The title, “Moving into Discernment”, suggests that it is a process of taking steps forward. Discernment is a special form of prayer which ultimately helps people take those steps and come to make a final decision of whether or not to choose a particular vocation. Discernment toward a vocation to the priesthood always starts with and includes our relationship with God in prayer. However, it also includes the wisdom and guidance of the Church and those charged with the responsibility of forming priests.

To begin with, asking the deeper questions of life is a great segue to discernment. Once we realize that there is so much more beyond our “self” and start to ponder: How can I make a difference with my life?; What things do I hold as significant and have lasting value?;  How can I apply my gifts and talents for the good of all?; To whom or to what do I wish to entrust my life?; Where is God in all this? It is then that God’s self is revealed in a very powerful way through drawing us closer to Him and by calling us to fulfillment in and through a particular vocation.

Making good, sound decisions requires that we have enough information, time for reflection and advice from experienced people. Likewise, discernment includes acquiring information, taking time to soulfully understand it and do so under the direction of a trusted priest who can serve as a mentor or Spiritual Director. After that is done, we take the information which we have gathered and process it in order to determine the life path we are called to follow.

There are a number of priesthood discernment opportunities available in the Archdiocese. Listed below are descriptions of those opportunities and some dates that these events take place.

Priesthood Discernment Group

A discernment group provides an opportunity for men to gather and discuss issues concerning priestly life and ministry, to pray together for one another as vocations are discerned, and to provide support among those who are considering a Call to follow after the heart of Jesus in the priesthood. The discernment group is open to men who are 18-45 years old and who want to meet informally on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to discuss the possibility of priesthood in their future. There are currently three discernment groups in the Archdiocese of Dubuque: Loras College in Dubuque, St. Stephen the Witness Student Center in Cedar Falls, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Student Center in Ames.

Operation Andrew

Operation Andrew takes its name and significance from the scripture. In the Gospel of John 1:35-42, the first thing Andrew did was seek out his brother Simon....He brought him to Jesus... Thus, Operation Andrew is first hearing the invitation and then seeking out a brother to bring to the Lord.

The priests of the Archdiocese are aware of this event which encourages them to bring men from their own parishes to discover and discern the life and ministry of priesthood. It is an evening of prayer, faith sharing, reflection, dinner and questions. The Archbishop is present as are other priests who will take part in the presentation of the evening. These evenings begin at 5:15 pm with registration and conclude no later than 8:30 pm.

Please contact me if you are interested in these events.

Thinking of Priesthood Retreats

In collaboration with the other three dioceses in Iowa, there has been a consolidated effort in offering one day retreats entitled, Thinking of Priesthood? This is an opportunity for men considering priesthood to come together for one full day of prayer, presentations, sharing and reflections upon various aspects of a vocation to the priesthood.

Please contact me if you are interested in joining us for that day.

 

When a man feels that the Lord is calling him to a priesthood vocation, he enters into a more formal discernment process where he receives additional information which may affirm that Calling or reveal to him that priesthood is not God’s vocation for him.

The more formal process begins with me, the Director of Vocation Awareness. I meet with an individual for a series of meetings to gather substantial information to enable me to make an initial assessment of his person and his possible vocation. If I find the basic qualities within the candidate and have confidence in the nature of his Calling to the priesthood, I present him to the Director of Seminarians for process of application and affiliation to the Archdiocese.

The next steps of formal discernment depend on the candidate’s level of education and whether or not he has fulfilled the academic requirements for entry into major theology (30 hours of Philosophy and 12 hours of Religious Studies). If he does not have those prerequisites, he will be invited to join the St. Pius X College Seminary Program at Loras College and will live at Vianney House, the house of formation.

These programs appeal not only to the education, but also the formation of the candidate who is seriously discerning a vocation to priesthood. He lives in community with other men, attends daily mass and prayer, goes to formation meetings once a week and participates in occasional workshops and retreats. He is also involved in a ministry/service activity that gives him some form of field experience. Both of these programs have a brief description listed below

Vianney House

This residence is named after the patron saint of parish priests, St. John Mary Vianney (1786-1859). It is the former Villa Raphael retirement facility for priests. It is a residence for students who are in preparation for major seminary. This residence, otherwise known as a house of formation, provides an atmosphere that is conducive to community building, study and prayer as it includes a spacious dining room, large common room and a chapel. Furthermore, its close proximity to St. Columbkille parish provides easy access to pastoral experiences that permit the students to “test the waters” of their future vocation. It is located approximately 6 blocks from Loras College where all the students take their classes.

St. Pius X Seminary Program

St. Pius X Seminary Program is associated with Loras College and operated under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. This program provides a full undergraduate education and preparation for theological seminary. It also assists students in discerning the Call to priesthood by providing the spiritual, academic and personal formation described in the Program of Priestly Formation of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The seminary program consists of a coordinated approach to meet the needs of students in five principal areas: human growth, spiritual growth, intellectual formation, pastoral formation and community living. All aspects of formation converge on a common mission: enabling candidates to reach an appropriate level of readiness to participate fruitfully and successfully in priestly formation at the theologate level.