FAQ on Vocation Discernment

Longing for sometihing different? Consecrated life?

1. How do I know if I have a vocation of a brother?

Assurance of being called is progressive and needs a lot of prayer, reflection, and discernment, which includes talking with others you know and trust. There are some signs that are good benchmarks. Vocation is a call from God that is heard both from the interior and exterior. If you agree with most of the statements below, you should talk with a vocation director or pursue spiritual guidance.
Other people tell you you would make a good religious.
Your prayer life is getting better.
You are attending Mass and the sacraments more frequently.
You are spending more time in service-related activities.
You find yourself fighting the idea of a vocation but can’t get it out of your head.
You feel what the world offers and values, would not fulfil completely your life.

2. What can I do to test my vocation?

Pray, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Go to daily Mass wherever possible.
Volunteer to get more involved in parish or campus ministry activities. Do you enjoy it? Is the thought of doing ministry for a lifetime increasingly appealing?
Seek guidance from a spiritual director with whom you can discuss your spiritual journey. Discuss it with your family and best friends.

3. How long is the formation program?

It takes 2 years of novitiate before doing the first religious profession.

4. What are the criteria for admission?

• Baptized, confirmed, a practicing Roman Catholic with a sustained prayer life and regular participant in the sacraments.
• Free of psychological or medical conditions that would inhibit one from exercising a full life of ministry.Emotional maturity.
• Free of all other canonical, legal or moral impediments; e.g., prior criminal record; personal or legal obligations; sexually inappropriate conduct.
• Demonstrated ability to live religious vows faithfully.

5. Is celibacy a healthy way to live?

Celibacy is chosen for various reasons. For who is called to it celibacy is a great way of life. It has allowed many people like Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa to be more loving and more human.

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