Vocation to priesthood

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I went on the official diociese of Westminster website, on the “is God calling me to be a preist?” Page because I wanted to see if I had a vocation. It certainly felt like the things it was saying had happened to me and it looked pretty clear that i matched up with a lot of the things. One problem though, I don’t know if I even want to be one and I also want to get married and have kids. Does the fact I want to get married mean I don’t have the vocation?
 
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I agree. Keep praying and talk to the vocation office. Have you talked to your own priest or a priest you know about this?
 
Dude, you’re pretty young. Keep praying, but this isint something you need to know now. Talk to a priest, pray, and wait
 
It’s easy to think about vocations in your own little bubble. But, just like if you want to get married, there are other people involved, it just doesn’t happen.

I would recommend you reach out to the vocations office, and see their vocations officer. If they have an event for young men who are thinking of the priesthood, you should attend.

Try to attend open days of your seminary, and reach other to someone studying there or a young priest recently ordained.

It’s important not to live in a vacuum, when trying to discern your vocation.

Praying for you. 🌷
 
Let’s say I KNEW I had a vocation (I don’t know for sure but for the purpose of this) would I still be obligated to follow the vocation
 
No, it doesn’t. The two are so similar they feel the same. The calling to be the Father of a congregation and the father in a family. I have read that in vocation booklets when looking into my own vocation (I’m a girl - it’s not that different for us if we are called to single and consecrated life).

I’m not saying this means you are called to be a priest, or not…just that it doesn’t rule it out. Keep praying like the others have said. Also if you haven’t already see a vocations director and or priest. If you don’t feel ready for that step then get some literature to read on vocations and keep praying until you do. God will lead you, you don’t have to make any quick decisions. I found the Catholic truth society’s booklet on ‘How to discover your vocation’ by Fr Stephen Wang very helpful in discerning a vocation, or there are other booklets. Your local parish may have a copy on their CTS stand or it’s inexpensive to order from their website and gives you advice on prayer and orders etc and all the options available. The actual bookshop is in Westminster if you are near there. I’ll pray for you.

 
Actually, it’s not just between “you and God.” A vocation to priesthood is not validated until it is accepted by the church–either the diocesan bishop or the religious superior (or both). That is why it is important to discern with guidance from those in authority, and not imply by oneself.
 
Discernment of a vocation is often an arduous, grueling, gut-wrenching endeavor. Probably no blood, but much sweat and tears. It may take years of deep prayer and the denial of self. It is not a job application - it is discerning the very purpose of your life.

Like the rich young man who approached Jesus, it involves leaving everything to follow Christ. Included in the vow of poverty (for those orders which require it) includes the giving up of family and friends.
 
And they can help with “communion services”, which covers most of the Mass, except for the consecration.
 
You have two wonderful choices. Which one will fulfill you and make you happy knowing you are following God’s plan? Both involve hardship and require you to make sacrifices. The only way to discern what God’s plan is through prayer. The most important part of pray is to listen. God will speak to you. Ask others to pray for you. I will pray that you have the courage to accept God’s plan.
 
Most dioceses don’t really accept permanent deacon candidates that are younger than 35. If they’re unmarried, they try to send them to the priesthood, and if they’re hitched, they want to allow their kids to grow up before Dad takes on a whole new vocation.
 
I know this, however he stated he was debating whether he wanted to get married. If he did get married, he could also become a deacon at a later time.

This would be something he would have to discern with his partner prior to marriage.
 
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