this call.

Whether it's a one-time donation or a monthly gift, you would be planting seeds of faith — not only in me, but in all those I hope to serve in the future. More than anything, please keep me in your prayers as I take this step.

If you feel called to support me or want to learn more, I would love to talk with you.

With a grateful heart,

Andrea

Once you have donated please fill out the prayer intentions Google Form Link below as my small thank you to pray for you for donating. Google Form Link to Input Your Prayer Intentions

This is what I'll get to do in the next year is a final discernment at the commissioning mass of the Seeds of the Word Sabbatical Year with the other companions.

Sabbatical Companions 2024-2025 Final Discernments

Check out the previous year!

Sabbatical Companions 2023-2024 Final Discernments