This website wants to help you and support you in discerning your vocation, and we will focus especially on the consecrated, religious and priestly vocations. 

What is a priest? 

A priest is a man who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which confers on him certain powers of Christ, principally the power to consecrate bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, and the power to forgive sin in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. When he does these things he acts in the Person of Christ. 

What is a diocesan priest?

A diocesan priest is one who is called to serve souls in a particular diocese. The Bishop has been placed by Christ as the head of that diocese, and the diocesan priest serves in obedience to and collaboration with him, serving mostly in parishes. On a practical level you can say that the Church “runs” on diocesan priests serving in their parishes. They administer the sacraments, they are responsible for the instruction of their people, they are close to them in their lives and trials, they counsel, forgive and serve constantly, heroically, patiently. 

What is religious life? 

The people who live religious life are called “Religious”. Religious seek to follow Christ more closely by publicly professing the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in a recognized religious order, giving public witness of their consecration by wearing a religious habit, and they live in community.

There are religious orders or communities of men and of women. Women religious are nuns and male religious can be either priests or brothers. Religious communities often refer to themselves as “religious families”. Each has its own Founder and mission, and its own “family spirit” or spirituality. That is why if you are considering religious life it is necessary to get to know particular communities. 

 The Way

In a lonely field I walked one morning in the rising sun
Everything was still and silent; a prayer was in my heart. I wondered
“In other lands beyond these hills, beyond my little world
How can I bring your message, and bear your light?”
Then the winds came, and the pouring rain, and I was swept away,
And your quiet voice spoke in my heart, “Just follow… I’ll show you the way.”

A path now lay before my feet and stretched beyond my sight,
And I didn’t know the days, the years, or what would lie ahead.
A running stream beneath a towering mountain, flowers, thorns, an endless journey.

Every step I took I had you there at my side.
Then the day came, when he called your name, and led you to his side
And I heard a voice speak in my heart.

Don’t stand there looking at the sky, don’t let these moments pass you by,
A tired hungry world is waiting for you.
The path is long but have no fear, rise up stand tall and dry your tears,
I’ll be right here at your side. Always.

Though the road was long we journeyed on, we followed in your footsteps,
You taught us how to find our way, and how to hear your voice.

But the day was growing older and the Sun began to hide,
And we were tired and we feared the coming night…
Then the storm came, we were all alone. You seemed so far away,
And we didn’t know where to turn…

And Thomas said, “How can we know the way?”
We don’t know where you’re going. Won’t you stay?
Can’t you see? It’s too much for me…
“Don’t be afraid. You already know the way.”

Don’t stand there looking at the sky, don’t let these moments pass you by,
A tired hungry world is waiting for you.
The path is long but have no fear, rise up stand tall and dry your tears,
I’ll be right here at your side.

I’ll be right here at your side. You know the way.

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