The Sacrament of Ordination

Discernment of a vocation to ordained ministry is never an individual decision. The wider community of the Church, as represented in the parish and diocese, is always involved. No matter how strong one’s subjective sense of calling, no one has a right to be ordained. One must be both called by God and needed by the Church. 

The discernment process takes years. Many people participate, including the parish priest, the bishop, members of parish discernment committees, the diocesan commission on ministry, medical and psychological professionals, and, if the process continues, seminary professors and field work supervisors. The final decision to ordain always remains the bishop’s. Sometimes frustrating, sometimes painful, the ordination process can also be a rewarding journey of self-discovery and growth in one’s relationship with God, regardless of its outcome.

If you suspect that you may be called to Holy Orders, the first step is to talk with your parish priest. Don’t be in a hurry to move things along; in most cases, the initial stages of the process take time and require extended discussion and reflection.