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Priesthood -
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“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:17
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What is the Priesthood?
A Catholic priest is a man who has heard the Call from God to serve Him and His Church and has responded by receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders. He continues our Lord and Savior's work here on Earth in anticipation of Christ's return. He is able to proclaim the Gospel. administer sacraments, and help guide the faithful to Heaven. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church." (CCC #5147) -
How do I know I'm being Called?The Call to the Priesthood looks different for every man, but these are some common signs that you may be called to the priesthood.
- God has placed a desire in your heart to be a priest. It may be a passing thought, or it might be an idea you can't stop thinking about, but it's there.
- You want to grow closer to Christ and His Church.
- People tell you that you would make a good priest.
- You want to help others grow closer to Christ.
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I think I'm being Called to the Priesthood. What now?
Reach out to Fr. Carlos, Fr. Peter, or the Diocese of Worcester Vocations Office to discuss the discernment process.
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Prayer for Discernment
Lord, my God and my loving Father, you have made me to know you, to love you, to serve you, and thereby to find and to fulfill my deepest longings. I know that you are in all things, and that every path can lead me to you.
But of them all, there is one especially by which you want me to come to you. Since I will do what you want of me, I pray you, send your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind, to show me what you want of me; into my heart, to give me the determination to do it, and to do it with all my love, with all my mind, and with all of my strength right to the end.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Amen
Courtesy of the USCCB
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Steps to the Priesthood
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Discernment
Vocations always begin with discernment to help identify if this is God's true will for your vocation. This is done through personal prayer, meetings with one of our priests, and meetings with your spiritual director.
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Inquiry
At this stage, you will contact the Diocese of Worcester Vocations Office and speak with the director of vocations and/or the director of the religious order you feel called to join. You will go through more discernment and learn more about the requirements to join the priesthood.
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Background Check
You will receive background checks as well as psychological tests to help ensure there is nothing that would hinder your ability to be a moral guide for your flock.
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Seminary Formation
Once accepted to priesthood formation, you will enter the seminary. The number of years a you will be in seminary depends on the classes you need to take, but this generally takes 6 years if you have a bachelor's degree, or longer if you need a bachelor's degree first.
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Transitional Diaconate
When you have finished your studies, you will be ordained a transitional deacon. You will serve as a deacon for about one year. At your diaconate ordination you will make your promises of celibacy, fidelity to the Liturgy of the Hours, and obedience to the bishop and his successors.
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Ordination
Congratulations!
Your ordination to the priesthood leaves you with an indelible mark, like that of baptism. You are now "a priest forever in the Order of Melchizedek" to serve and love God and His people.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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There are two types of priests: Diocesan Priests and Religious Priests.
Diocesan priests are priests who minister to the the people of a parish. This might be a parish in a town, hospital, prison, or university, but they are generally assigned to a geographical area (parish within a diocese). Diocesan priests do not take a vow of poverty, but they receive modest salaries and are encouraged to live a humble lifestyle. Diocesan priests make promises of obedience and celibacy.
Religious priests belong to a specific religious community (such as Franciscans, Benedictines or Augustinians) and take vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. They are assigned to a community by the superior of his religious community. Religious priests usually live as part of a community, or the day-to-day life might look very similar to a diocesan priest. Religious priests have communal property in line with their vow of poverty.
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"For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men,
and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.
He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.”Matthew 19:12
Celibacy is a discipline, not a dogma of the Church. This means that celibacy is a free choice and could be changed by the Church. The Church continues the discipline of celibacy for several reasons:
- A priest works "In Persona Christi" meaning "in the person of Christ." Since Christ was celebate his entire life, a priest chooses to model this discipline of celibacy.
- A priest devotes his life to God's work. Living a celibate life allows him to keep his focus on God and helping his parishioners grow closer to Christ through the Sacraments.
- Celibacy reminds us of Heaven, where there is no marriage and everyone will be celibate.
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Daily life looks different depending on whether the priest is a diocesan priest or a religious priest, but no matter where the priest lives out his priestly vocation, his day focuses on three main categories of tasks:
- Teaching others about the faith.
- Shepherding his flock by giving spiritual direction, praying for those under his spiritual care, and encouraging his parishioners.
- Sanctifying those under his care by administering the Sacraments and celebrating Holy Mass.
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Priests don't stop having hobbies once they are ordained. Priests are able to enjoy the same hobbies they had before entering seminary, so long as they are in line with the Gospel and his role as a priest.
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It is normal to have fear when making a decision about your vocation in life. The discernment process will help you identify the root cause of your fear and help you determine if the vocation of the priesthood is right for you.
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The proper order for the reception of Holy Orders is:
- Deacon
- Priest/Presbyter
- Bishop
Much like a child must receive Baptism before s/he can receive Eucharist and Confirmation, a priest must receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders as a deacon before he is ordained a priest. This is because he must be a Minister of Service before he can be a part of the Priesthood of Christ. We see this in the Book of Acts 6:1-6. The first deacons were ordained in the service of the apostles as the Kingdom of Christ grew and the apostles could no longer personally complete all the necessary tasks.
Similarly, the role of a priest came from the bishops being unable to serve all the faithful in the Cathedral. Priests share in the priesthood of the bishop, so a bishop must first be a priest.
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