S
stove
Guest
What is the best way to search for a religious priest order? There are so many choices… how to start?
- Status
B
BarbaraTherese
Guest
Perhaps you could consult some form of spiritual direction and also resolve to pray daily for the Holy Spirit to guide and be your inspiration in your seeking. Other than that…search the internet and look into the various religious orders of priests - there is usually plenty of vocation information on the various websites.
I think your diocesan vocations director just be helpful too. You could make an appointment with him. I think the vocations director is for more than the diocesan priesthood…unsure.
Not much help I know, but it would be a start…Blessings - Barb
A
AdvanceAlways
Guest
Check out the Vocations Match website or the Institute of Religious Life. It is a good starting point. The order I am currently discerning with (Trinitarians), I would never have heard of it were not for Vocation Match.
Cloisters
Well-known member
Aside from a spiritual director and frequenting the sacraments, I would suggest reading the great religious rules of the Church: those of St. Augustine; St. Albert of Jerusalem; St. Benedict; St. Francis; St. Columba (lesser known). See which one “speaks” to you, then research which orders follow that particular rule.
The Institute on Religious Life is a wonderful resource for those looking into religious priesthood.
If you’re feeling called to be a priest who helps develop priests, I would suggest the Sulpicians.
HTH.
Blessings,
Cloisters
The Institute on Religious Life is a wonderful resource for those looking into religious priesthood.
If you’re feeling called to be a priest who helps develop priests, I would suggest the Sulpicians.
HTH.
Blessings,
Cloisters
W
wtpdosa
Guest
I would suggest first mentioning your interest in vocations to your spiritual director, if you have one. If not, I would recommend asking someone in the parish office for a vocation directory for BOTH diocesan and religious orders.
The discernment process begins with you and what it is that you feel called to do in ministry. Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. After some time in reflection, make a list of what you might be interested in, such as ministry (priest, brother, etc.). Look at the different lifestyles that are involved with each ministry (diocesan priests are many times alone, without community, whereas religious have the support of their communities).
If you are interested in religious life, what charism would fit with your life and ministry? For some it’s education, others it’s poverty, others it’s preaching, for us Augustinians it’s all about community, the community we live in and those we minister to. Do some research and see which one you might be interested in.
If you are looking for diocesan priesthood, then which one and where.
Now that you have some idea of where and what it is you might be interested in, the next step is getting in touch with the ones that interest you. Email them or send them letters regarding a little bit about yourself and your vocation interest. Most often they will get back to you and maybe ask some questions and send you a vocation packet which will also give you an idea of what they are all about. I would suggest that you choose a bunch and get in touch with them so that you can see the differences in them.
Next on the agenda for you to do, after checking out their packets and websites, is to head out, make visits, and shake some hands to be able to get a better feel for what they have to offer you. Remember that it’s your call and vocation from God. Do not take it lightly. Do your homework so that you have some idea of what your looking for. Bring along some questions you have thought about regarding their ministry and your place in it. By this I mean if you want to be a priest, do you want to work in the Bishop’s office or a parish; or if religious, do you want to work in the missions, farming, teach in a university, be a parish priest, etc,? Have a good idea of what it is that you’d be happy doing.
After your visits, some may invite you for a discernment weekend. By all means, do it! It gives you a momentary glimpse of what their vocation is and how they live it. Religious orders have certain rules that they aspire to live by. Some follow them to the letter and others use them as guidelines. Research how it is that they follow them, because if you decide to become one of them, you too will follow as they do. I have seen some vocations fail because of some who felt that their communities were not following their rule as the person thought they should. Ask questions, always!
One word of advice for religious vocations: Communities don’t change for the individual. It is the formation process that the individual learns how to live in community. If there is no fit then move on and try another. I never knew until I tried.
Do as many different ones as you need. After each experience take time to pray and reflect about what went on and how you felt about it. This will be the first times that you get a taste of what it is you might be interested in.
If the experience was good and you feel moved by the Spirit to continue your investigation with them, by all means get back in touch with their vocation director and let him (or her, if a woman hopefully is reading this.) know of your interest. I went to three of these types of meetings with the Augustinians before I finally made application. I had also visited with other religious orders as well, but I felt that the Holy Spirit led me to the Augustinians. Remember, It’s your vocation.
After some time has passed and hopefully you feel comfortable with them and they feel comfortable with you, you will be asked to make application with them. All during this time ask questions and reflect and pray. God never spoke directly to me, even though I asked many times for direction, but in one way or another, you will find the right fit for you (this also goes for all you women looking for some type of vocation!), and have fun in your search.
Please know that you , and all who feel our Lord’s calling and nudge, will be in my prayers.
If you have other questions, please PM me and I’ll do my best to help answer them. Until then,
The discernment process begins with you and what it is that you feel called to do in ministry. Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. After some time in reflection, make a list of what you might be interested in, such as ministry (priest, brother, etc.). Look at the different lifestyles that are involved with each ministry (diocesan priests are many times alone, without community, whereas religious have the support of their communities).
If you are interested in religious life, what charism would fit with your life and ministry? For some it’s education, others it’s poverty, others it’s preaching, for us Augustinians it’s all about community, the community we live in and those we minister to. Do some research and see which one you might be interested in.
If you are looking for diocesan priesthood, then which one and where.
Now that you have some idea of where and what it is you might be interested in, the next step is getting in touch with the ones that interest you. Email them or send them letters regarding a little bit about yourself and your vocation interest. Most often they will get back to you and maybe ask some questions and send you a vocation packet which will also give you an idea of what they are all about. I would suggest that you choose a bunch and get in touch with them so that you can see the differences in them.
Next on the agenda for you to do, after checking out their packets and websites, is to head out, make visits, and shake some hands to be able to get a better feel for what they have to offer you. Remember that it’s your call and vocation from God. Do not take it lightly. Do your homework so that you have some idea of what your looking for. Bring along some questions you have thought about regarding their ministry and your place in it. By this I mean if you want to be a priest, do you want to work in the Bishop’s office or a parish; or if religious, do you want to work in the missions, farming, teach in a university, be a parish priest, etc,? Have a good idea of what it is that you’d be happy doing.
After your visits, some may invite you for a discernment weekend. By all means, do it! It gives you a momentary glimpse of what their vocation is and how they live it. Religious orders have certain rules that they aspire to live by. Some follow them to the letter and others use them as guidelines. Research how it is that they follow them, because if you decide to become one of them, you too will follow as they do. I have seen some vocations fail because of some who felt that their communities were not following their rule as the person thought they should. Ask questions, always!
One word of advice for religious vocations: Communities don’t change for the individual. It is the formation process that the individual learns how to live in community. If there is no fit then move on and try another. I never knew until I tried.
Do as many different ones as you need. After each experience take time to pray and reflect about what went on and how you felt about it. This will be the first times that you get a taste of what it is you might be interested in.
If the experience was good and you feel moved by the Spirit to continue your investigation with them, by all means get back in touch with their vocation director and let him (or her, if a woman hopefully is reading this.) know of your interest. I went to three of these types of meetings with the Augustinians before I finally made application. I had also visited with other religious orders as well, but I felt that the Holy Spirit led me to the Augustinians. Remember, It’s your vocation.
After some time has passed and hopefully you feel comfortable with them and they feel comfortable with you, you will be asked to make application with them. All during this time ask questions and reflect and pray. God never spoke directly to me, even though I asked many times for direction, but in one way or another, you will find the right fit for you (this also goes for all you women looking for some type of vocation!), and have fun in your search.
Please know that you , and all who feel our Lord’s calling and nudge, will be in my prayers.
If you have other questions, please PM me and I’ll do my best to help answer them. Until then,
- Status