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Through Baptism every Christian has a vocation, that is, a call from God to serve the Church. The Holy Spirit invites all of us to share our gifts, talents and lives in some unique way. It may be as a single person giving witness to Christ by living a life directed by Gospel values. It may be as a married person dedicating one?s life and love to another person and sharing faith within a family. Or it may be as a vowed priest, sister or brother.

A call to diocesan priesthood or to the religious life may occur over a long or a short period of time. It may be a sense that Christ is calling you to serve the people of God. Listen to the voice within: Come and follow me.

Do you have a call to the priesthood?

This site is intended to help you find out about your call from God. Everyone has a call and a purpose. is your to join the priesthood? This is the place to find out!

God works in many ways to call people to His service. Sometimes that call comes when one is still in grade school or high school. Sometimes it is during college. Sometimes the call comes to those who already have a career. There is no one way that God calls us. Each call is unique, each call is specific to who and where we are in our lives. The call to priesthood or religious life is not some mysterious thunderbolt or a heavenly vision. It is the movement of God in our hearts and in our lives.

You will find a yearning in your heart to be significant beyond corporate or worldly success. You will want to make a lasting impact on the lives of those around you. Previous dreams will grow stale. You will notice a desire to be closer to God and to serve Him with your whole heart.

You will also find that others will see priestly talents in you and ask you if you have considered priesthood. Listen carefully to such suggestions. God sends personal prophets to point out our call.

What to look for:

• A love for the Eucharist
• Recurring thoughts of becoming a priest
• A desire to grow closer to God
• A desire to serve God and His people
• A willingness to offer yourself for others
• An openness to people of every kind
• A longing to do more
• A suspicion that you are on the brink of a major life decision

If so, God very well could be inviting you to explore the priesthood, diaconate, or religious life.

For more information about Priestly Vocations, please contact:

Rev. Allen P. Zeth
Prince Gallitzin Chapel House
P.O. Box 99
Loretto, PA 15940-0099
Phone: (814) 472-5441
E-mail: azeth@dioceseaj.org