The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud



	Priest *The Call and Lifestyle* The priest is a person of faith and prayer who has responded to God's call to service and leadership in the Church. The priest is ordained to be a sacrament within the Church. This means that the priest makes present and visible the leadership which Christ gives the Church. He does this by ordering and guiding the Church community and its ministries, proclaiming the Word of God and leading the community in worship, and sending the members of the community forth in mission. Diocesan priests promise obedience to their bishop since their ministry is really an extension of his own, and they also live a life of celibacy. In addition to diocesan priests, there are others who are members of religious communities. These religious order priests take vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience. Through living in community with other priest or brother members of their order, these men derive strength and support to meet the needs of the Church. Opportunities For Service Most men ordained for the Diocese of St. Cloud will serve in the parishes of the diocese as pastors and associate pastors. There are also opportunities for priests to serve as teachers, chaplains at hospitals, as well as in administrative positions. A priest may also have the opportunity to serve a mission parish in Las Acacias, Venezuela. Stepping In A young man of college age who is interested in studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Cloud would usually attend a college seminary. The decision about which college seminary to attend is made by the vocation director working with the candidate and is subject to approval by the bishop. After graduation from college, a person who wishes to further pursue studies for the priesthood would normally attend a major seminary within the United States or in Rome, Italy, which would have a four-year program of theological studies resulting in a Master of Divinity or other theological equivalent. If a person has already completed a bachelor degree but does not have the necessary prerequisite courses in philosophy, an additional one-to-two years of study may be necessary before entering a major seminary. Qualifications How do I know if I have the gifts and talents to be a priest? Ask yourself these questions Do I desire to deepen my prayer life in order to grow in my relationship with God? Do I seek to strengthen my commitment to Christ and his Church? Do I desire to serve God through serving others? Do I sense within myself gifts that would enable me to lead people in worship and in building community? Do I have a willingness and ability to work with a variety of people? Am I a person of at least average intelligence with a desire to learn more about our faith and to share that knowledge with others? Do I pay attention to my emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical and social needs? Discernment Every man goes through periods of his life where he analyzes who he is, what he does, and whom he would like to become. This process is called discernment . God gives us normal, everyday signs in our lives (like a desire to serve others) to help us recognize what is most important to us. He wants us to discern those signs, to add them together, and to make decisions based off of them. Discerning priesthood is not much different. If you are thinking about what it might be like to be a priest, then it's pretty likely that God is giving you a sign. The next step is to pray about it, to spend time asking God what He wants you to do with your life for him. Discernment does not have to be a lonely process. The Vocation Director is a priest whose job it is to help men discern God's will. Just give him a call or send him an email and he will be happy to help you find out what to do next.

Priest

The Call and Lifestyle

The priest is a person of faith and prayer who has responded to God's call to service and leadership in the Church. The priest is ordained to be a sacrament within the Church. This means that the priest makes present and visible the leadership which Christ gives the Church.   He does this by ordering and guiding the Church community and its ministries, proclaiming the Word of God and leading the community in worship, and sending the members of the community forth in mission. Diocesan priests promise obedience to their bishop since their ministry is really an extension of his own, and they also live a life of celibacy.

In addition to diocesan priests, there are others who are members of religious communities. These religious order priests take vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience. Through living in community with other priest or brother members of their order, these men derive strength and support to meet the needs of the Church.

Opportunities For Service

Most men ordained for the Diocese of St. Cloud will serve in the parishes of the diocese as pastors and associate pastors. There are also opportunities for priests to serve as teachers, chaplains at hospitals, as well as in administrative positions.   A priest may also have the opportunity to serve a mission parish in Las Acacias, Venezuela.

Stepping In

A young man of college age who is interested in studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Cloud would usually attend a college seminary. The decision about which college seminary to attend is made by the vocation director working with the candidate and is subject to approval by the bishop. After graduation from college, a person who wishes to further pursue studies for the priesthood would normally attend a major seminary within the United States or in Rome, Italy, which would have a four-year program of theological studies resulting in a Master of Divinity or other theological equivalent. If a person has already completed a bachelor degree but does not have the necessary prerequisite courses in philosophy, an additional one-to-two years of study may be necessary before entering a major seminary.

Qualifications

How do I know if I have the gifts and talents to be a priest? Ask yourself these questions

Do I desire to deepen my prayer life in order to grow in my relationship with God?

Do I seek to strengthen my commitment to Christ and his Church?

Do I desire to serve God through serving others?

Do I sense within myself gifts that would enable me to lead people in worship and in building community?

Do I have a willingness and ability to work with a variety of people?

Am I a person of at least average intelligence with a desire to learn more about our faith and to share that knowledge with others?

Do I pay attention to my emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical and social needs?

Discernment

Every man goes through periods of his life where he analyzes who he is, what he does, and whom he would like to become. This process is called discernment . God gives us normal, everyday signs in our lives (like a desire to serve others) to help us recognize what is most important to us. He wants us to discern those signs, to add them together, and to make decisions based off of them. Discerning priesthood is not much different. If you are thinking about what it might be like to be a priest, then it's pretty likely that God is giving you a sign. The next step is to pray about it, to spend time asking God what He wants you to do with your life for him.

Discernment does not have to be a lonely process. The Vocation Director is a priest whose job it is to help men discern God's will. Just give him a call or send him an email and he will be happy to help you find out what to do next.