For more information or other vocations resources, please contact Graeme Munks, convenor of the Rosebank Parish PPC Vocations sub-committee, on 083 235 6813 or email [e-mail]

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For more information or other vocations
resources, please contact Graeme Munks, convenor
of the Rosebank Parish PPC Vocations
sub-committee, on 083 235 6813 or email
abbot_at_iafrica.com
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Is the priest, therefore, different and distinct
from everybody else in the Church? Yes, insofar
as he has special functions and responsibilities
that other members of the Church do not have. And
no, insofar as the priest is still a member of
the Church, exists for the Church, and makes no
sense apart from the Church. Is the ordained
priest another Christ? Yes, because all members
of the Church are other Christ's, charged with
carrying on the mission of Christ. Yes, also,
because the priests likeness to Christ has a
dimension that others do not have - that is, the
likeness to Christ as head of the Church
conferred on him in the sacrament of holy orders.
Is the priest better than others in the
Church? The priest is certainly different
insofar as he has a specific and particular
function to exercise that others cannot fulfil
and cannot do without. But its important to
remember that the priest exists for the people,
not vice versa. He is not some sort of superior
being that the people are there to serve rather,
he is a specialized agent of the Lord sent to
serve the people. The Church is basically a
community of laypeople, and the priest is there
to help them to be what they are called to be by
Christ. Is the priesthood, then, just another
job in the Church? Not really. It is true that
the priest has certain specific functions he is
supposed to carry out, but there is also a
personal permanence to the priesthood that goes
beyond the various tasks priests perform. Once a
priest is ordained, he is a priest forever, even
if he is unable to perform any sort of priestly
work, even if he decides to leave the practice of
his ministry. The priest is changed into
something different by the sacrament of holy
orders, even as other members of the Church are
changed into something different by the sacrament
of baptism. The indelible nature of baptism
speaks about the faithfulness of God toward those
who have accepted His promise of salvation. The
indelible nature of holy orders speaks about the
faithfulness of Gods care for His Church
community. The priest, then, is Gods man for
the Church, a permanent representative of the
headship of Christ in the Church, called to a
permanent mission of service to those who
represent the lordship of Christ in the world.
The priest is there for Christs people, but the
people cannot be Christs people without their
priests. The Vocation Director for the
Archdiocese of Johannesburg is Fr. Lionel Sham,
at 011 402 6400 or email admincatholic_at_icon.co.za
4) Penance Penance helps to conquer sinful habits
and builds generosity, humility and patience. Are
you able to confess your sins? Are you able to
get in touch with your shame? Are you able to
acknowledge your sinfulness before the Lord?
These are key questions for you to consider for
improving yourself and building an honest
relationship with the Lord. 5) Prayer Prayer is
communication with God and therefore is essential
for growing closer to God. It is through prayer
that the Holy Spirit leads us into the Sacred
Heart of Jesus. Prayer is absolutely essential,
because one of the things a priest must be is a
man of prayer. But it is also a skill that
develops over a lifetime, with a God who is
infinitely patient. Who is the Church Looking
For? There is no single personality type that is
best for the priesthood. The Vocations director
will meet and talk with you. He is basically
looking for a good, well-rounded guy. He will
look at your aptitude to gain skills to fulfil
the requirements of the priesthood. St. Peter was
an impulsive, emotional man with natural
leadership skills, while St John was a quiet man
with a tremendous contemplative mind. Pope John
Paul II was an outgoing extravert while Pope
Benedict XVI is a shy introvert. If it is Gods
will that a man be a priest, then every talent
God has given him will be used in his
priesthood. Im not a saint, so can I be a good
priest? Offer yourself up to Gods will as Christ
did. Remember, prior to spreading the Gospel, St.
Peter denied Christ, St. Paul persecuted the
Church, St. Augustine fooled around with women
and Alphonse Ratisbonne was an athiest who
vigorously hated all things Catholic. These are
just a few examples of wonderful priests who did
not start out as saints, but turned their sinful
lives around when they recognized Gods call. As
Pope Benedict XVI said, To build your life on
Christ, to accept the word with joy and put its
teachings into practice This, young people of
the third millennium, should be your program!
There is an urgent need for the emergence of a
new generation of apostles anchored firmly in the
word of Christ, capable of responding to the
challenges of our times and prepared to spread
the Gospel far and wide. It is this that the Lord
asks of you, it is to this that the Church
invites you, and it is this that the world - even
though it may not be aware of it - expects of
you! If Jesus calls you, do not be afraid to
respond to him with generosity, especially when
he asks you to follow him in the consecrated life
or in the priesthood. Do not be afraid trust in
him and you will not be disappointed.
Ask any man who is now a priest and he will say
the same thing, Weve all been there. We have
all gone through the same ups and downs, trying
to figure it out. Guys who get the idea of being
a priest should expect periods in time where the
calling is strong and times when the feeling
recedes. Trying to decide if you should become
priest can be at times exhilarating and also
confusing. This is normal and is the first step
of discernment. It is important to acknowledge
to yourself that you have thoughts or feelings
about becoming a priest. Nothing is more
important than discovering and living Gods will.
We shouldnt fear exploring any option that God
might call us to. God loves us and our life will
ultimately be most fulfilled if we live as He
wishes. However, just because you have these
thoughts, doesnt mean you should become a
priest. The final decision is the result of a
process or personal journey. Practicing a
Virtuous Life Begin the discernment process by
understanding and embracing the virtues of
poverty, chastity, obedience, penance and prayer.
Practicing a virtuous life helps stabilize the
soul and allows you to hear and accept what the
Lord wants for you 1) Poverty Poverty is the
first beatitude - Blessed are the Poor in
Spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs. The
virtue of poverty is about achieving detachment
from worldliness, detachment from things, states
of affairs, and relationships, so that you do not
require any of these things to be happy. It frees
your will and soul to seek God first. 2)
Chastity Chastity unifies our body, mind and
heart. Sexuality is a beautiful thing given as a
gift from the Lord, but it is reserved for
married people. Celibacy simply means that youre
not going to enter the married state, and can be
the biggest decision a man makes in choosing
between priesthood and family life. 3)
Obedience You are a wise and obedient man when
you have a listening heart. The world is
cluttered with choices. Many are offered to you
through provocative means intended to convince
you this is the best choice for you. Listen for
Gods voice and obey what he asks of you and you
will find the Lord. Obedience requires patience
and humility and leads, ultimately, to
satisfaction and freedom.