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Discerning our vocation begins with committing to follow Jesus Christ. Once we decide to follow Jesus, it is then that he reveals the next step of our journey. Regardless of where we will end up, we are called to be holy. In pursuing holiness of life, we can be sure that we are always taking the proper steps in preparing for our Lord’s call in our life. In his timing, he will reveal our next step.

For some, that “next step” is to seriously discern the priesthood through application and acceptance to seminary formation. This is a wonderful time of devoted prayer, study, discernment, and formation to help the man discern and prepare to be the disciple that God has called him to be. Regardless of whether or not a man gets ordained, his time in seminary is never wasted! The work that God does in his heart and in his life will continue to bear much fruit!

Bishop Senior recently said, “We are all called to “follow Him” and create that rich soil in which vocations can grow.” We can only answer that big vocation question (Am I called to be a priest, religious sister, husband, wife, etc.?) if we first live in friendship and communion with Jesus Christ day to day. As St. John Vianney so beautifully put it, “the priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus Christ.” The priesthood is not a role, duty, or job, but a calling to live out the selfless and compassionate heart of Jesus Christ. Could he be calling you?