The Catholic Priest - Answering God’s Call
The Catholic Priest - Answering God’s Call is a new, free publication for every man considering his vocation in life. With an initial print run of more than 10,000 copies, it will be available from every Catholic senior school, university chaplaincy and diocese in England and Wales.
Launch
At the launch in Westminster last week, Archbishop Vincent Nichols said: “I think that it’s a lovely act of providence; that even as this period of grace (of the relics of St Thérèse) comes to an end, there is this re-launch of this call to the whole Church to be attentive to the voice of God, and especially to the call of God to serve in the priesthood.”
The Chairman of the National Office for Vocation, Bishop George Stack said that the publication was designed: “to give access to people perhaps who are not ready to make a commitment to priesthood or religious life, but are certainly interested in exploring the possibility.”
The Catholic Priest – Answering God’s Call is in its second edition and was originally written by the Bishop of East Anglia, The Right Reverend Michael Evans. Fr Paul Embery, the former Director of the National Office for Vocation, revised the text to bring it up to date and make it fresh and appealing to today’s enquirers. It is a joint venture by the Vocations Initiative of the Catenian Association on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.
Anthony Brindle, the Catenian Association member who coordinated the publication said: “For a number of years, every Catenian circle, has prayed for vocations before every monthly meeting. There has been a tsunami of prayer and I hope that it will bear fruit.”
In the opening foreword, Archbishop Nichols writes: “This book gives a clear description of what priesthood is today, for the Catholic Church at the beginning of the 21st Century. It will assist any reader to understand the role of the priest and I believe that it will be a valuable resource for any young man who might want to discover what it is to be a priest or to pursue some idea that he may have a vocation.
Undoubtedly, God continues to call men to priesthood. Books like this will help those who hear the call to recognise it for what it is.”
Chapters
The book is divided into 11 chapters:
My Vocation as a Christian
Priesthood and the Church: An overview
What is a priest?
What does a priest do?
What is it really like: a priest’s view
Could it be me?
Initial steps: your bishop and your calling
What do I do next?
How do I apply: the selection process
Formation for priesthood
You are a priest forever: ordination and beyond
There is also an introduction by the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O’Brien.
Adam Dora
Age: 17
Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Kensington
“I’ve been seriously considering priesthood for the last three years – I’ve been doing a lot of praying and discerning and I feel it’s about time that I actually act and do something quite constructive, like finding out more and possibly applying towards the end of the year.”
Watch
Click here for a short video clip of Adam talking about the priesthood.
Sam Goodman
Age: 19
Greenwich University studying for a Foundation Degree in Paramedic Science
“I think that God may be calling me to the priesthood. I’m just open to serving the community…”
Watch
Click here for a short video clip of Sam talking about the priesthood.
Bishop George Stack
Chairman of the National Office for Vocation
“It’s an extraordinary life which touches the depths of people's reality in a privileged way and puts them in contact with the things of God in the person of Jesus Christ.”
Watch
Click here for a short video clip of Bishop Stack talking about the priesthood.
James Osbourne
Age: 19
First year at Kings College, London, studying theology
“Considering priesthood because Church life has resonated within me – I’ve grown up with it right from the very start – I’ve come from a very close knit parish community which has really inspired my love of God and the Church.”
Watch
Click here for a short video clip of James talking about the priesthood.
Sebastian
Age: 32
“Following my own ways is not going to make me happy or more fulfilled. I asked God to come into this emptiness and teach me to want what he wants me to do…”
Watch
Click here for a short video clip of Sebastian talking about the priesthood.
Fr Paul Embery
Former Director, National Office for Vocation
Now Parish Priest in Kendal, Lake District
“The priesthood is certainly a very challenging life… For people who think it’s a dull and boring existence, if only they could come and see what it’s all about…”
Watch
Click here for a short video clip of Fr Paul Embery talking about the priesthood.