Application Process for Priesthood Candidates

The first part of the discernment process centers on your initial desire to look at the priesthood or religious life. This phase involves gathering information about the lifestyle and work of a diocesan priest or the lifestyle and ministry of a religious community member.

Also during the discernment process, you will look into yourself — your desires, your gifts and your talents. You take time to investigate from where your interest comes, and then determine how best to accomplish your calling.

Generally, a spiritual director will help guide you through the process of discernment. A spiritual director is someone who can help you explore how God is at work in your life and how you can best respond. Also, discussions with a vocation director or your pastor can be very helpful. Talk with your local pastor if you have not already done so.

The initial discernment process also helps you to decide whether diocesan priesthood or religious life is the direction to which you are called.

If you sense religious life is your calling, you can contact a vocation director from a religious community for further direction. You may want to explore several different religious orders and communities to get a sense of what is right for you.

If you decide to explore a vocation as a diocesan priest, you will work with the Diocese of St. Cloud's vocation director.

The following is a brief overview of the process used to explore diocesan priesthood in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. (Remember, each diocese has its own process.):

• The initial meeting is basically a "get-to-know" one another meeting. If the Vocation Director has not worked with you, he will ask you questions about what brings you to explore a priestly vocation, what you are looking for, and so forth.
  
• As the vocation director works with you and gets the general background, he will introduce you to the formal application process.
  
• The application process includes: completing an application form, gathering documents, signing release forms and arranging for a psychological review in conjunction with a personal in-depth interview with the Vocation Director.
  
• Once the required documents are obtained, the diocesan vocation director reviews the material and makes his recommendation to the bishop.
  
• The bishop will decide whether to accept you as a seminarian for the Diocese of Saint Cloud.

  For more information call the Vocation Office at (320) 251-5001