“All priests, who are constituted in the order of the priesthood by the sacrament of Order, are bound together by an intimate sacramental brotherhood…”  — Catechism of the Catholic Church 1568

I grew up in a house with two older brothers. As the youngest, I wasn’t always a part of the activities and sports that filled their days. I took my share of punches, and I enacted my share of revenge on them. My brothers still recall that I used to keep lists of their wrongdoing so I could blackmail them for things. (For the record, I don’t condone that behavior.)

But once my brothers and I grew older, especially once we were no longer living under the same roof, our bond grew. We learned to depend on each other, to support one another, to challenge each other, and most importantly to make fun of one another (usually without crossing the line). To this day, it is my brothers who can best keep me humble, whether with a quick shot or a legitimate insight.

So when I arrived at the seminary, I was surprised to hear that people started referring to one another as “brothers.” Mostly, the common title DB took some getting used to. I thought people were just calling me by my initials until I realized everyone had the title – I soon learned that DB meant Diocesan Brother, a name for other seminarians studying for the same Bishop and diocese. It seemed that even before ordination, we were being prepared for this new sort of brotherhood – different than just being brothers in Christ.

At the ordination ritual, there is an incredible moment that can sometimes be overlooked by the other rich symbols of the priesthood. The Bishop ends the ordination ritual with a kiss of peace to the newly ordained priest, acknowledging him as a co-worker, a son, and even a brother (CCC 1567). Next, all of the priests present exchange the sign of peace with the new priest, their new brother. That moment is not just a congratulation – it is a welcome into the fraternity of the priesthood, the family of servants, and the band of brothers.

That brotherhood means we celebrate together – just last week I got a text message from one brother priest, saying that he was now in the “6 in 12 club” – meaning he had celebrated all six Sacraments a priest can offer, all in a 12 hour period. I knew he wasn’t bragging – he was humbly rejoicing in the gift of his priesthood, and I returned the text with a prayer of thanksgiving for him. There are the shared challenges, too, and the brotherhood means we often walk through dark valleys together. When a tragedy strikes our parish, or a parent dies, or we feel the pains of fatherhood, or the stress of endless days, it is a brother priest who can understand, offer prayer, and also offer counsel. We also understand the burden of caring for souls, of inviting Christ to destroy the evil we see so clearly, and the challenge of the promises we’ve taken to the Bishop – simple living, a prayerful life, obedience, and celibacy. While our married friends teach us much about how to love, it often takes a brother priest to teach us how to best love as a priest.

As in any family, being a part of that brotherhood doesn’t always mean that we get along perfectly. We have legitimate disagreements, we sometimes speak uncharitably of each other; sometimes we don’t invest enough in each other. But the graces of such a bond seem to outweigh any of our selfish humanity that gets in the way, and I pray they always will.

That brotherhood means that there are certain parts of our lives we share only with one another, because we have a common bond, a shared experience, an insight and understanding as to what God asks of us. Like men on a battlefield we serve together, often arm-in-arm, in a battle for souls. This brotherhood, though, is about more than a fraternity, more than a bond of people who have the same job. We have been given the same calling, the same gift, the same Sacrament, and that builds something that is almost unexplainable. I realized it most strongly recently, in a single moment. After going to confession to a brother priest, and hearing the words of absolution proclaimed over me, I made the sign of the cross. As the priest took off his purple stole, he kissed it and placed it over my shoulders, quietly saying the words, “Now bless me, my brother, and father, for I have sinned…” I resolved in that moment not just to give thanks for the priesthood each day, but also for the invitation to be a part of this band of brothers.

Our short answer comes from Father Matt Lowry from the Diocese of Phoenix. Joining him in the longer discussion is catechist and Life Teen staff member Katie Heller.

Many young men considering the priesthood have BIG questions about going into the seminary. Here are answers to your top 13 questions.

1. What is a college seminary?
2. Do I have to know for sure that I am going to be a priest to go to the college seminary?
3. How old do I have to be to go to the college seminary?
4. What’s the biggest difference between going to college and going to a college seminary?
5. What advantages are there to being a college seminarian?
6. What do I study at the college seminary?
7. How smart do I have to be to be a college seminarian?
8. How much does college seminary cost, and how do I pay for it?
9. What can I do if my parents think I should wait until I graduate from college or work a few years before I start studying for priesthood?
10. What will my friends think?
11. Can I date if I go to a college seminary?
12. Can I go to parties if I go to a college seminary?
13. Can I play sports if I go the college seminary?

1. What is a college seminary?

A college seminary is a place where men of college age go to begin their preparation for priesthood. The college seminary prepares them intellectually with the required coursework in philosophy and theology to enter the next level of priestly formation, the graduate seminary or theologate. There are two basic models of college seminaries. One is the affiliated model where students live together at the seminary and take their academic coursework at a Catholic college or university. The other is the free-standing model where all aspects of seminary life, including academics, are through the seminary. Typically free-standing seminaries are much smaller in size and offer more individual attention to the needs of the seminarian.

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>2. Do I have to know for sure that I am going to be a priest to go to the college seminary?

No. Certainty of a call to priesthood is not needed to enter the college seminary. In fact, certainty of the call may never come. Doubts about one’s vocation are common among seminarians at every stage. What is required is a sense that priesthood would be a good fit and a joyful life for you. You should also sense in your heart that God is asking you to take this step to consider more carefully the priesthood. Through the experiences of being a seminarian, one fairly early on gets the sense as to whether the seminary is the right place for him and whether priesthood is something he should be preparing for.

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3. How old do I have to be to go to the college seminary?

One needs to simply have graduated from high school to enter a college seminary. Many young men enter right after high school, while others will begin college seminary studies after a couple of years of working or going to another college or university. Generally the right age to respond is when the Lord calls!

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4. What’s the biggest difference between going to college and going to a college seminary?

Colleges and universities typically only focus on academics, and the evaluation of college work is a report card and transcripts showing courses taken and grades achieved. The college seminary is concerned with several other areas of growth, including but also going beyond academics. The college seminary focuses on human formation (growth as a person, communication and relationship skills, leadership, etc..); spiritual formation (becoming a man of prayer; being a disciple of Jesus Christ; daily Mass and prayer; having a spiritual director, etc…); and pastoral formation (service to the poor; helping at a parish; teaching religious education; visiting the sick, etc…) College seminary focuses on the growth of the total person, and evaluations of college seminary formation look at how well the man has grown each year as a person, as a follower of Christ, and as a man of the Gospel.

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5. What advantages are there to being a college seminarian?

As mentioned, the greatest benefit to college seminary is being a part of a supportive environment where all aspects of human growth are encouraged. One’s faith life tends to really flourish in the seminary because of the focus on meeting the Lord daily through the Mass and other prayers. Living in an environment where being Catholic is supported helps men make good moral choices for life as well. After completing college seminary, the men are prepared to enter the graduate program. For those who don’t go to the college seminary, there is usually one or two years of pre-theology work that must be done before beginning the graduate seminary. So a man can save one or two years of formation by going to the college seminary.

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6. What do I study at the college seminary?

Studying in the seminary. What's it like?

This depends on the seminary one goes to. In many seminarians there is a choice of several majors that a man can select from, in others just a few majors are offered. One also takes a minimum of 24 credit hours of philosophy and 12 credit hours of theology. Most seminarians receive degrees in liberal arts majors, but some get degrees in science, engineering, or business. The academic program is designed to meet the needs and interests of the seminarian.

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7. How smart do I have to be to be a college seminarian?

Diocesan seminarians should have above average intelligence and above average grades. They don’t need to be geniuses, but they have to be able to do well academically in college. Sometimes guys struggle with math and sciences and do very well in English and history. That’s okay, because some fields are more critical than others. Many seminaries also provide special help for students who have certain learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Most seminaries have a very supportive learning environment that helps each student excel to their capacity.

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8. How much does college seminary cost, and how do I pay for it?

Tuition and room and board charges vary among seminaries, but typically a college seminary education costs less than a private university education, ranging from $11,000 to $20,000 per year. Seminaries usually have fairly good financial aid programs to assist students in need, and many dioceses provide scholarships and grants for college seminaries. For example, the Joliet Diocese provides a full-tuition and room and board scholarship for our first year college seminarians who are giving God the first chance with their lives. In the following years, our college students receive half-tuition and room and board scholarships. No one is denied the opportunity to prepare for priesthood because of financial reasons.

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9. What can I do if my parents think I should wait until I graduate from college or work a few years before I start studying for priesthood?

Unfortunately there are some parents who think that 18 is too young of an age to think about priesthood and act on a possible call. That is a young age, but we believe that God does indeed genuinely call young people to serve Him. Many times the objections are more of an issue for the parents than for their son, i.e. a desire for grandchildren or to pass on the family name, or thinking their son can’t be happy or won’t be wealthy as a priest.

Sometimes education is helpful because parents need to realize that by merely going to seminary a young man isn’t limiting his options for the future, but is really expanding them by offering a host of opportunities other college students don’t have. Those who decide not to continue on in seminary formation almost always leave with a greater sense of who they are and what they are called to do and are grateful for their experiences in the seminary. God never abandons those who step out in faith to respond to a call to priesthood.

It also might be helpful to ask whether parents would respond in the same way if their son wanted to be a doctor or lawyer. Would they encourage him not to enter pre-medicine or pre-law programs in college but instead study engineering or business in case that might be better for him? The basic point is that parents ought to support their sons to become who God needs them to be, independent of the parents’ own hopes and plans for what they would like for their son. We find that the majority of parents are supportive of their sons’ pursuit of priesthood once they understand what seminary life is really about.

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10. What will my friends think?

I don’t know what your friends will think, because a lot depends on who your friends are! In most cases, though, once they learn what a college seminary is like, they will see it as a good choice for you. Those who have difficulty understanding why you might want to be a priest are more likely questioning their own faith and ability to make commitments rather than saying anything about you.

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11. Can I date if I go to a college seminary?

Seminarians are encouraged to build strong relationships with men and women, so social interaction with women is encouraged. Exclusive dating relationships are not permitted, because a man needs to discover whether the commitment to celibacy will be possible for him. You cannot fully and fairly discern priesthood while in a dating relationship. College seminarians are encouraged to live the challenge of celibate love to see if it fits them. This includes: striving to use their energies to grow passionately in love with God and to feel His passionate love for them; to make efforts to be inclusive in their relationships seeking out those whom others keep at a distance; to stretch themselves in their commitments of service so that they feel themselves spending their lives tirelessly for the sake of the many; to speak fearlessly for the truth in defense of life and the vulnerable today; to live more simply in the world so as to witness more effectively to the Gospel of Jesus we profess; to be radically involved in people’s lives as a means of God’s forgiveness, mercy and compassion; and to see each person as brother and sister in the Lord. If these kinds of experiences draw a genuine sense of joy to their heart, then priesthood will likely be a good fit for them.

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12. Can I go to parties if I go to a college seminary?

Going to parties and being involved in college social life are important for seminarians. They don’t lead separate lives from other college students. Obviously good moral behavior is important for seminarians, so legal and appropriate use of alcohol is expected.

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13. Can I play sports if I go the college seminary?

Absolutely! Physical exercise and athletic competitions are important for all seminarians as well. Some seminaries are involved in campus interhall athletic competitions in football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. Depending on the sport, some seminarians participate on the varsity teams at the college or university they attend. Many seminaries also have seminary competitions in various sports, such as basketball, soccer, and racquetball.

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1. Diocesan Priesthood: To be a priest is to live a life of service, bringing Christ to others in word and sacrament.
2. Religious Priesthood: To be a religious priest is to live according to a particular form of life united to others in your community and faithful to the charism of your founder(s).
3. Contemplative Life: To be a contemplative religious is to live a life of constant prayer for the Church as you seek intimacy with God.
4. Religious Brothers: To be a religious brother is to live according to a particular form of life with others in your community, dedicated to service, especially to the poor.
5. Religious Sisters: To be a religious sister is to live according to a particular form of life with others in your community, dedicated to service, especially to the poor.
6. Secular Institutes: To be a member of an institute for lay people is to strive for holiness and to bring the Gospel message to others by living and working alongside them.

1. Diocesan Priesthood

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Mt 4:19

Who they are

Priests are called to be men of personal prayer who proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. The heart of the priesthood is the celebration of the Eucharist and the teaching, sanctifying, and leading of those in their spiritual care. Priests proclaim, celebrate, and live the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. They bear witness that new life and hope are more powerful than sin and death. Priests remind others of the dignity and sanctity of all human life and have a special love for the poor.

Fr. Matt Lawry celebrates Mass at Life Teen Steubenville West. Fr. Matt is a diocesan priest.

How they live

As Jesus made the journey with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, so too, does the priest journey with his people. Most diocesan priests serve in parishes, ministering to the day-to-day needs of their people. Others serve in specialized ministries and are chaplains in prisons, hospitals, high schools, and colleges, or serve in diocesan administration.

What they do

No two days are alike in a priest’s life: it often includes many diverse experiences. Much time is spent in the preparation and celebration of the Sacraments. Time is spent counseling, teaching, preparing homilies, visiting the sick, the elderly, and the imprisoned, or assisting an immigrant or poor family.

In addition, priests attend wakes and funerals, and coordinate parish organizations and youth activities. As with anyone else, a priest must balance his time among family, friends, exercise, rest, and, most of all, prayer.

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2. Religious Priesthood

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” Mt 19:21.

Fr. Stan Fortuna is a religious priest with the Capuchin Friars of the Renewal in New York.

Who they are

A diocesan priest is ordained to serve the local church in which he is ordained. For example, a priest who is ordained in the Diocese of Brooklyn is ordained to serve within Brooklyn and Queens, most likely in a parish.

By contrast, a religious priest is not ordained for a specific diocese. Because he comes from a religious community he is called to serve wherever his community serves in the universal Church. He expresses his service according to the charism of his community in the context of the great gift of being a priest.

How they live

Members of religious communities profess vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and live together in community. After someone studying for the priesthood professes his final or solemn vows, he is ordained a deacon and a priest.

What they do

A religious priest comes from a group that has a specific charism or special inspiration of the Holy Spirit for the building up of the Church. A religious priest carries out his ministry within the broader context of his community’s charism or mission.

The ministries of religious priests vary greatly. Some priests work in parishes, schools, universities, or hospitals. Others preach, do missionary work abroad, operate retreat houses, or do outreach work, such as running soup kitchens and taking care of the poor. Some priests even serve as lawyers, webmasters, radio producers, or medical doctors.

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3. Contemplative life

Who they are

Life in the Monastery is quiet and prayerful.

Members of a contemplative religious community focus on prayer as their main ministry, giving themselves to God as fully as possible.They cultivate a climate of silence and solitude with a spirit of loving reparation for the weaknesses and frailties of a fallen humanity. Through intercession and abandonment to the love of God, contemplative monks and nuns are a source of life for the whole Church.

How they live

The contemplative life is usually lived within a monastic, cloistered setting. The day is structured with specific times for prayer, work, recreation, and silence. The prayer life of a contemplative community includes daily celebration of the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours recited or sung in choir five or more times a day, as well as private meditation inspired by the Gospels and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

What they do:

The work of each community varies. It includes, but is not restricted to, manual work, and may be focused around a limited apostolate, such as creating religious works of art, evangelizing through various media, doing computer work, or baking altar breads or even special delicacies. The cloistered contemplative remains present within the monastic environment most of the time, being continually attentive to the presence of the Lord Jesus.

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4. Religious Brothers

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink” Mt 25:35.

Who they are

The religious brother is a lay Christian who commits himself to Christ and the Christian community by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He lives in community, prays with community, and is of service to the Church community in a variety of ministries that reflect the tradition and charism of a given religious congregation.

What they do

Religious brothers, bonded together by a common vision and common goals, strive to meet the current needs of the Church by serving in such ministries as teaching, social work, pastoral ministry, vocation ministry, and technical occupations.

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5. Religious Sisters

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee

Who they are

A religious sister is a woman who has answered a call from God to live her life dedicated to spreading the Gospel message of love of God, love of self, and love of one another. She does this through the particular charism or gift of her religious community.

Are all sisters alike? No. Yet there are some common elements. While the specifics may differ from congregation to congregation, a sister is about building community, deepening her relationship with God, and ministering to others through her work. She does this through her efforts to listen to God’s continual call in obedience, to live life in a simple manner, and to be a loving presence as expressed through her commitment to celibacy.

What they do

A sister may work in a variety of ministries, depending on her community’s mission and charism. Or, if she belongs to an enclosed community, she may work within her monastery providing necessary services there. Being a sister is not about what one does, however. Rather, it is a way of life, a way of being.

A sister is a woman who continues to respond to God’s call, a call to become more like God by dedicating herself to prayer, her sisters, and the work of her community. A sister is a woman who loves deeply, caring for the needs of those around her–her family, her community members, those to whom and with whom she ministers, and the world at large. Through the specific charism of her community, a sister brings to those she serves another view of the face of Christ. She strives to be that presence of Christ in all she does and in all she is.

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6. Secular Institutes

“Your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father” Mt 5:16.

“A Secular Institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the faithful, living in this world, strive for the perfection of charity and endeavor to work for the sanctification of the world from within.” (Code of Canon Law, 1983)

Who they are

A vocation to a Secular Institute involves a form of life relatively new in the Roman Catholic Church. It is open to single lay women and men or diocesan clerics who feel called by the Holy Spirit to consecrate their lives to God more intensely through vows or promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

What they do

Like a Third Order Franciscan, members of Secular Institutes witness to Christ and spread the Good News of the Gospel by striving to live as a transforming presence, or “leaven,” in contemporary society, endeavoring to restore all things in Christ while living in their own residence and engaging in the employment of their choice. Their entire lifestyle of prayer, work, and social activities becomes their apostolate.

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Below you will find free downloads of planning guides to help Priests and Youth Ministers host Life Nights or Bible Studies about Vocations for teenagers. Teens, if your church doesn’t ever talk about teens trying to figure out what they’re going to be when they grow up, download these resources and email them to your parish priest. You can usually find his email address on your church’s website. Skip to:

1. True Life | Holy Orders: The Vocation of Holy Orders
2. A Marriage Made in Heaven
3. For Better or Worse: The Vocation of Marriage
4. Vocations Bible Study
5. Parent Life, Beyond the Cradle

1. True Life | Holy Orders: The Vocation of Holy Orders

The goal of this Life Night is to understand the universal vocation of holiness and how each individual vocation flows from the call to holiness. This night will give the teens tools to discern their own vocation… The night opens with a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story. The teens will actively participate in the story based on their choices. The story leads into a teaching on the universal call to holiness as the foundation of all vocations. The teens will be given a time for personal assessment on their individual journey of holiness. Members of the community will share their witness of living out their vocations and give teens a few practical tools in discernment of their own vocation. The night ends with Eucharistic Adoration with the focus on heaven as the goal for all vocations.

Download: True Life | Holy Orders

2. A Marriage Made in Heaven

This Life Night will help teens understand why Holy Orders is a vocation and how the vocation is lived out. This night will also give teens a chance to hear the real life discernment stories of priests and deacons. Finally, this night will give teen practical ways to discern their vocation.

Download: A Marriage Made in Heaven

3. For Better or Worse: The Vocation of Marriage

This Life Night will look at the vocation of Marriage as a unique calling from God designed to mirror Christ’s love for the Church. The teens will understand that the grace of the Sacrament gives couples the ability to live holy, lifelong Marriages. Finally, this night will look specifically at dating relationships as a foundation for discernment and Marriage preparation.

Download: For Better or Worse

4. Vocations Bible Study

This is an informative Bible study that allows the leader to interact heavily with teenagers.

Download: Vocations Bible Study

5. BONUS: Parent Life, Beyond the Cradle

The goal for this night is to get parents thinking and talking about the challenges and blessings of raising Catholic teens today. This night will help parents identify their own strengths as a Catholic parent, identify the challenges they currently have and share in the blessings that being Catholic brings. They will also be reminded of their vocation to be a parent.

Download:  Parent Life | Beyond the Cradle

A diocesan priest can best be described as a PARISH PRIEST. Diocesan priests also serve in a variety of other capacities such as campus ministers, teachers or chaplains for hospitals, or prisons, but basically they are the priest who minister to the day-to-day needs of people in parishes. He is called a Diocesan priest because he commits himself to the service of God’s people within a definite geographical area called a diocese. A diocesan priest can expect to minister somewhere within the various counties which make up the Diocese.

2. Why would someone become a priest?

Everyone looks for meaning and fulfillment in life. Many people serve God and find meaning and joy in the vocation of marriage. Others follow Him in the single state or religious life but some men feel called to a different kind of service to the Lord’s Priesthood in a special way of serving the Catholic Community as its leader in prayer and worship and service.

3. What do priests do?

The ministry of a priest will depend somewhat upon his particular interests and skills. A diocesan (or parish) priest spends much of his time in preparation for and in the celebration of the sacraments (Eucharist, Penance, Baptism, Marriage, Annointing of the Sick, etc). Each day some time is set aside for personal, private prayer. Visiting the sick, visiting people in their homes and working with the various parish and neighborhood organizations are all part of his ministry. The parish priest must also be available to people when they have special needs. He is frequently involved in individual counseling, (marriage problems, parent-teenager problems, drug problems, or just life in general). Like anyone else, a priest must also find some time for rest and relaxation when he can do things he enjoys.

4. Who qualifies to become a priest?

A single man with average intelligence, emotional stability and sincere interest may qualify for the priesthood. He must have an interest in people and in trying to make the world a better place through priestly ministry. He should also be a person who is generous and looking for the challenge that comes with following the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church.

5. How long does it take to become a priest?

For a man considering the possibility of priesthood he must have four years of high school, four years of college, one year of spirituality and four years of graduate study (Theology) and then be called by the Bishop to Ordination. You might feel that this is a long period of time but when preparing for any other profession (doctor, lawyer) it also takes a long time. A man must be fully prepared to minister to the people of the Church.

6. Are there programs available for an older man considering the possibility of becoming a priest?

If you are a man older than college age and are considering the priesthood then you should contact the Diocesan Vocation Director. Most dioceses have programs for older men who are seriously reflecting upon the Lord’s call to priesthood.

Are you curious about the seminary? Answers to Your Questions about the Seminary

Until Sunday night. This week is the Life Teen Training Convention, when over 500 people come together to pray, praise, and work on making youth ministry great. What’s amazing about this year is that over SEVENTY priests are at the Convention – it’s like a priest bonanza (that’s a real thing I just invented). Everywhere you turn, there are men in black sporting Roman collars…

…and on Sunday, we had Mass. Yes, with seventy priests. So we got to one of my favorite parts of liturgy, when the priest says, “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father forever and ever.” It’s called the ‘Per Ipsum,’ (which is Latin for ‘through Him’) and it can be said or chanted. And I’ll be honest, it’s one of those prayers I always wish I could be praying too.

So at this Mass, when it was time for the Eucharistic prayer, seventy priests came up on the altar to concelebrate. The stage was packed, and it was seriously awesome. And when we got to the Per Ipsum, a choir of priests sang out a beautiful prayer to God.

As I knelt there, I realized I needed to rewrite my blog. Simple memories of priests weren’t going to cut it, because in this moment I saw a whole new part of the priesthood. These priests, all individuals, spoke with one voice; they spoke with the voice of Christ. It visually represented that all priests tie in with the one person of Jesus, no matter where they are from.

Which is really what brings me to the point God put on my heart in Mass – a point about what makes the priesthood so much more than a job or a simple career move. The priesthood is a place where humanity meets the mysterious. This year, Life Teen’s theme is ‘Behold the Mystery,’ and there are a lot of mysteries that can come to mind in the Church. But maybe now, as the year of the priest draws to a close, we can take some time to reflect on what a beautiful mystery it is that God takes humble men and lets them forgive our sins, fill us with the Spirit, and bring us the Body and Blood of Christ.