Considering the priesthood- How to tell those around you?

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Hi everyone,

I am new to the site so I apologize if this has been brought up before. I am a 23 year old male who is a recent college graduate. I am currently working full time and enjoy, for the most part, what I do, allowing me to pay off my

On the other hand, the thought of becoming a priest has always been on my mind since I was young. In the last year of working, I have found myself thinking of entering the seminary much much more and the thought doesn’t really subside or go away. Family and friends have joked in the past that they could see me as a priest or that I’d make a good one.

I feel as though I can’t ignore these thoughts anymore and should tell those around me what I am considering in the not so distant future. I am unsure how I should tell my family and friends (varying degrees of practicing/non-practicing Catholics) about this and what anyone could suggest as to how to best go about it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Please pray for me~
 
Perhaps you should speak to your diocesan vocations director. There is no need to mention your interest to family and friends at this point unless you want to tell them. That can wait until you go talk to someone, or go for a discernment retreat, or other event.
 
Honesty. Just do it. 👍

I grew up Catholic and have literally no memory of not being pressured into priesthood. It was just one of those cultural indoctrination things, where young men were pushed toward priesthood.

Make sure it’s what YOU want, and be honest with those around you. More importantly, be honest with yourself.
 
I am considering speaking with my pastor, who I know well, soon! Thank you!!
 
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You need not tell anyone anything. This is an extremely personal, extremely devotional, extremely challenging and extremely gratifying part of your life. I would not stress over “telling” others anything. When the time comes, the Holy Spirit will give you the words.
 
This to me seems similar to considering getting engaged to somebody. You might choose to discuss it with some people you are very close to, if you want them to know ahead of time or want to get their advice. But you could also choose to keep it a total secret between you and your girlfriend, until you were definitely sure of your plans. And because it’s private, you generally wouldn’t make a big announcement to everybody you know until you and the girl were actually engaged.

Likewise, you don’t need to tell anyone you’re considering the priesthood. You could choose to share your thoughts with a couple of people you’re really close to, such as your parents, a sibling or a friend, but you don’t have to tell them at this stage. And until you are sure of your plans, you don’t need to announce it to the world - it’s your own private business and your decision to make.

If and when you do decide to tell some people, just be honest and straightforward, and be prepared for a variety of responses. Some people will probably be very encouraging and others may be skeptical or try to talk you out of it, so be prepared for that and remember you don’t have to justify your decision to anybody - it’s your decision to make, not theirs.
 
What a wonderful thing. Becoming a priest. I will add you to my prayer list. 😀🙏🙏🙏🙏
 
Praying for you. As to your question - just tell your family. Family exists through the Grace of the Holy Spirit. Without Him you would not have been born. So there will always be an unseen link to your family like it or not. Stranger than DNA. So imagine the negatives - they try to dissuade you and don’t like the idea. Then pray and ask God’s help.
Sometimes our perception of things may mean quite the opposite.
Friends - don’t need to tell them unless you are certain and entered seminary.
God bless.
 
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Welcome to the forum.

The priests that staff my parish are Paulists and they have a discernment week (I think) where those interested in the priesthood can visit with seminarians and young priests to find out what it is like. I bet dioceses have something similar to this.

God bless you as you make your decision. I will add you to my rosary list.
 
MD_Catholic said:
I am unsure how I should tell my family and friends (varying degrees of practicing/non-practicing Catholics) about this and what anyone could suggest as to how to best go about it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Be open; be honest. Start with those closest to you - close family and friends. With others, it’s probably better to wait until you actually have something to tell them, that is once you’ve made a decision to jump off of the cliff (so to speak) and enter the seminary otherwise you risk putting pressure on yourself (along the lines of "I can’t back out now I’ve already told everyone). Once you do have something to announce, remember that all you’ll be doing is applying to/entering the seminary; it doesn’t mean that you’re definitely going to be ordained so low key is perhaps best for this reason.

Finally, I’d also add that the reactions to my decision to enter the seminary were overwhelmingly positive and the supportive comments I received were actually quite humbling. Still, while it’s not something you should be putting off, at the same time take it slowly - one step at a time without getting ahead of yourself - a vocation is as much about when as what.
 
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