Are you being called to serve God and the Church? We invite you to review the information on this page and to contact us if want to explore this question. Many were once in your shoes and now are living the greatest gift in their lives,
their priesthood.
Twice a year we invite those interested in exploring the priesthood to meet with our vocation staff.
The 12 men currently in formation to become diocesan priests come from different walks of life but are united in their calling to serve God.
There is no certain age to start preparing for the priesthood. Some people enter the seminary after high school; others transfer into the seminary from college. Some come after completing college, or after working for a number of years. The age is not the most important question. The most important question is, “Am I doing what God wants of me at this point in my life?”
Generally, it takes five to six years after college or nine years after high school to become a diocesan priest, the same as for many professions. The actual amount depends on how much and the type of education you have received before entering the seminary. Your vocation director can let you know exactly how long it should take in your specific case.
A seminary or house of formation is a place to prepare and train men for the priesthood while they continue to discern God’s call and will in their lives. In a house of formation, academic instruction takes place elsewhere. On the other hand, a college seminary focuses on undergraduate studies and so is very much like any other college. Usually, seminarians are asked to seek an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. A major seminary is a graduate school and so offers master’s degrees in Theology.
The Diocese of San Diego utilizes the St. Francis Center for Priestly Formation, on the University of San Diego campus, to prepare candidates for entry into a seminary. The Franciscan School of Theology, also on the USD campus, serves both as a theology school and a seminary, which is used by the diocese for the intellectual formation of its seminarians.
In addition to classes, there would be times of daily prayer (such as Mass). Candidates have free time, which they may use to study, pray, exercise, play sports, read, watch TV, go to the movies, or simply hang out with their friends.
Another part of seminary is formation, the guidance and direction one receives from those running the seminary. This may be internal (e.g., spiritual direction) or external (recognizing one’s gifts or areas of growth). In formation, we meet with others to help us understand our calling and to see if priesthood is for us.
Seminarians are not people who have everything figured out. In fact, what they are doing is seeking God’s will, by putting themselves in a setting where they can truly discern God’s will. Spiritual direction and seminary formation are important components of this. If an individual decides priesthood is not for him, he is certainly most free to leave. Seminary is not a prison! The job of seminary is not to try to brainwash people or convince them that they should become priests, but rather to help them to truly discover God’s will and, if that is priesthood, to make them the best possible priests. Everyone who goes to medical or law school doesn’t necessarily stay. The old saying is true: Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Church teachings vary in gravity and centrality to the faith. To be a priest, brother, or sister is to be a public person in the Church. So, if you have serious differences with matters essential to the faith, then vowed or ordained life for you would involve an inherent conflict. Consult the Catechism and some trusted people – vocation directors, priests, religious, theology teachers – to ascertain what the Church actually teaches. Many times, the doubts we might have can be answered and overcome with greater study, reflection, and dialogue.
Weekends tend to be taken up with many things such as Sunday Mass, weddings, baptisms, youth ministry, etc. As for the rest of the week, it may be spent working with church groups (e.g., religious education, future planning, outreach to the poor, financial matters of the parish, etc.) or with individuals (preparing for marriage, dealing with loss, the sick, those in need of spiritual counseling, etc.). Of course, it is always important to balance one’s responsibilities with prayer, leisure, and maintaining good health. Sometimes, priests or religious have one main occupation, such as teaching, parish ministry, social work, or hospital work, all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands. One thing for sure, it’s never boring!
No one becomes a priest because of the money, that’s for sure. You obviously can’t put a price tag on the spiritual rewards of being a priest and dedicating one’s life to God, but diocesan priests are not expected to live in destitution, either. Diocesan priests are paid a salary as they are responsible for their own expenses (e.g., buying a car, putting gas in it, purchasing clothes, paying taxes, etc.). And many of the basic necessities are provided (such as housing, food, insurance, etc.).
The simple answer is yes. Priests are over 21, after all. It’s important to remember that priests are human and do what other people do. So yes, priests can drink alcohol, and some do. But because they are called upon to live a holy life, they do it in moderation. The same moral code applies to priests and lay people. As long as they have fun and don’t get carried away, they can celebrate like everyone else.
A diocesan priest ordinarily serves the church within a well-defined geographical area (a diocese). He serves the people within that particular diocese as a parish priest, but may also be involved in other forms of ministry. Most diocesan priests live and work in the same diocese for most of their life. Diocesan priests make two promises: obedience to the bishop and celibacy. This means that they promise to work with the bishop and do what he asks them to do for the needs of the people of the diocese. Celibacy (chastity) is the promise they take that means that they will not get married, so that they can spend most of their time serving the people of God. Being part of a diocese or an order is like being part of a family. The men are like brothers to each other and usually turn out to be some of your best friends.
A religious priest, on the other hand, is a member of a community which goes beyond the geographical limits of any diocese. A religious priest seeks to live a vowed life within a community of men for mutual support and the accomplishment of some work. There is an emphasis in the community on shared ideals, prayer, and commitment to Christ. Religious priests work in a wide variety of ministries.
There are a variety of ministries where priests in our diocese serve. Most do serve in parishes, some as pastors, others as parochial vicars. Other priests serve as chaplains in hospitals, or work in schools. Some work in prisons or are involved in the administration of our diocese. Some work with young, others with the elderly. There are many ways to serve God as a priest.
God is very loving and forgiving. Redemption can take place anytime throughout our lives. Sometimes after people have turned their lives around, with the help of God, and dedicate themselves to Christ, they may be aware of a still deeper call from God. Generally speaking, it is less important what someone has done in the past than what one is willing to embrace in the present and future. Speak to your Vocation Director about any concerns or reservations you may have.
Director for Priestly Vocations, Explorer Days
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Director for Priestly Vocations, Discernment Days and Appointments with Discerners
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Director for Priestly Vocations, Application Process
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Coordinator of Spiritual Direction
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Office for Pastoral Formation
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Discernment Days and Appointments with Discerners
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Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.
Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.
The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.
