PRIESTHOOD

Discerning the Priesthood

“You did not choose me but I chose you.”

– John 15.16

Discerning a vocation to the priesthood begins with the following simple premise: God knows you better than anyone, because He made you. No one loves you more than the Lord, since he offered His own life for you. Therefore, you can trust putting your life in God’s hands because he will direct you to where you will be the most truly fulfilled and joyful. Prayer, participating in the life of your parish, giving yourself to some form of service, and speaking to a vocation director are good first steps to exploring a call to the priesthood. Don’t feel that you must be certain that God is calling you to be a priest before thinking about the seminary, since formation is all about continuing to understand God’s will for your life. In the seminary, a man is called to discern his calling with the Church. Priestly formation is a journey of transformation that renews the heart and mind of a person, so that they can, “discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect,” (cf. Rom 12.2).