Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, God loves you personally and intimately through Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Each of us has a way in which we can best grow and serve the Lord in love.

In a Catholic context, there are primary vocations for how each of us are called to love. We receive our primary vocation to grow as priests, prophets and kings/queens of Jesus through our Baptism. Within this universal call to holiness most Catholics are called to the vocation of Marriage (and some as parents), and some are called to the single life. Some are called to the Permanent Diaconate. Still others are called to love through priesthood or religious life (for women and men).

Vocations are the fundamental ways we are asked to love and from this basic lifestyle we work different jobs/careers such as doctors, pastors, principals, etc.

First, ask God regularly what your vocation is and pray for guidance and insight. Secondly, ask Jesus first to be part of major decisions that you make in your life to make sure what you desire is what God desires. It is also helpful to ask those you trust and respect who live different vocations (married, single, religious, priests) how they enjoy their vocation and to ask them for guidance as to how they think God might be asking you to love.

The Vocations Office is here to help people discern their primary vocation throughout the Archdiocese and to specifically work with those interested in joining the Archdiocese of Seattle as a priest and reference others to religious life options in our area. The Vocations Office also provides ongoing formation and resources for our seminarians studying for the Archdiocese of Seattle. The primary person in charge of these activities is the Director of Vocations who works on behalf of the Archbishop.

Continue your life of prayer and stay close to Jesus through the Sacraments of the church. Contact your local pastor to discuss possibilities. Do research on the internet and by asking priests familiar to you about what they enjoy about the life. Attend local discernment nights or vocation camps. If serious, ask to meet with a spiritual director through your local pastor.

To become a priest of the Archdiocese of Seattle we are looking for qualities of a man who could serve as a pastor of one of our local parishes. These qualities would include faith, a desire to grow in prayer and lead others in prayer, leadership, compassion, a heart for service, ability to preach and teach the Sacred Scripture and the Catholic Tradition, and a healthy lifestyle towards exercise and positive relationships. Most men enter the seminary for formation for between 6-8 years.

The Director of Vocations is present to provide support and resources to help your discernment. Figuring out God’s will involves our own prayer life and our ability to be open to the Church’s view about a possible vocation. You are not committed to enter the seminary if you contact the Director of Vocations only to enter into discussion.

A qualified applicant has received all sacraments of initiation, has an active relationship with the Risen Christ and His Church, single, generous spirit to serve the church, willingness to live a fruitful celibacy, have good health, intellectual ability to complete seminary education, go through a psychological evaluation, age 43 or younger, has legal status, possesses ability to study and converse in English, has an annulment if previously married.

The Program for Priestly Formation involves growth in four areas: spirituality, human/ community, intellectual, and pastoral. The seminary program involves many opportunities to grow in prayer, healthy relationships, academic study, and pastoral experiences. Seminary is more than “just going to school” as one is being formed for a lifestyle of loving as a priest living the promises of obedience, celibacy, and a life of simplicity.

A great resources is the United States Catholic Conference web page www.foryourvocation.org and www.foryourmarriage.org . Also, there are other resources, books, etc. listed on this web page.

Seminary is an ongoing process of discernment for the individual candidate to choose the vocation and for the church to choose the individual candidate to holy orders. The process is intentionally lengthy to provide many opportunities to grow in discerning God’s will through evaluations and various experiences in the life of the church.