How do I become a Diocesan priest?

Upon hearing the word “priest”, we usually imagine a diocesan priest. All priests, whether diocesan or from a religious order, by the grace of their ordination, are able to make Jesus truly present in the Eucharist at Mass, give absolution for sins, baptize, and join a man and a woman in the sacrament of marriage. Not all priests do the same type of work, yet their mission or purpose is one: to bring the faithful through their everyday lives closer to Jesus Christ and to one another in him. At their ordination, all priests make a lifelong commitment to celibacy and obedience to their diocesan bishop.

The primary ministry of a diocesan priest comes from the Greek word, “to keep house”. The diocesan priesthood is one of being available and involved in the day-to-day lives of people, thus helping the local bishop to “keep house” in the family of God who struggle to live out the Paschal Mystery — the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Diocesan priests are in reality the extension of the Bishop, who is the chief shepherd of the people of God in his diocese. Their primary responsibility is meeting the spiritual needs of the Catholics in their diocese. Generally, but not always, this means parish ministry. The word ‘parish’ is taken from the Greek, “a dwelling beside or near”. Parish priests are to live near the people they are serving.

As a pastor or an associate pastor, the diocesan priest spends his time and energy in ministry, such as visiting parishioners, school communities, administering the sacraments, and preparing homilies, along with parish administration. He may also be asked to undertake other ministries, such as teaching, campus ministry, being a chaplain at a hospital, military base, or a prison. Some are assigned to work in diocesan offices like the Marriage Tribunal, Vocations Office, Office of Communications, or Youth Ministry.

A central responsibility of a diocesan priest is to pray for his people and for the whole Church. As a pastor, a diocesan priest is the shepherd of his parish community, thus responsible for their spiritual growth and wellbeing as families, individuals, and as a faith community. It is of utmost importance that he take time to pray for his own needs, chief of which is to grow ever closer in relationship with Christ, his friend and brother. The presence of a diocesan priest represents the presence of Christ and the Church — ever beside its members through the successes and failures, joys and sorrows of life.

Diocesan priests do not make a vow of poverty like that of religious priests, sisters, or brothers. Instead they are called by the Church to live simply and receive a salary from which they pay for their personal needs and save for future ones. A diocesan priest may live with one or two other priests in a rectory, but many times he lives alone. Diocesan priests therefore need to have healthy, supportive friendships with fellow priests among whom they can share their joys and burdens and take time together for relaxation and recreation.

In short, the Diocesan Priest is a mixture of collaborative leadership, making the richness of Scripture and Tradition available through preaching and teaching and compassionate pastoral care. In all these tasks, he is someone who bears the imprint of the Gospel on his life, and in his prayer and service in a world of very secular values.

Information on this page is courtesy:
www.vocationsvancouver.com/priesthood/priesthood.htm