What can I do to find out if I have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?
Contact us to inquire about any of our discernment opportunities.
- Join a Discernment Group. A discernment group is a gathering of people who are thinking about God’s call to ministry in their lives. These people range in age from high school students, college students, and those in their adult years who are involved in their careers.Getting involved in a discernment group doesn’t mean that you are committed to going to the seminary or to the convent. Rather, it means that you are committed to growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ and in building up his kingdom through works of loving service.
Jesus said, “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” (Mk 8:35) Jesus calls you to no less than total commitment to him. Are you willing to let him lead you to your true calling?
A discernment group gives you the support to explore your call, whether it be to the priesthood, the religious life, or to another role in the life and mission of the Church.
We currently have a group for adult men (ages 31 +) young adult men (high school graduates through age 30), and high school young men.
Your participation is confidential. No one needs to know that you are involved in a discernment group unless you want them to know.
Contact the Vocation Director to find out if you are eligible to join one of our discernment groups.
- Get involved in ministry. There is no better way to find out if you are called to ministry than if you are actually participating in the ministry of your local parish or with an apostolic service program. Make a commitment to regular ministry and share your gifts in Christian service. Contact your pastor or parish office.
- Make an appointment with the Vocation Director. The Vocation Director can help you decide how to pursue your discernment. He also determines readiness to be involved in a discernment program, or to apply for seminary.
- Shadow a priest for a day. A number of our Louisville priests make themselves available for a discerner to see firsthand what the daily life of a priest is like.
- Visit a seminary. The seminaries used by the Archdiocese of Louisville all provide retreats and other opportunities for you to see what seminary life is like.
- Make a personal, directed retreat. There are numerous retreat centers throughout the archdiocese, as well as local seminaries, which offer individual directed retreats.
- Spiritual Direction. A spiritual director is a person who is a spiritual companion. A spiritual director assists the directee in understanding where God is in his life, and what God’s call is. The director helps the directee to grow in self-understanding, personal holiness, and knowledge of the faith. They usually meet once monthly.
- House of Discernment. The Vocation Office offers the opportunity for men discerning priesthood to live in a parish rectory for up to one year. During this time you may still go to school or work full time, but you are also invited to participate more intensively in parish ministry or in apostolic service.
Lectio Divina
Experience Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina web link
Liturgy of the Hours web link
Seminarian Matthew Hardesty’s Record Newspaper Columns
Matthew Hardesty’s Record Column, “Young Seminarian Offers a Reflection on His First Year of Studies”
Matthew Hardesty’s Record Column, “Seminarian describes his new life of study, prayer and discernment”