NEXT STEPS
No man deserves to be a priest. Like every grace, this vocation can only be accepted as an unmerited gift from God. In God’s mysterious providence, he calls “those whom he desire[s]” to be priests (C.f. Mark 3:13). There is no certain type of man who is called to be a priest. In fact, God calls men with different backgrounds, personalities, temperaments and gifts to this vocation.
What they all share in common is the one priesthood of Jesus Christ; serving all people with the heart of Jesus. If you are wondering if you may be called to the priesthood by the Lord – do not be afraid! The following Tips for Discernment may help you gain clarity and direction about the next steps for you.
01. Strive to live a life of holiness
02. Chat with your Vocations Director
03. Pray, pray, pray
04. Take up ‘priest-adjacent’ activities
05. Attend an event organised by Sydney Vocations
If you’re reading this and feel that God might be calling you to serve Him as a priest, it’s perfectly natural to feel a bit scared. There are countless examples in Scripture of how God called people whose initial response was one of fear and resistance. These vary from Jeremiah’s “I am only a youth” (Jer. 1:6) to Saint Peter’s “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Lk. 5:8)
God knows that we might have fears or excuses. He knows our weaknesses. He knows that we cannot follow Him by our own strength. But He will give us the strength! We are able to give our lives freely for God because Christ is the one who calls us. He calls us with great love. In His infinite love, Jesus laid down His life for us on the cross, and so we are able to put our trust in Him completely. As Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people who are discerning a vocation, “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!”[3]
Jesus says to us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). It is liberating to know that a vocation is a gift from God who knows us better than we know ourselves. God invites us to respond to His call with love, gratitude and generosity. Turn to Our Lady for help when discerning – “May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call, always accompany us in following Jesus.”[4]
[3] https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2025/documents/20250511-regina-caeli.html
[4] https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2025/documents/20250511-regina-caeli.html
RECOMMENDED READING
DISCERNMENT 180: A Six Month Guide For Catholic Men To Discern The Priesthood - Fr. Greg Gerhart
D180 is a six-month discernment plan to help men to intentionally discern the priesthood. It lays out a clear “rule of life”, which includes spiritual practices and daily readings to help in the discernment process. The goal of D180 is to grow in holiness, prayerfully consider the priesthood, and peacefully accept the life God has prepared for you.
To Save A Thousand Souls - Fr. Brett A. Brannen
To Save a Thousand Souls is the definitive guide for men considering the priesthood. Using powerful and entertaining stories, this easy-to-read book explains how to carefully discover God’s call. To Save a Thousand Souls is used by hundreds of dioceses and thousands of seminarians. Many regard it as the standard “catechism for discernment,” with Bishop Robert Barron calling it a “classic of the genre."