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I’m happy to count among my friends Franciscans, Jesuits, Oblates, Paulists, Marists, and even the rare Camaldolese monk. I also know and love a small army of diocesan priests. I’ve often wondered why each one entered the ministry and, in particular, wound up in the “lifestyle” he currently enjoys. Because I’m curious and also pretty bold, I always ask.
Their candid replies have helped me appreciate the process of discernment, the power of the Spirit, and the beauty of personal testimony. Diocesan priests are characterized primarily by their priestly call to serve a specific community of faith. Their avenue of service is literally a geographic region—a diocese—and within that patch of land they pledge to pastor, preach, teach, and lead. Most diocesan priests talk about feeling called to serve in parishes, to lead the assembly at Mass, to share in the whole cycle of people’s lives from birth to death. They hope to minister in seasons of sorrow and joy to the love of God and the hope we bear in Jesus.
Priests who belong to a religious order may also feel the profound call to lead worship, preach, and teach. But they also speak of being powerfully drawn to a special charism or spiritual gift a particular religious community embodies. For example, Franciscans are noted for their commitment to poverty; Jesuits for their academic excellence; Paulists for their pioneering media-savvy; and monks to a life defined by prayer and silence.
Although diocesan priests may or may not share a residence with other priests, religious order priests are usually dedicated to a communal lifestyle by design. If you spiritually yearn for communal life or to serve in parish ministry, those promptings might be trusted as the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
But nearly every priest I know begins the story of his call with the story of another vocation: the priest he knew whose generous ministry first compelled him to draw more closely to a life of service. So priests of every variety and charism continue to give birth to the next generation of leaders.
Scripture
Psalm 110:4; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Timothy 4:6-16; 2 Timothy 1:6-14; 4:1-5
Website
Look no further! You have arrived! See the many resources on the Vocation Network website for descriptions of religious communities of men and to take advantage of the Vocation Match.
Books
Paths of Love: The Discernment of Vocation According to Aquinas, Ignatius, and Pope John Paul II by Joseph Bolin (CreateSpace)
Diversity of Vocations by Marie Dennis (Orbis Books)
Ask Alice a question.
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More questions...and responses
What’s so important about the Council of Trent?
What are the “Precepts of the Church”?
Do Catholics take the biblical creation story literally?
Why can’t a woman be ordained?
Is Purgatory still “on the books”?
Why is it important to participate regularly in the Mass?
Why can people go to Mass on Saturday evening instead of Sunday?
Did King David compose the psalms?
Who were Jesus' “brothers and sisters”?
Is there really a Catholic Index of Forbidden Books?
What are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?
What’s the difference between celibacy and chastity?
Is it “Catholic” to be vegetarian? Do Catholics care about animal suffering?
What does the Bible say about Judgment Day?
Why do Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate?
What’s that picture of Jesus with rays flowing from him?
Who chose the "Seven Deadly Sins"?
"What should I believe about hell?"
Is the Mass a “holy sacrifice” or a “celebration”—or both?
Pulpit, lectern, ambo: What’s the difference?
What is “discernment of spirits”?
Is environmentalism “Catholic” or a political football?
Why do Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception?
Do Catholics believe in ghosts?
What is the Liturgy of the Hours?
How does God “answer” prayers?
What does “salvation history” mean?
Why do Catholics believe in the Assumption of Mary?
Why do priests wear vestments?
What is Catholic decision-making?
How does the Catholic Church view other religions?
What's the difference between chapels, churches, cathedrals, and basilicas?
Where do the Stations of the Cross come from?
What's the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
When and where is it appropriate to bow inside Catholic churches?
Can I come back to the church?
Why does the priest talk after the readings at Mass?
What's the difference between catechesis and evangelization?
Didn't Saint Paul write all the letters attributed to him?
Are we supposed to believe in angels and demons in the 21st century?
Who are the saints and why do we pray to them?
Who are the "Doctors of the Church"?
How were the books of the Bible chosen?
What's the difference between saying "set" prayers and prayers in my own words?
What do Catholics have to believe?
Who were the prophets? Does God still call people to prophecy?
Why do Catholics bless themselves, genuflect, and so on?
What do we mean by the church’s “magisterium”?
Is there salvation outside the Catholic Church?
What do people in religious life do for fun?
Why is celibacy important to religious life?
Vocation: For all of life, or only "religious life"?
Is my vocation from God or just my imagination?
What does the Bible say about discipleship?
What do Catholics believe about scripture and tradition?
"Sin" is such a negative word. Can't we just talk about “failure”?
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