Catholic ordination as the candidate

01 Discernment

The Catholic ordination process begins with discernment, typically with the diocesan vocations director. A potential candidate meets with the vocations director over a year or more, discussing the sense of call, the candidate's life and faith, family circumstances, and the practical realities of seminary and ministry. Many dioceses run a "Come and See" weekend at the diocesan seminary to introduce potential candidates to seminary life.

Discernment is not a unilateral process. The vocations director, the candidate's spiritual director, and (for religious vocations) the religious community's vocations team all participate in confirming or redirecting the candidate's sense of call.

02 Seminary formation

Once accepted to seminary, the candidate enters multi-year formation. Canon law (CIC c. 1032 §1) requires a minimum of five years of philosophical and theological studies for the presbyterate. In US practice, candidates entering without a philosophy degree complete two years of pre-theology followed by four years of theology, for six years total. Candidates with a philosophy background complete four to five years.

Formation has four dimensions in the US bishops' framework: human (psychological maturity, capacity for relationships), spiritual (prayer life, sacramental life), intellectual (academic studies in philosophy, theology, scripture, canon law, liturgy), and pastoral (supervised ministry assignments through the seminary years).

The seminary rector is responsible for the candidate's formation and provides the official testimonial on the candidate's character and suitability for ordination (CIC cc. 1050-1051).

03 Transitional diaconate

Before priestly ordination, the candidate is ordained a transitional deacon. Canon law (CIC c. 1031 §1) requires at least six months between transitional diaconate and priestly ordination. The transitional diaconate is normally celebrated in the candidate's seminary year before the final theological year; the diaconal year is spent in pastoral assignment, often at a parish in the home diocese.

The transitional deacon assumes the public obligation of celibacy at ordination (CIC c. 1037) unless they have taken perpetual vows in a religious institute. The obligation is permanent regardless of subsequent ordination.

04 The Mass of Ordination

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is celebrated within a Mass at the diocesan cathedral, normally in late spring or early summer, with the diocesan bishop presiding. The Mass typically lasts about two hours.

The Rite of Ordination follows the homily. The candidates are presented to the bishop by the seminary rector; the bishop examines them on their understanding of and commitment to the priesthood. The candidates prostrate themselves on the floor of the sanctuary during the litany of the saints (a powerful moment of the rite). The bishop lays hands on each candidate; the concelebrating priests then come forward and each also lay hands on each candidate. The bishop prays the prayer of ordination. The newly ordained are vested in priestly vestments by other priests; their hands are anointed with chrism; they are given a chalice and paten. The Mass continues with the newly ordained concelebrating.

05 After ordination

The newly ordained priest typically celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving the day after ordination, often at the candidate's home parish or family parish. Family and friends gather; the newly ordained gives a first blessing to family members (a moment with traditional significance).

The bishop assigns the newly ordained to an initial pastoral assignment, normally a parochial vicar role at a parish in the diocese. The assignment letter is sent shortly before or after ordination.

06 Common questions

07 Pastoral note