Divine Timing: How YCP Connections Led to Clarity in Vocation
Have you ever noticed how God works through the most unexpected encounters? For Brother Mark Laurance, what started as an invitation from friends to attend a Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) event in San Diego, became a significant step on an incredible journey towards his vocation.
The energy at that first YCP gathering lit something special in Mark’s heart. Just a month later, he attended the YCP Conference where he was surrounded by young professionals boldly living out their faith in the workplace. They weren’t people who kept their beliefs hidden–they were genuinely excited about supporting each other in both faith and career!
It was at this same conference that Mark had a life-changing encounter with a priest from the Legionaries of Christ. Having attended a Legionary school as a child, this conversation rekindled meaningful memories and planted seeds for his future vocation.
Another blessing from the conference? Meeting Inoh Choe, who would later become a fellow brother in Christ in ways Mark couldn't yet imagine.
Inspired by the authentic faith he witnessed, Mark took a leap when invited to join the YCP leadership team. Despite initial hesitation, he embraced the role of Director of Evangelization, diving deeper into this community that was helping him grow.
All the while, a gentle call to priesthood was tugging at his heart. Through his increasing involvement with YCP, Mark found himself surrounded by friends who helped him face that small, persistent voice inside. The community he built through YCP events and gatherings gave him the confidence to see priesthood not as a distant possibility but as a realistic path forward.
God's perfect timing continued to unfold when Mark attended a Legionaries discernment retreat. There, he reconnected with Inoh—the same person he'd met at the YCP Conference! Amazingly, Inoh had been the president of YCP Denver, and now both were exploring vocations with the Legionaries.
Their shared background in the professional world—each bringing about ten years of work experience when most of their fellow novices came straight from high school—created an instant bond. Today, both are second-year novices with the Legionaries of Christ, growing in friendship as they follow God's call together.
When reflecting on YCP's greatest gift, Brother Mark treasures the community of like-minded people who were driven in their careers and kept God at the center of everything–people who didn’t want to cut corners but wanted to have conversations about ethics and values in the workplace. In his previous roles in software sales and civil engineering, YCP became Mark's beacon of hope in a secular work environment.
His journey reminds us that sometimes what looks like a random invitation might actually be God's gentle nudge toward our true purpose. Through YCP, Mark found not just professional connections, but the faith community and confidence he needed to say "yes" to God's plan for his life.
We are all one connection away from a new friendship, mentorship, career opportunity, or even a possible vocation. This is why YCP focuses on creating welcoming events where these human connections happen organically.
View our full event calendar to see what’s coming up in your area! Who knows - one connection could be the catalyst for positive change in your life.
