Priests have a critical mission: to bring people to Jesus and Jesus to people. They are spiritual fathers to thousands of Catholics. They preach the gospel and offer the sacrifice of the of the Mass. The priests are living witnesses of Christ in the world— men of strong character who stand out in our secular culture.

In Persona Christi

Priests act in persona Christi capitas, which means "in the person of Christ, head of the Church." That's why the priest speaks in the first person at Mass: "This is my body, given up for you."

A priest is a spiritual hero, a man who sacrifices himself for the people of God. Is Jesus calling you to be a priest?

The priesthood is an incredibly rewarding life, and God calls men of all kinds, with all sorts of different abilities. These qualities may be clues to a future priestly vocation:

• You deeply love Jesus and His Church

• Other people have mentioned that you would be a good priest.

• You sometimes imagine yourself as a priest.

• You desire to live a life of virtue and prayer.

• You want to help others grow closer to Christ.

When a man reaches a certain point in his discernment, if he wants to discover if priesthood is his true vocation, he needs to go to seminary. It must be stressed that entering seminary is a stage of discernment, not a final decision to become a priest.

Applying to seminary has three main phases:

1. Contact the Vocation Director

   Discernment always happens with the help of the Church. The diocese needs to get to know you before offering you an application to seminary.

2. The application process

   Applying to become a seminarian is somewhat like applying to college, but with additional screening components such as a background checks and psychological screening.

3. Interview with the bishop

   The bishop will talk with you about your vocation before accepting you as a seminarian.

   Many men find the application process to be a healthy exercise in self-discovery.

Men who are accepted as seminarians go through a process known as "formation." This entails a combination of prayer, academic study, spiritual direction, and practical experience. Formation shapes a man to faithfully serve like Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Today's seminaries are places of great joy and brotherhood.

There are four "pillars" of seminary formation:

Human: forming Catholic gentlemen

Spiritual: falling deeply in love with Jesus

Intellectual: understanding the truths of the Faith

Pastoral: serving God's people with charity

The goal of seminary is to raise up men to be virtuous leaders, humble servants, and devout men of prayer who are eager to give their lives fully to Christ and His church.