First steps

[ohne]

Hi everyone.

I am from Sydney, Australia and I think I have vocation in priesthood or religious life. I think I can narrow this down to diocesan priesthood or one of the three franciscan orders.

I have not told anyone that I am currently thinking about priesthood. Sometimes people ask me and I’ve generally just given non-committal answers.

I’m not really sure what I should do as a first step in terms of contacting people. I have thought about contacting the diocesan vocations team, although I’m not sure whether I should maybe speak to my parish priest first. I speak to my parish priest regularly in reconciliation, although if I did speak to him first I’m not sure whether reconciliation would be an appropriate place to talk about it, or whether I should arrange a separate meeting.

Similarly, with the franciscans, I am not sure whether it would be best to speak to the diocesan vocations team before speaking to them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Diamantina]

Hello!

I’m not from Australia and I don’t know how old you are. Nevertheless, I would suggest a three-pronged approach that should work for any country or age: 1) set up an appointment with your parish priest outside of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; 2) contact the diocesan vocations team; and 3) contact the Franciscan orders that you are interested in. Do all three simultaneously, or at least within a couple of days of each other. Tell the parish priest, the vocations team and the Franciscan orders that you are discerning whether to become a diocesan priest or Franciscan friar.

I strongly suggest that you get a spiritual director. Since you are interested in the Franciscans, the spiritual director can be a Franciscan (not just a friar: sisters can make good spiritual directors as well), if you can find one who is interested in being your spiritual director. When you have your appointment with your parish priest, ask him whether he knows of any good spiritual directors. Go on retreat: some religious communities have retreats for discerners. Even if it is not the community that you want to enter, the priests or sisters there should know of good spiritual directors in your area. (I was referred to my spiritual director by a sister who was helping to run a retreat I was on.)

Hope this helps!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Hi Ohne…I am in South Australia. You could do either i.e. speak to your vocations office or contact the Order that is of interest to you. Personally, I would be inclined to first speak with the Order that interests me…if I am unsure which one to contact perhaps and it was a real dilemma, then I would speak to my Vocations Office.

There is no reason either, why you could not contact the Order of interest and also the Vocations Office re the diocesan priesthood. Perhaps by taking this option, you just might be able to sort out which direction would you like to go…a religious order or the diocesan priesthood with the assistance of your Vocations Team.
Certainly with the diocesan priesthood, the way to go would be to contact your Vocations Office.

I think to fully inform oneself is the best way to go re a vocation…be fully informed about life in the religious order that interests you and also the diocesan priesthood. Certainly you can gather as much information as you need without it putting any sort of obligation on you. All your questions are important and don’t be reluctant to ask them.

For sure speak with your parish priest, and I think an appointment would be best. Another very good move is to seek out a spiritual director. Our diocese in Adelaide has a Spirituality Office which has a list of qualified spiritual directors and will send out this list (with telephone numbers) on request. One simply picks one from this list and phones. I am not too sure what applies in other diocese in Australia.

The other way of locating a spiritual director is to contact an Order of priests and/or brothers. I think most do spiritual direction, but if not - then I am sure they can tell you how to find one. But I would hope your diocesan offices can help.

Other CAF members may be helpful to you too:thumbsup: . I am not well schooled at all in male vocations, being female I suppose.

God’s blessings on your discernment and vocation:thumbsup: …Barb

 

[Trishie]

Ohne I’ll keep you in my prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide you in those who advise and direct you; and that you will be wholehearted and faithful in your response to, and living out, God’s wishes for your life.

 

[ohne]

Thank you Trishie and others for your help.

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Hello!

I’m not from Australia and I don’t know how old you are. Nevertheless, I would suggest a three-pronged approach that should work for any country or age: 1) set up an appointment with your parish priest outside of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; 2) contact the diocesan vocations team; and 3) contact the Franciscan orders that you are interested in. Do all three simultaneously, or at least within a couple of days of each other. Tell the parish priest, the vocations team and the Franciscan orders that you are discerning whether to become a diocesan priest or Franciscan friar.

I strongly suggest that you get a spiritual director. Since you are interested in the Franciscans, the spiritual director can be a Franciscan (not just a friar: sisters can make good spiritual directors as well), if you can find one who is interested in being your spiritual director. When you have your appointment with your parish priest, ask him whether he knows of any good spiritual directors. Go on retreat: some religious communities have retreats for discerners. Even if it is not the community that you want to enter, the priests or sisters there should know of good spiritual directors in your area. (I was referred to my spiritual director by a sister who was helping to run a retreat I was on.)

Hope this helps!

I couldn’t have stated it any better! [And yes I was going to suggest all three things listed above!]…
blessings of peace and all good! …and let us know how your journey unfolds… we shall be praying for you!