In Latin, the word for discernment is discernere, which means to separate or to distinguish. Through discernment, we can distinguish between “being in the world”, and “being of the world”.  As Christians, we are all called to holiness first and foremost. By seeking after Christ and putting His Word into action in our own daily lives, we conform to His will and can distinguish what our next steps are. Here are a few steps to discern God’s call:

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• Strive for holiness
• Acknowledge your weakness and Christ’s strength
• Receive the sacrament of confession often
• Develop a consistent daily prayer life
• Humble yourself more and more

• Pray for opportunities
• To grow in faith, hope and love
• To conform of our lives and His will
• To practice patience and receive peace through the discernment process

• Become open to endless possibilities
• Allow Christ to take you everywhere and anywhere
• Trust in the midst of uncomfortable situations
• Simply become open to the idea of becoming a seminarian, deacon, or priest

• Listen to God
• Listen in silent prayer; become capable of hearing the whisper of God
• Listen to the liturgy during Holy Mass
• Listen in scripture via Lectio Divina           

• Get Good Information
• Figure out exactly what a priest does
• Talk to a priest who you trust

• Find a Spiritual Director
• A spiritual director is usually a priest
• They advise, guide, and encourage
• They notice the ‘finger of the Lord’ on our hearts
• They often recognize where Christ is leading us

• Talk to your Vocations Director!
• Each archdiocese has a great team selected specifically to encourage and lead those discerning vocations
• Email the Vocations Director

Discerning God’s will entails praying and listening in silence with the Lord.  In prayer, we must learn to discern the voice of the Lord from the voices of the world, the flesh and the devil. 
Here are a few spiritual discernment tips which allow Christ to reveal Himself to us:

• Patience. Love is patient!
• Forgiveness. Forgive others and yourself
• Wisdom. Pray for opportunities and the wisdom to choose them
• Humility. Humble yourself; pray constantly for others
• Peace. Pray for peace to rid any anxiety or nervousness
• Charity. Give to anyone who is less fortunate; Christ reveals Himself in the eyes of those in need
• Trust. Trust in God’s grace and trust in His Majesty
• Surrender. Surrender yourself as servants, willing to be His hands and feet
• Read. Read Sacred Scripture and about Sacred Tradition

A Diocesan Priest is quite different from a Religious Order Priest, though they are both important roles in the church.  A Diocesan Priest serves in the parishes of a geographic diocese or archdiocese and makes promises of

• Obedience to the Bishop
• Daily prayer (Liturgy of the Hours)
• Celibacy for the Kingdom

The majority of Religious Order Priests serve in communities, monasteries, and sometimes in parishes. A Religious Order Priest takes vows of

• Poverty
• Celibate Chastity
• Obedience

Becoming a Diocesan Priest is an adventure. It is a process full of spiritual discernment, challenging academics, and ultimately surrendering every aspect of your life to Christ’s Church. This may sound intimidating, yet, it is a wonderful and inspiring journey full of the illumination of Christ’s love in our lives.   The first step is to contact your Vocations Director.

There are a few options for a Catholic gentleman to become a diocesan priest.

• For those young men coming out of high school, four years of college seminary studying Philosophy will prepare you for major seminary, which is 4 years of Theology and priestly formation.
• For men who are in college yet want to enter seminary, transferring to a seminary college is an option. Finishing the undergraduate degree at the student’s current school is also a great option.
• Men with undergraduate degrees will partake in pre-theology courses, which is two years of prerequisite philosophy before beginning the four years of Theology. This is also an option for men who have Graduate degrees and feel called to enter into the seminary.

Though it can vary, typically it takes 6 to 8 years from the time when a young man enter seminary until he is ordained as a diocesan priest.

Catholic priests are called to live “In persona Christi,” or in the person of Christ.  A priest brings Jesus to the people and people to Jesus.  Through offering the sacraments to every age, race, and gender, God uses priests in these acts to heal those of the Body of Christ and to lead them into everlasting life. Priests have the opportunity, through the graces and guidance of the Heavenly Father, to ultimately save souls.  

Here are a few things a Diocesan Priest does:

• Love Christ endlessly
• Pray consistently for the people of the parish
• Preach the Gospel during Holy Mass daily
• Celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice
• Baptize children and converts into the Body of Christ
• Visit the sick, those in prison, and families of the deceased
• Instruct others on faith and morals
• Counsel those who are suffering spiritually, emotionally, and physically
• Witness Marriages in the Church
• Bury the dead
• Become Jesus’ hands and feet

The diocesan priesthood is a 24/7 lifestyle. Here are a few things a priest may do in an average week:

• Pray daily for the People of God
• Celebrate daily mass
• Visit those who are sick or in need of prayer
• Prepare couples for marriage and counsel married couples
• Preach the gospel and advocate justice
• Hear confessions
• Manage and oversee the parish

"Every vocation is part of a divine plan... It is God who loves us, who is Love, who calls us." Pope Benedict XVI

A good priest strives to live a life of holiness.  He is prayerful, humbly seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit to share the gift of his priesthood.   A priest is generous, giving of himself and sharing in the most significant moments of people’s lives.  He has the humility to be a shepherd of God’s flock here on earth, the trust in His graces to keep a busy yet fruitful schedule, and the determination to live a life of loving service to the people of God.

These are just a few of the qualities that make a good priest.  The sacrament of Holy Orders gives the grace necessary to sustain the priest in his ministry. St John Vianney, the patron Saint of Diocesan Priests once said that “the priest will not understand the greatness of his office until he is in heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die, not of fear, but of love.” A diocesan priest will truly encounter many joys while serving the people of God.