Are you thinking about Priesthood?

Formation for priesthood has four components:

1. Human formation – developing your character, emotional literacy and relationship skills

2. Spiritual formation – developing your prayer life and liturgical life

3. Intellectual formation – deepening your knowledge of Catholic faith

4. Pastoral formation – developing skills for ministry and love for people in need

A person considering priesthood would start to show some growth in all of these areas. Development in these areas forms part of a person’s discernment to see if priesthood is a good fit for them. For example, a person might be feeling strongly called by God into a deeper prayer life, but not find that they want to do ministry. That might indicate that they might be called to contemplative religious life, or that they are being called to be a more committed lay person. Or, a person might love doing some pastoral ministry but struggle with studying at a deeper level, which again might indicate that they will be better suited to lay ministry.

So I invite you to begin some actions which will help you discern if priesthood is for you.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Take part in weekday Mass at least once a week
• Spend some time in personal prayer both morning and night. Read some scripture daily.
• Begin journaling. Write down what you’re feeling, thinking about and praying about
• Take up a liturgical ministry (reading, communion minister, altar server)
• Take up a service ministry (St Vincent de Paul Society, soup kitchen etc)
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with some close friends and family
• Read some spirituality or theology books
• Do an introductory theology course to explore if you will enjoy studying at tertiary level
• Maintain physical fitness and health
• Attend the sacrament of reconciliation if you have not been in the past year