So you think you might have that call? The next step is to take care of it, in other words, to nurture it. Just like one plants a seed and waters it regularly to allow it to sprout, take root and grow, one must do the same with the call. Prayer and listening to God is important in determining what God wants in your life. Spending some time before the Blessed Sacrament is a great way to listen to God. Find some quiet time away from distractions whether in your room, in your backyard or in the chapel, ask God to help you with determining His will for you. Do this regularly while receiving confession and the eucharist often.

Get involved in parish ministry. Some ministries could include Lector, Usher, Music, Youth Ministry, Legion of Mary, Parish leadership, Altar Server, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Religious Education among other things. Vocation Directors like it when a candidate comes with parish and ministerial experience. This show some maturity in the area of service to others. See your parish priest and discuss what the Lord is revealing to you in your heart. The priest can help you since he himself has gone through the same experience. If the priest determines that God is calling to a life of service, he will assist you in making contact with a Vocation Director.

The Vocation Director assists the bishop of a diocese in determining if candidates are qualified to enter formation in a seminary. Qualification is based on a series of interviews and the results of psychological testing.

THE PROCESS

Once you are accepted into the seminary, placement into an academic level is determined by whether you have a High School Diploma and/or a College Degree. In addition, a proficiency in another language other than english is desired otherwise candidates will be expected to learn another language. Generally, candidates with only a high school diploma will undergo up to 9 years of training. These candidates will study philosophy and obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy upon completion of their studies in the minor seminary. Candidates with a College Degree can expect to undergo anywhere from 6 to 8 years of training. In the minor seminary, these candidates are called Pre-Theologians and can expect to study one to two years at the minor seminary. Upon completion of the program, the Pre-Theologians earn a Pre-Theology Certificate. These candidates move on to the major seminary along with Philosophy graduates and enter the theology program at the major seminary.

THE SEMINARIES

There are two seminaries in the province of Florida: 

St. John Vianney College Seminary is the minor seminary and is located in Miami, Florida.

St. Vincent de Paul Seminary is the major seminary and is located in Boynton Beach, Florida.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

If you are interested in considering candidacy for the priesthood, first talk to your priest and he will assist you in discerning your call. You can email our Lifeteen Priest at diosesamorlifeteen@hotmail.com.

You will need copies of your baptismal, communion and confirmation certificate dated within the last six months, a letter of recommendation from your Pastor, the application from the archdiocese and a recent picture of you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

You can obtain more information by clicking to the Archdiocese of Miami's Vocations Office. The current Vocation Director is Fr. Pedro Corces. He can be reached via email by writing to vocations@miamiarch.org.

What about Religious Life as a Nun?

Since antiquity, religious communities have always existed. However, with the increase of materialism and hedonism growing in today’s society, Religious Communities have taken a large hit in their numbers. This is no different for the priesthood.  There are some religious communities however who seem to overcome these “isms” and on the contrary grow. One such community is Las Siervas De los Corazones Traspasados de Jesus y Maria or SCTJM for short. Their charism is promoting devotion to the Two Pierced Hearts of Jesús and Mary. They have other apostolates as well including promoting the Magisterium of the Church and fighting for the unborn.

Women interested in discerning a vocation can contact any religious community and ask to speak to their Vocation Director. Often, the initial inquiry results in an invitation for a visit to get to know the community and the sisters. The goal is to be expose to the Sisters way of life and their charism. One will see how the Sisters pray in community, work in different apostolates, relate to each other, pray together, share the Eucharist, and eat meals together. If one finds this style of community living, then the next step is to speak to the Director of Vocations within the community for the next step. Religious nuns are expected to live initially as postulants learning the charism of the community and the way of life before being recommended for the noviate.

In the novitiate, Sisters take temporary vows lasting about three years. These vows include poverty, chastity, and obedience. In the novitiates, Sisters can advance more in studies and take additional responsibilities in certain apostolates.

Once a nun has surpassed the rigors of her formation and has matured in her calling to religious life, she is called forward for the profession of solemn vows which is forever. The vows marks the religious’s new life as a professed sister of her community. If the community is missionary in character, the religious could be asked to pack up and work in other parts of the world where the religious community is established.

For more on the Consecrated Life as a Religious Sister. Go here.