1. How do I know God is calling me to be a priest?

God can use a direct approach, by touching your life and letting you know
that He wants you to give your life entirely in His service as a priest.
Most people hear statements from others encouraging them to consider the
priesthood, in essence the Lord uses other people to begin to water the
seed of a priestly vocation in a man's heart. If you find peace in your heart
when you picture yourself as a priest, consider that a direct call from God.
Peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit and, as Saint Ignatius of Loyola was fond
of saying, points out "God's Will for us."

2. Is the priesthood boring?

Many people wrongly believe the priesthood can be a boring life. The
poor, the sick, the elderly, the young, married people, drug and alchohol
abusers, rich people, people in solid marriages and difficult marriages all
look to their priests at some point in their lives to find deeper meaning for
their existence. Priests are called everyday to respond to the challenges
people face, to see Jesus in the gift of others, even those who are hostile
or antagonistic to the faith and proclaim Christ's message of salvation, in
season and out of season. Only the priest, through the Grace of the Holy
Spirit, can bring the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist to a worshiping
community at Mass. Only the priest through the Divine Mercy of God has
the power to forgive sins in the sacrament of reconciliation and allow
people to truly feel the healing presence of Jesus Christ. Priesthood is not
a job but a vocation which is active and ever growing through the Grace
of the Holy Spirit in a man's life.

Priests constantly proclaim hope to a world that forgets who God
is...which is never a boring task.

3. Can you explain what "promises" mean?

Diocesan priests make lifetime "promises" of obedience and celibacy at
the time of ordination. Obedience is to follow what the local Bishop asks
a priest to do. Ignatius of Antioch stated that "priests are called to be an
extention of the Bishop's teaching" and when a priest makes a promise of
obedience he embraces this belief. The promise of celibacy is a lifetime
commitment to lead a chaste unmarried life, excluding all dating and
sacramental union for the love of Jesus and the sake of proclaiming the
Kingdom of God. It is a gift from God for men called to serve as priests
and it is not the rejection of love, but the recognition of God's love for the
priest as well as the obligation to share that love to all the people he
serves and comes in contact with by calling them to be faithful to the
life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of his Church.
 

4. How much education do you need to become a priest?

To become a priest a man must be of reasonable intellect, be serious in
his academic habits, have a high school diploma, attend and complete four
years of college which is then followed by four years of Seminary. He
must also have a healthy understanding of Western Culture.

5. Am I expected to pay for my education if I feel God is
calling me to serve Him in the priesthood?

No one is denied acceptance to study for the priesthood due to finances.
The Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey offers promissory notes for those
seeking diocesan priesthood who may be unable to afford college. In
Seminary, the Diocese of Trenton covers room, board, tuition, books,
basic health insurance and seeks help from the Knights of Columbus and
Serrans for the individual financial needs of a seminarian.

6. Is there an age limit for becoming a priest?

Each diocese and religious order sets different requirements as far as age.
Most start at age 18 and set a limit between 40-50 years of age. The
Diocese of Trenton has an age limit of 40. An exceptional candidate is
never rejected due to age since God can call a man to service at any time
in his life but the focus is to attract younger candidates. When looking at
"second career" men the Diocese of Trenton considers the man's attitude,
health, prayerfulness, academic background and pastoral sensitivity.