Becoming a Catholic Priest
The path to becoming a Catholic priest involves a thorough formation process that prepares men for a life dedicated to serving God and His people. This article provides a summary of the process, from initial discernment to ordination, as well as insights into the history and theological understanding of priesthood in the Catholic Church.
- For a more complete description of the process of becoming a priest, check out To Save a Thousand Souls, by Fr. Brett Brannen.
- For help starting the discernment process contact Fr. Greg
Discernment and Initial Requirements
The first formal step towards becoming a priest is vocational discernment. Discerning the priesthood involves prayerful reflection, seeking guidance from spiritual mentors, and honestly assessing one’s own desires and suitability for this path. Men aspiring to become priests must meet certain basic requirements:
- Be a faithful, practicing Catholic man
- Possess good moral character and proper motivation for the priesthood
- Have a high school diploma with capacity for graduate level studies
- Demonstrate a capacity for a chaste, celibate life
- Enjoy good physical and psychological health
Typically, men who become priests do not have certainty of their calling before entering seminary. They make a decision to apply to seminary once their discernment has given them sufficient clarity that the only way to discern the priesthood further is to go to seminary.
- To find a guide to help you discern the priesthood, check out Discernment 180, by Fr. Greg Gerhart.
- To learn more about the application process to become a seminarian for the Diocese of Austin, check out this article.
Formation to the Priesthood
After applying to a diocese and being accepted as a seminarian, priestly formation begins. Seminary is much more than taking classes; it includes four dimensions of formation that help the man to be a priest after the heart of Christ:
- Human Formation develops the seminarian’s personality and character, helping them to grow in maturity, self-knowledge, virtue, and capacity for relationships and effective leadership.
- Spiritual Formation centers on deepening the seminarian’s relationship with God through prayer, sacraments, spiritual direction, and retreats.
- Intellectual Formation involves the rigorous academic study of philosophy, theology, and other relevant subjects. It equips the seminarian with the knowledge and understanding necessary to preach the Gospel, teach the faith, and engage in theological dialogue.
- Pastoral Formation focuses on developing the skills and dispositions needed for effective ministry. It includes practical experience in parishes, hospitals, and other settings, as well as training in areas like preaching, counseling, and spiritual direction.
Priestly formation generally lasts from 8-10 years, and it occurs over four distinct stages in the formation of priests:
- Propaedeutic Stage (~1 year): This introductory stage focuses on personal and spiritual growth, helping candidates transition to the unique demands of seminary life. It lays the foundation for the human and spiritual dimensions of formation.
- Discipleship Stage (2-4 years): This stage emphasizes philosophical studies, deepening the seminarian’s understanding of the Catholic faith and fostering a closer relationship with Christ.
- Configuration Stage (4 years): This stage centers on theological studies, preparing candidates to serve as ministers of the sacraments and proclaim the Gospel effectively.
- Vocational Synthesis Stage (6 months – 1 year): This final stage integrates all aspects of formation—human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral—preparing candidates for ordination and their future ministry.
The formation timeline can be extended by taking a pastoral year, which consists of working in a parish and receiving personal mentorship from the pastor.
Check out these videos on priestly formation:
Ordination
Throughout seminary formation, the man receives evaluations from the formation faculty, which take into account contributions from his peers, superiors, and those involved in his pastoral assignments. The bishop has the ultimate responsibility to ensure the candidate is prepared for ordination and consults with the seminary faculty to do so. When he has confidence that the man is suitable and ready to be ordained, the bishop calls the man to Holy Orders.
Holy Orders is the sacrament where a man, through the laying on of hands by a bishop, becomes a deacon, priest, or bishop. To become a priest, a man must first be ordained a deacon and exercise that ministry for six months. During the priestly ordination rite, the man to be ordained makes the following promises:
- Do you resolve, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of priesthood in the presbyteral rank, as worthy fellow workers with the Order of Bishops for the Lord’s flock? I do.
- Do you resolve to exercise the ministry of the word worthily wisely, preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith? I do.
- Do you resolve to celebrate faithfully and reverently, accord with Church’s tradition, the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people? I do.
- In the presence of God and his Church, are you resolved, as a sign of your interior dedication to Christ, to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom and in lifelong service to God and mankind? I do.
- Do you resolve to implore with us God’s mercy upon the people entrusted to your care by observing the command to pray without ceasing? I do.
- Do you resolve to be united more closely every day to Christ High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice, and with him to consecrate yourselves to God for the salvation of all? I do with the help of God.
- Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors? I do.
Check out this video of three men’s path to the priesthood
Ministry
After ordination, priests engage in various forms of ministry as assigned by their bishop, serving the Church and the community in diverse ways:
- Celebrating Mass and administering sacraments: This is a core function of the priesthood, providing spiritual nourishment to the faithful through the celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments like Baptism, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Preaching and teaching: Priests proclaim the Gospel and share the teachings of the Church, helping people grow in their faith and understanding of Catholic doctrine.
- Providing pastoral care: This includes counseling individuals and families, visiting the sick and homebound, and offering support to those in need.
- Leading and guiding the parish community: Priests serve as spiritual leaders, fostering a sense of community and faith among parishioners, and working to build up the Church.
- Check out these videos of a day in the life of a priest