Priesthood Discernment

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Cham65

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Hello

I am 35 year old male. I have been thinking of the priesthood for many years and wonder how to tell my family. I care for family member and dont want to abandon them if i enter seminary.

What would you advise?

God bless
 
I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure you can’t enter seminary if you have dependents. Have you talked with the vocations director of your diocese?
 
I forgot to mention I dont have any children. I am a celibate. I have never had a girlfriend.

Please pray for me
 
Which type of priesthood are you being drawn toward ? Diocesan, Religious Order or in a Monastery as a monk ?

Whatever you chose, contact the vocation director of that area and go through the discernment process. This is the best way to know what God’s will is for you on this issue.

And as my priest friend(RIP) who was a vocation director told me when I felt called to become a deacon, “God’s call is an invitation, not a mandated order.”

In other words, you can say no, it’s not for me, without offending God.
 
Thanks Jim

Its the diocesan priesthood, I have tried to ignore it for years and the feeling does not go away. I am just worried.
 
Then contact the Diocesan Vocations Director and go through the process

Most have great discernment programs and it’s the only way you’ll know whether you made the right decision or not.

God Bless
 
I’m praying for you, amigo! I hope you are able to enter seminary and your family member you care for finds suitable replacement for you when you are gone. Keep praying the rosary everyday and our lady will keep you close to Our LORD Jesus Christ.

Worst case scenario, if you are unable to enter seminary you can always start or join a lay apostolate and serve our King and queen that way.

God love you!
 
Welcome to the forums. Good luck in your discernment.
 
Thanks for all the kind messages

Lets all say one our father and 3 hail marys and a glory be for vocations to the priesthood.

god bless
 
Cham65 said:
Its the diocesan priesthood, I have tried to ignore it for years and the feeling does not go away. I am just worried.
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Ignoring it doesn’t work any more than running from it - believe me, I tried - God finds you, he’s annoyingly persistent like that.

That aside, worry and indeed fear is a a common and natural part of any vocational calling. At some point though you simply have to take that leap of faith off of the cliff and allow yourself be to led by the Lord wherever it is he wants you to go. family members usually come around to accepting the idea that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life - in may cases they actually already suspected just from the type of person you are!
 
I have been trying to study privately in preparation for seminary if i ever pluck the courage to answer my calling.

I have also served mass after work in the city i commute to work to and recite the liturgy of the hours. I really find this to be really rewarding and know i need to listen to our lord

God bless
 
Cham65 said:
Thanks Jim

Its the diocesan priesthood, I have tried to ignore it for years and the feeling does not go away. I am just worried.
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No need to be worried. It sometimes takes many years for some guys to heed the call. I know of a number of guys who entered the seminary who were older than 35. Contact your diocese’s director of vocations and explain your situation. He should be happy to work with you and help figure out where you need to be.
 
Cham65 said:
I have been trying to study privately in preparation for seminary if i ever pluck the courage to answer my calling.
Click to expand...
At some point you just have to jump off of the cliff (figuratively speaking) - otherwise you’ll just end up as another member of the order for perpetual discernment!

Study isn’t too important at this stage of your journey - definitely keep going to mass and keep up the liturgy of the hours (you’d be surprised how many priests struggle with it after they leave the routine and structure of the seminary behind). What I would recommend is something a priest told me he did while discerning - observe the priests you’re around and think about what it is that you like/respect about the way in which they carry out their ministry as well as what puts you off; so good characteristics and bad.
 
You are so right this feeling will never go away and I need respond to what our lord is asking me to do. I did a vocations quiz and scored high in this test. Do you know of any good pdf or links that you found helpful ?

Thanks for all your kind words

God bless
 
I’m not sure what sort of PDF’s or links you’re after. There’s a wealth of discernment material available online but tbh that’s no substitute for getting in touch with your diocese’s vocation director. Other than that, if you’ve got a particular question feel free to PM me and I’ll do my best to try and answer it.
 
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