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What exactly is a "vocation"?

A vocation is God's invitation or calling to each person to love and serve Him and His Church in a particular state or way of life.

PRIESTHOOD

What are the qualities that the Church looks for in a candidate for the Priesthood?

A good candidate is a practicing, believing Catholic. He attends Mass at least weekly, prays everyday, obeys the commandments, and tries to serve others. He must be mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy. He must be open to the will of God and willing to learn and grow. Do you have these qualities?

What is the difference between a diocesan priest and a religious priest?

A diocesan priest belongs to a body of priests (called a presbyterate) who are members of the same diocese and, therefore, under the leadership of the same bishop.
A religious order priest belongs to a specific congregation or community that is bound together by a common mission. Unlike diocesan priests, religious order priests take a vow of poverty and do not own items individually. Most often, religious order priests specialize in a certain type of ministry, such as education, social services, health care or foreign missions.

What vows do diocesan priests make?

Diocesan priests make no vows. For ordination, they freely make promises of celibacy and obedience to their bishop.

What do you do all day?

What a priest, brother or sister does with his or her day is so varied and complex that only a sampling can be given here. In the area of work or ministry, many of us have one main occupation, such as teaching, parish ministry, social work, or hospital work, all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands. The unpredictables are also interesting and challenging. They center around meeting the needs of people: the sick, old, angry, hurt, hungry, imprisoned, excited, happy.

Can priests do anything they want for recreation and fun?

A priest can do anything he wants for recreation as long as it is consistent with the Christian life. Many priests play golf, basketball, softball, and engage in other sports. Others enjoy movies, plays, and reading. Some like to watch professional ice hockey, snorkel, fish, travel, and every other imaginable entertainment.

How important is prayer in your life?

Because we have chosen a way of life which says by its very nature that God is most important, prayer has a central role in our lives. Prayer is communication with the Lord whom we love and is as necessary for us as communication is for any two persons who expect their relationship to continue.

Is prayer always easy for you?

Definitely not! There are lots of times when we don't feel like doing other things that are basically important to us; for example, the athlete doesn't always feel like practicing, a student doesn't always feel like studying. However, in all the cases mentioned, because the activity in which we participate is important, we act on motives deeper than feelings, and do what we know needs to be done.

How long does it take to become a diocesan priest?

It takes four years after college or eight years after high school, the same as for many professions.

How old do you have to be before you enter the seminary?

There is no certain age to start preparing for the priesthood. Some people go to high school seminaries, others enter the seminary after high school, after college, or after they have been working for years.

Do priests get paid?

Because a priest does not have a family and because he lives a simple life, he does not need a lot of money. In fact, a priest's black clerical clothes are an outward sign of the modest standard of living proper to priestly life and ministry. However, diocesan priests do receive a salary which enables them to buy their necessities, to buy and maintain a car, to take a vacation, and to do normal recreational activities. Also, priests are given free room and board by the parish for which they work, so their expenses are minimal.

RELIGIOUS SISTERS

What is the difference between a sister and a nun?

A sister is a religious woman usually associated with active and apostolic orders. They work in the Church and the world, united by community prayer and a common mission. Religious women in contemplative orders are known as nuns. These religious communities serve God through meditation, prayer, and solitude.

Why do some sisters dress in clerical garb or habits and others do not?

Those who maintain habits today do so for various reasons. One of the primary reasons is that religious dress is a sign. The habit is a symbol of faith in God and commitment to Christianity. Another frequent rationale for religious garb is that it is simple dress and therefore a way to live out the vow of poverty. A sister can own just two or three changes of dress and be free of the expense that may be involved in a more extensive contemporary wardrobe.
Some communities have opted to wear street clothes, saying that the most valid sign of Christian faith is lifestyle, rather than garb. They contend that religious dress creates an undesirable barrier between them and laity with whom they work. Some Catholics and non-Catholics distance themselves from people in traditional religious dress. Furthermore, those who have discontinued wearing habits often say the original reason for it was to wear the dress of the common people; therefore, street clothes are the common people's clothes today.

What do sisters do all day?

A Sister's day consists of components of prayer, ministry, and community. Times of personal and community prayer are essential in developing a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. Liturgical prayer also keeps a consecrated woman religious connected to the universal Church. No vocation is given for the sake of the person herself, so Sisters direct much of their time and energy toward serving the needs of God's people. Ministries vary with communities and individuals and include such areas as pastoral work, education, health care, and social services. Community life is integral to the vocation of a Sister. Sisters share support in prayer and ministry as well as fun and common household tasks.

What kinds of ministry do sisters do?

The choice of ministry for the woman religious arises from the founding purpose of the community, a prayerful discernment of her own gifts, and an assessment within her community of the signs of the times. A woman religious and her community together look at the needs of the church and society to determine where best to place her energies.
The way a particular sister spends her day depends on the kind of community to which she belongs. Contemplative nuns often do work to sustain their community in food and shelter, such as gardening, baking, and handiwork. Active communities are involved in myriad ministries, usually with an emphasis on service, such as education, social work, health care, and parish pastoral work.

How do I know which religious order will be right for me?

Each religious congregation has a particular spirit and manner of life. You need to ask yourself where you will best be able to place your gifts at the service of the Church and which congregation is best suited to nurture and challenge you in your relationships with Jesus Christ and the People of God. Visiting or speaking with sisters of different congregations is invaluable in learning more about them.

Do you get time off, and what do you do in that time?

Sisters have approximately the same amount of leisure time as most adults. In this time, they are free to do whatever is legal, moral, and reasonable for adults in their situation. Obviously, each sister is a unique individual and her choices of recreation activities will reflect her personal interests. Some of the more common choices are sports, movies, reading, sharing time with friends, watching television, and enjoying the outdoors.

What vows do religious sisters take?

Religious men and women promise poverty, chastity, and obedience. These vows help them to be free of earthly attachments and distractions. They help them to live simply, to be more open to God, and to depend more on Him. Poverty is the sharing of possessions in common with the community. Obedience requires going wherever one is needed and giving oneself completely in service to God's people. Chastity is the giving of one's body and soul only to Jesus. It is the entering into a loving and exclusive relationship with Him. This frees one to love and serve God and neighbor with an undivided heart.