General FAQs

For those considering a vocation

What if I feel unworthy?
Then you are in good company. Simon Peter told Jesus, "Depart from me, for I am sinful man." Yet Jesus called him. This is a common worry among people considering the priestly or religious life.

You might ask: Am I worthy? So often, your feeling is: No. Who am I to aspire to such a life and position? You are not alone. In ordinary parish ministry, people wonder: Who am I to be a Eucharistic Minister and give out communion? Who am I to lector at Mass? To teach RCIA? I am a sinner.

To this feeling, the only answer is: Welcome, sinner!

Prior to spreading the Gospel, Peter denied Christ. Paul persecuted the Church. Thomas doubted Him. James and John misunderstood Him. Yet Jesus called them, as he calls all to be a disciple and follow him.

No one is actually "worthy," and no one starts out as a saint. You don't earn God's call. Instead, He calls you. "Remember, it was not you who chose me, rather it was I who chose you." (Jn. 15:16)

Pope Benedict XVI writes: "If Jesus calls you, do not be afraid to respond to him with generosity, especially when he asks you to follow him in the consecrated life or in the priesthood. Do not be afraid; trust in Him and you will not be disappointed."

Will I have to give up friends and family in order to join?
No, in fact friends and family are a very important support for priests, sisters, and brothers.

What if I'm afraid of making such a permanent commitment?
Seminary formation will give you the time and space to discern whether priesthood or religious life is your call before you make any kind of commitment. What is most important is to stay in conversation with God. No matter what twists and turns your discernment takes, you will be faithful in the end to whatever commitment you are called to live out.

Do I have to agree with all Church teachings to be a priest or a member of a religious order?
Church teachings vary in gravity and centrality to the faith. It is one thing to differ with the Church in matters of ordinary discipline-priestly celibacy, for example-and quite another to disagree about the morality concerning abortion, or the dogma concerning the divine nature of Jesus. To be a priest, brother, or sister is to be a public person in the Church, so if you have serious differences with matters essential to the faith, then vowed or ordained life might be a conflict for you.

Having said that, consider this: Some of the Church's greatest saints dissented on certain matters. Many founders of religious communities met with this very challenge as they sought to bring something new for God's people. Do you think that St. Martin de Porres, the mixed-race Peruvian slave who doctored and fed the poor of Lima, was comfortable with the institutional Church's position on slavery at that time?

It might be helpful to consult with a few people-vocation directors, priests, religious, or theology teachers-to ascertain what the Church actually teaches today. Many times our conflicts can be addressed and overcome with greater study, reflection, and dialogue, or simply by receiving accurate information. Ideally, through the formation at the seminary, through years of education and prayer, one will come to a deeper understanding of the Church's true teaching and how that must be lived out in one's life.

What does a call from God sound like?
God calls people in many different ways. You don't have to wait for a lightning bolt or a supernatural vision. Most often the call from God is found deep within your own heart. It might manifest itself in different ways such as a desire to help others or to know God more deeply. If you enjoy being with people, especially during some of the bigger moments in their lives-their weddings, the birth of their children, the death of a loved one-the priesthood could be for you. No two callings are the same, just like no two priests are the same. If you think you are being called, follow your heart. If you do not, you will be left wondering for the rest of your life.

What's the difference between a diocesan priest and a religious priest?
A diocesan priest ordinarily serves the Church within a well-defined geographical area (a diocese). He serves the people within that particular diocese as a parish priest, but may also be involved in other forms of ministry: teaching, chaplainry in hospitals or prisons, campus ministry, etcetera. Most diocesan priests live and work in the same diocese for most of their life. Diocesan priests make two promises: obedience to the bishop and celibacy. This means that they promise to work with the Bishop and do what he asks them to do for the needs of the people of the diocese. The promise of celibacy is both a sign of the priest's interior dedication to Christ and a motive of pastoral charity for the sake of the kingdom and in lifelong service to God and humanity.

A religious priest, on the other hand, is a member of a community, which goes beyond the geographical limits of any diocese. A religious priest seeks to live a vowed life within a community of men for mutual support and the accomplishment of some work. An emphasis in the community is on shared ideals, prayer, and commitment to Christ. Religious priests work in a wide variety of ministries. Religious communities were founded at different times in history and often focus on a special ministry (e.g. the Jesuits are involved in education and missionary work, the Salesians work with the young. See our Religious Link for more specific information on specific Religious Communities in our diocese). As members of a worldwide order or group of men, following the ideals of their founder (e.g. the Benedictines follow the Rule of Saint Benedict), they make vows to live their lives in the same manner. The vows that religious priests make are poverty, celibacy (chastity), and obedience. The vow of poverty means that the priest will not own anything of his own. A religious, for instance, would not personally own a car, but more than likely would have the use of one provided by his community, which is shared by all of his brothers.

What are the differences between brothers, priests and monks?
A brother commits himself to Christ by vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, lives in religious community, and works in nearly any job: teacher, cook, lawyer, and so on. Brothers are not sacramental ministers; they are not ordained and so do not preside at mass, reconciliation, or the anointing of the sick. The role and ministry of a brother is as diverse as being a nurse to a teacher to working in the missions to being a CEO of a hospital.

Monks on the other hand can be either priests or brothers. A monk is the term that is used in abbeys as the members of the abbey refer to one another. A monk is a member of a certain monastery or community. Most often the focus of a monk is on the interior life through personal and communal prayer. They may be involved in retreats, spiritual direction, educational endeavors, or simple work.

How long does it take to become a diocesan priest?
Generally it takes five to seven years after college or become a diocesan priest, the same as for many professions. The actual amount depends on how much and the type of education you have received prior to entering the seminary. Your Vocation Director can be much more specific.

How old must one be to enter the seminary?
There is no certain age to start preparing for the priesthood. Some people enter the seminary after high school; others transfer into the seminary from college. Some come after completing college, or after working in a profession for a number of years. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles does not have a "cut off" age; however, when a man reaches an age between 45 and 50, it starts to become problematic to accept him into the seminary. We judge each man on a case-by-case basis.

What is the seminary like?
A seminary is a place to prepare and train men for the priesthood while they continue to discern God's call and will in their lives. There are two types of seminaries - College Seminaries and Major Seminaries (Theologates). Both are academic institutions and, like any other place of higher learning, one takes classes and works towards receiving fully accredited degrees. A college seminary focuses on undergraduate studies and so is very much like any other college in terms of curriculum. Usually seminarians are asked to seek an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. A Major seminary is a Graduate school and so offers Masters degrees in Theology. In addition to classes, there would be times of daily prayer (such as Mass and Liturgy of the Hours). Like any other college / theologate, seminarians have free time which they may use to study, pray, exercise, play sports, read, watch TV, go to the movies, or simply hang out with their friends. There are also opportunities for pastoral and community service. Another part of seminary formation is the guidance and direction one receives from the seminary faculty. This may be internal (e.g. Spiritual Direction) or external (recognizing one's gifts or areas of growth) In formation, a man meets with others to help understand his calling and to see if priesthood is for him. For more information concerning our college and theologate programs, please go to the links www.JuanDiegoHouse.com or www.StJohnSem.edu.

What do sisters do?
The ministry choices for a woman religious arise from the founding purpose of her community, a prayerful discernment of her gifts, and an assessment within her community of the signs of the times. A woman religious and her community look together at the needs of the Church and society in order to determine where to direct their energies.

The way a particular sister spends her day depends on the kind of community to which she belongs. Contemplative nuns often work to sustain their community in food and shelter doing tasks such as gardening, baking, computer data entry or handiwork.

Active (apostolic) communities are involved in a myriad of ministries - usually with an emphasis on service such as education, social work, or parish pastoral work.

Why do some priests and religious wear habits or clerical garb?
Those who maintain habits or clerical garb do so for various reasons. One is that religious dress is a sign-an instantly recognized symbol of faith in God and commitment to Christianity. Another frequent rationale is that religious garb is simple dress and therefore a way to live out the vow of poverty. Other communities say the habit is an important sign of penitence. Some communities have opted to wear street clothes, saying the most valid sign of Christian faith is lifestyle rather than garb.

How does one join a religious community?
To become a religious sister, a religious brother, or a religious order priest, there are several stages. While these vary from community to community in name, length of time, and format, the following outline gives a general view of formation programs.

What if someone goes to the seminary and then decides he doesn't want to become a priest?
Seminarians are not people who have everything figured out. In fact what they are doing is seeking God's will, by putting themselves in a setting where they can truly discern God's will. Spiritual direction and seminary formation are important components of this. If an individual decides priesthood is not for him, he is certainly most free to leave. The job of seminary is not to try to convince them that they should become priests, but rather to help them to truly discover God's will and, should that be the priesthood, to make them the best possible priests.

If someone has lived an immoral life for a long time, can they still become a priest?
God is very loving and forgiving. Redemption can take place anytime throughout our lives. Sometimes after people have turned their lives around with the help of God, and then dedicate themselves to Christ, they may be aware of a still deeper call from God. Generally speaking, it is less important what someone has done in the past than what one is willing to embrace in the present and future. Some immorality takes the form of public crimes, which might then compromise one's ability to be the religious leader of a parish community. Honesty is always the best policy. Speak to your Vocation Director about any concerns or reservations you may have in this matter. When we enter formation and work towards ordination we assume the roles of living a celibate lifestyle and living a moral life with our God.

Why are priests called 'Father'?
The term 'Father" was used in the early Church for those spokesmen who were defenders of Christianity as well as for beloved leaders, confessors, and well-respected spiritual guides. Today we use this term "Father" when addressing most priests simply as a sign of love and respect. Truly, even though every priest sacrifices a particular family, he gains a much larger family in the Church. People most often look up to their priests, ask for their help, guidance, and counsel. These and many others indeed are qualities of a father who cares for his family, the Church.

Why do priests and religious have to remain celibate?
Priests and religious sisters and brothers make the choice of celibacy for two principal reasons. It is so they can totally dedicate themselves to God and service of his people. Many people assume that this must be a very difficult, lonely, way of life. If God were not in it, it certainly would be. Prayer is so important to living this way of life. Celibacy opens the individual up to the needs and concerns of the family of God. They choose to live this way out of devotion to God and the people.

What kind of degrees do priests get?
Those who went to a college seminary receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. There are many options in terms of minors and electives. Individuals who come to seminary after already achieving an undergraduate degree receive a Pre-Theology certificate that puts special emphasis on philosophy. At a major seminary, seminarians usually have a number of options. Most common would be a Masters of Divinity. Additionally, many might also receive a Masters of Theology or a Masters of Arts. Sometimes these degrees have areas of specialization such as Scripture, Church History, Moral Theology or Systematic (Dogmatic) Theology. Sometimes after ordination, priests opt to continue their education to receive additional Masters degrees (maybe in another area such as Liturgy, Canon Law, or Education) or even Doctorate degrees.

Parental Concerns

What is my role as a parent?
Certain things children learn must be taught in the family, as they will not receive such lessons anywhere else. Today's young people are inspired by the idea that they can live up to something higher. They recognize the passing, illusionary world. A parent's job is to help their children to see that "something more." This includes teaching:

Read more in our Parents FAQs.

What about grandchildren?
Grandchildren are a blessing; there is no denying that. Entering the priesthood does mean that your son will not have his own children. That is a sacrifice parents make in supporting their son as a priest. Reflect, though, upon the powerful impact a dedicated priest has on the many people he meets. A priest may not have a wife and children, but he does have a family; his parish becomes his family, and to that family, he dedicates his life. When they are born, he brings them into life with Baptism. When sick, he visits them with Holy Anointing. When they fall into sin, he extends to them the compassion and forgiveness of Jesus Christ in reconciliation. He celebrates the Lord's Supper with them, giving them the bread of life. When they fall in love, he witnesses their vows of marriage. When they die, he mourns along side the family.

Is the priesthood a lonely life?
Some parents worry that the life of a priest can be a lonely one. Loneliness is not inherent in the priesthood any more than it is in marriage. There are lonely priests and lonely spouses. We are only as lonely as we want to be.