Campus Ministry

Vocations

Resources For Discerning Your Vocation

To become a priest or a religious is not primarily our choice. It is our answer to a calling, a calling of love.
-Pope Francis
The Catholic Tradition has always acknowledged that we are given a call or vocation in life. By faithfully fulfilling this call, we will, through the grace of God, find true joy and happiness in this world. Some people are called to the married life, while others are called to the chaste single life. Others are called to the consecrated religious or ordained life to serve God and the Church as priests, brothers, or sisters. While no one call is greater than the other – they are all opportunities to express love and reflect the love of God in this world in different and unique ways, we hope that this page might be both a source of inspiration and information in the discernment of a religious vocation.

What does vocation discernment mean? In simple words, it means to determine the source of one's feelings, inspirations and the spiritual manifestations that are taking place around the person for the purpose of determining if these result from a Divine calling to the religious life.

To discern if one has a religious calling is a lengthy process. A priest is not ordained until many years of preparation. Any time prior to the date of ordination, as a candidate to the priesthood who is still searching the Divine Will of God, the seminarian or his spiritual director can come to the conclusion that the individual does not have a calling from God to the religious or ordained life.
Are you thinking about priesthood or religious life? For some free resources to help you discern, please visit www.GoPriest.com and talk to our Campus Ministry Department
The Melchizedek Project is a group where students meet to pray about their lives, listen for God’s voice, and get serious about answering His call. Their handbook is To Save a Thousand Souls by Fr. Brett Brannen, the ultimate guide for discerning a vocation to the Catholic priesthood. This book is provided free of charge to all participants.

The overriding theme of the discussions is discipleship: Am I willing to follow Christ no matter what the cost, no matter what the call? Will I choose to trust His will for me, and courageously go where He leads? 

While this group will strongly be considering the vocation of priesthood in its discussions, and students who feel the draw to explore this should definitely get involved, it is also a chance for students to seriously look at the other vocations in life to see where God is leading them, because of this, it is not limited to Catholic students, or students who are currently thinking the priesthood is the path for them.

A Variety of Religious Orders

  • Carmelites

    Much has developed and changed in the 800-year life of the Carmelite brotherhood, but the common thread that has always distinguished the Carmelite way is that their lives are defined by prayer, community and apostolic works. It’s a balanced way of life that leads you closer to Christ while in service to His Church.
     
    Carmelite Vocations Office
    (773) 322-1222
    www.carmelites.net

  • Diocesan

    Assigned to parishes throughout a particular diocese.  They do all types of ministry from visiting the sick and homebound, to working with schools, families, and kids.  They are in charge of a parish and all the activities that happen with the parish.

    Archdiocese of Los Angeles Vocations Office
    (213) 637-7248
    www.lavocations.org

  • Capuchin Franciscans

    The Capuchin Franciscans follow St. Francis of Assisi as brothers, living the Gospel in prayer, fraternity, and ministry.

    Through contemplative prayer, they witness to Jesus Christ, Mary, the Blessed Mother, and the Church as a joyful presence of hope and salvation to all—especially those most in need. Their worldwide brotherhood spans 101 countries, with 11,000 religious living in more than 1,800 communities. Their work includes ministries in parishes, schools, hospital and prison chaplaincies, retreat houses and historic missions.

    Capuchin Franciscan Friars Vocations Office
    (805) 686-4127
    www.beafriar.com

  • Dominicans

    The Dominicans, or Order of Preachers, live lives built upon the Four Pillars of the Order: Common life, Prayer, Study, Preaching. The first three pillars direct the friar toward his own sanctification and to the glory of God. They impel the friar to preach the Gospel to his neighbor.
     
    Dominican Vocations Office
    (415) 674-0468
    vocations@opwest.org 
    www.opwest.org

  • Franciscans

    As part of  their calling as brothers — both to each other and to all of creation — they reflect upon:
    +Their commitment to experience God, and to listen to brothers and sisters who will share their own experiences of Gospel amid today’s world.
    +Their commitment to respect all persons in our multicultural society, with the courage to stand together against the corrosive elements of violence and hatred.
    +Their commitment to prayer, both communal and individual, and to a life of simplicity and solidarity with the poor.

    Franciscan Friars Vocations Office
    (408) 903-3422 
    vocations@sbfranciscans.org  
    www.sbfranciscans.org

  • Holy Cross

    This family is the Congregation of Holy Cross, founded by Basil Anthony Moreau.  They are a religious congregation composed of two distinct societies of religious, one of priests and one of brothers, bound together in one indivisible brotherhood.  They are called to be a sign and witness of hope to all people.
     
    Holy Cross Vocations Office:
    (574) 631-6196
    www.holycrossusa.org

  • Jesuit

    With close to 17,000-plus priests and brothers worldwide, they are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church. Jesuits work together in a wide variety of ministries: as teachers and pastors, retreat directors and missionaries. Many work in direct service to the poor. They live in communities that are centered on the Eucharist and, faithful to the vision of our founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, seek to “find God in all things.”
     
    Jesuit Vocations Office:
    (408) 884-1614
    vocations@calprov.org
    www.jesuitscalifornia.org

  • Salesian

    St. John Bosco began his ministry to youth in 1841. Today the Salesians continue that ministry for young people in schools, parishes and youth centers throughout the world.

    Salesian Vocations Office
    (626) 280-2574 
    info@salesianvocation.org
    www.salesianvocation.org