PRIESTHOOD COULD IT BE FOR YOU?
What Does a Priest Do? (Spiritual Fatherhood)
At its heart, being a priest is all about relationships. You aren’t just taking on a job; you are stepping into a parish community as a spiritual father to feed, guide, comfort, and protect them.
- Standing in for Jesus: When you celebrate Mass or forgive sins in Confession, you act in persona Christi (which means “in the person of Christ”). It is actually Jesus working and speaking through your hands and voice.
- A Spiritual Bridge: You act as a go-between. You bring the needs and prayers of your people to God, and you bring God’s mercy, peace, and blessings down to them.
Three Big Truths About the Priesthood
The priesthood connects you to a sacred history that goes back thousands of years.
1. The Unbroken Chain (Apostolic Succession)
You aren’t starting something new. You are joining a direct, physical chain of grace. The spiritual authority you receive is passed down directly from Jesus’ original Apostles, from bishop to bishop, through the laying on of hands.
2. A Special Way to Serve
All baptized Catholics are called to serve God in their daily lives (the “common priesthood”). But as an ordained priest (the “ministerial priesthood”), your entire life is set apart to lead, teach, and give people the Sacraments that keep their faith alive.
3. A Change at Your Core (The Indelible Mark)
Ordination doesn’t just change what you do; it permanently changes who you are. It leaves a spiritual mark on your soul that can never be erased. You will be a priest forever.
A Comforting Thought: Because this spiritual mark is permanent, the power of the Sacraments you perform doesn’t depend on how perfect you are. It depends on Jesus. Even on your hardest days when you feel weak, God’s grace still flows perfectly through your hands.
The Beautiful Moments of Ordination
If you say “yes” to this call, your journey leads to a beautiful ceremony with two ancient, powerful moments:
1.The Laying on of Hands:Passing on the Holy Spirit.
You will kneel before the bishop in complete silence. He will place his hands on your head, followed by all the other priests. This quiet gesture passes on the Holy Spirit and connects you to the Apostles.
2.The Anointing of Your Hands:Set Apart to Bless.
The bishop will coat your palms with sacred oil called Chrism. Because your hands will soon baptize babies, forgive sins, comfort the sick, and hold the Eucharist, they are blessed and set apart for holy work.
Promises and Sacrifices
To be fully available to your parish family, you make promises that free your heart to love everyone without reservation.
1. Sacred Trusts
- The Seal of Confession: People will share their deepest pain and regrets with you. You are bound by an absolute, unbreakable secret. You can never, under any circumstance or for any reason, repeat what you hear in Confession.
- The Male Priesthood: Following the pattern of Jesus, who chose only men as His Apostles, the Church ordains only baptized men to the priesthood.
2. Lifelong Promises
- Celibacy (Choosing Not to Marry): By choosing not to marry or start your own biological family, your heart is freed from everyday household worries. This allows you to belong completely to your parish family.
- Obedience: You promise to respect and obey your bishop, trusting that God will guide you through him to serve wherever you are needed most.
Two Paths: Diocesan vs. Religious Priests
- Diocesan Priests: Belong to a local area (a diocese) and serve as parish priests. They make promises of celibacy and obedience to their local bishop.
- Religious Priests: Belong to a specific community (like the Franciscans, Jesuits, or Dominicans) with a specific mission. They take vows of poverty (owning no personal property), chastity (celibacy), and obedience to their religious leader.
The Path of Seminary (Training)
If you feel this pull, you don’t need to have everything figured out today. No one walks into the seminary ready to be ordained on day one.
The Church offers a supportive, multi-year seminary program to help you grow in four simple areas:
1. Spiritual: Growing closer to Jesus every day through prayer.
2. Human: Helping you become a balanced, healthy, and easy-to-talk-to man.
3. Intellectual: Studying philosophy and theology so you can explain the faith clearly to others.
4. Pastoral: Getting hands-on practice leading a community, visiting the sick, and helping people.
Is God Calling You?
The priesthood is not about power or status. It is about living like Jesus, who came “not to be served, but to serve.”
Take a look inside your own heart. Are you:
- Prayerful and thoughtful?
- Approachable, kind, and a good listener?
- Adaptable and open to new ideas?
- A good communicator?
If these qualities sound like you, God might be calling you to a joyful life of sharing His Word, building community, and bringing peace to people’s lives. Do not be afraid. As the saying goes: He doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.
Take the Next Step
If you want to talk to someone or just ask a few quiet questions, please reach out.
Vocations Director for Dromore Diocese:
- Father Brian Fitzpatrick (Parish Priest, Parishes of Moyraverty and Seagoe)
- Tel: 028 3834 1901
- Email: pp.moyraverty.seagoe@gmail.com
You can also simply chat with your local parish priest, or any priest you already know and trust.
A Daily Prayer for Discernment
You can pray this short, honest prayer every morning or night to keep your heart open:
Lord Jesus,
You have a plan for my life. I trust that Your plan is for my joy and Your glory.
Give me the courage to listen to Your voice, even when it is a whisper.
Make my heart generous like Yours, ready to serve where You need me most.
Take away my fear, and fill me with Your peace.
If You are calling me to be a priest, give me the grace to take the next step.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for me.
Amen.
Three Practical "Micro-Steps" to Try This Week
If you want to move from just thinking to gently acting, try one of these small steps this week:
1. Go to Confession: Going to Confession once a month is the best way to clear out “spiritual static” so you can hear the Holy Spirit clearly.
2. Serve in a Small Way: Volunteer at Mass as a reader, or help out with a parish charity event. A priest’s heart starts by learning to serve in simple, quiet ways.
3. Mark a Date on the Calendar: Pick a day next month to send a short, friendly email to Father Brian Fitzpatrick or your local priest. Just ask to meet up for a coffee and a chat. You aren’t signing up for anything—you’re just having a conversation.
Go gently, and trust the nudge!