The Priesthood
What Do Priests Do?
Individual priests have a very wide variety of tasks within the Church. There are many specialized ministries such as being a chaplain, working at the diocesan offices, or teaching in a seminary. But the majority of priests serve in parishes.Priests instruct others...
Why Celibacy?
Discerning Priestly Celibacy Are some of these your thoughts in regards to celibacy? “I really like girls!” “I have not always lived a chaste life. Can I still be considered for the seminary?” “I struggle with purity, so I’m not sure I possess the holiness that is...
Signs of a Priestly Vocation
How do I know God is calling me? If you have ever thought about being a priest, these qualities may be clues to a future priestly vocation: 1. God has placed in your heart a desire to be a priest. If Jesus has placed a desire in your heart for the priesthood, no...
Overcoming Fear of the Priesthood
Perhaps priesthood has crossed your mind, but fear pushes the idea away: Fear of commitment Fear of celibacy Fear of being unworthy These fears are very common, even for men who are already in seminary. But literally thousands of men have had the same concerns and...
How to Apply to Seminary
How to Apply to Seminary The first step in applying to seminary is to contact the Vocation Director. He needs to get to know you informally before beginning the formal application process. Through one-on-one conversations and other interactions (e.g. retreats,...
How to Become a Priest
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...
The Priesthood
Diocesan priests are conformed to the person of Jesus Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which enables them to speak and act in persona Christi capitis (in the Person of Christ the Head). Pledging obedience to the diocesan bishop, the priest becomes a sharer in his ministry, the ministry of Christ the Good Shepherd. Through celibacy (which is intimately connected to the priesthood in the Roman Rite), the priest gives his heart exclusively to God and thus is able to love his people with the Heart of Christ the Bridegroom. That love is fruitful, making the priest a spiritual father for the people he serves. Simply put, priests bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus.
Through preaching and teaching the Word of God, a priest feeds his people and protects them from error and sin. Through celebrating the Sacraments, he brings about new life, sustains it, heals and restores it. Through leading the people of God, most often in a parish, he exercises his fatherhood, ordering and directing the different gifts of the people entrusted to him. And he experiences a profound joy in witnessing Jesus do all of these things in and through him. As he ministers to others in Christ’s name, he experiences a deeper and deeper intimacy with Jesus, who has called him and reminds him, “without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). And in living among his people as a spiritual father, he becomes an image of God the Father for them.