What is a Vocation?
God calls us to Love, God calls all people to holiness. Holiness itself is not some mystical ecstasy, but in truth is about being as God created us to be. Holiness is being true to ourselves. A vocation is our way of experiencing and expressing this call to holiness. Our vocation journey begins with our baptism, when the invisible reality of God's love is made visible. Discernment is the journey by which we find our vocational path: marriage, the religious life of a Permanent Deacon, Priest or within a religious community or a dedicated life of service.
If you discern a call to the to the priesthood thenRead on. There are many resources here that can help.
Diocesan Priesthood : A Diocesan priest is called from a community of faith to serve that community of faith as leader of worship & prayer, as spiritual guide, and as a servant leader. He is a co-worker with the Bishop serving the pastoral needs of the people. A diocesan priest, along with the all the presbyterate, work with the People of God to proclaim the Good News.
Discernment
If a man thinks he is being called to consider priesthood, contact either your parish priest or the vocations office. We are here to support and help men in understanding the call. The most important thing to do is RELAX. No immediate decision need be made.
The Vocation Director will begin a conversation that can last up to a couple of years, working with the man to explore the relationship with Jesus Christ, the meaning of priesthood and to interpret God's will.
Eventually, a decision maybe made to pursue the call more formally, which is done within a seminary. It is within the seminary environment that a decision is reached whether there is a true call to be ordained as priest or not.
"Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision...rather it is the response to a call to love"
When a man decides to enter seminary, he completes an application for the diocese, is interviewed by the seminary board, undergoes psychological testing and approval is given when all is affirmed.
The Bishop then selects a seminary and the candidate completes the seminary application and interviews, and if accepted officially becomes a seminarian.
Life as a Seminarian
Basic Requirements: All Seminarians must have English Comprehension, a High School diploma and are free from all bonds, whether former marriages or to religious communities
Theology Level Requirements: They are the same above but in addition the Seminarian must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Seminary life consists of academics, spiritual direction to help them assess their call, and Daily mass and prayer.
Each year all seminarians are evaluated according to their academic, human, spiritual and pastoral formation.
There are two levels of seminary, college and theology. For college level students, the formation is less intensive and the seminarian earns a bachelors degree after four years of study. College level students are required to cover their own tuition, room & board.
Theology is graduate level studies and with more intensive spiritual formation. Theology consists of four years of classes and one year in which the seminarian returns to our diocese for a pastoral year. Summer months for theology students are spent either working in a parish, learning Spanish or receiving additional training.
All tuition and room & board is covered by the diocese for theology.
Meet Our Seminarians
Anthony Rizo
Mount Angel Seminary
Saint Benedict, OR
Rene Rodriguez
Theology III
St. John's Seminary
Camarillo, CA
Sean Scherschel
Theology I
St. Johns Seminary,
Camarillo, CA
The addresses for the Seminaries are: (if you wish to send a card or letter)
Mt. Angel Seminary, 1 Abbey Drive, Saint Benedict, Oregon 97373
St. John's Seminary, 5012 Seminary Rd, Camarillo, CA 93012
Support of our Seminarians
The Seminary process requires a great deal of time and resources. A seminarian can expect between five to seven years of formation. Seminaries are also expensive. Tuition, Room & Board and fees cost around $34,000 per student each year. In addition, the diocese provides insurance and other formation opportunities, so that the total cost per year of each seminarian is closer to $50,000. Support comes from CSA donations, grants and other generous gifts from Catholics in our diocese. Below are some ways people actively support Vocations, and which others may wish to join and contribute.
Thomas S. Dolan Endowment for Seminarians
Through the incredible generosity of Thomas S. Dolan, with a gift of $1,000,000, an endowment was set up so that the earnings can support the formation of future priests in our diocese. This was part of the Today Together Tomorrow Diocesan Capital Campaign. Subsequent donations from Bud Flocchini and others have increased the total pledged amount to approximately $1,600,000. This endowment is held within the Catholic Community Foundation. There are plans for future events to continue to grow the endowment. In the mean time, if you would like to make a donation to this endowment to help it grow now, we welcome that. Stay tuned for instructions!
Gerald Glenn Fund
In honor of Jerry Glenn, a long time member of the Serra Club, a fund was set up by his family to help provide for current seminarian needs. This fund is managed by the Serra Club. If you would like to set up a similar fund contact Fr. Bob Chorey.
Serra Club
The Serra Club is an International Organization that supports Vocations within Diocese. Our local group supports our seminarians financially and also through the Annual Seminarian BBQ held each August. The Serrans are always open to new members. The local group meets every 3rd Friday.
Seminarian Education Fund
Each September the Diocese takes a 2nd Collection to provide for the education of our seminarians. All funds collected remain in our diocese for our men. Anyone can contribute at any time.
Vocations to the Religious Life
The Diocese of Reno has been blessed to have several Religious Communities that lived and served here in Northern Nevada. However, like other places in our country, those communities have declined in numbers Religious Communities differ from Diocesan Priesthood in that clearly they can involve women as well as men. They also follow a charism particular to their community, and they make their vows to that community. Our Vocation office can help you find a religious community that you may feel called to. Currently the only Religious Community of Women within our diocese are the Carmelites in Reno. We have one Religious Community of men, the Brothers of the Holy Rosary, and Fr. Arlon Vergara OA, an Augustinian, serves at Little Flower.
Continue to scroll down to find out more information on these Religious Communities.
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