FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What does a priest do all day? In the area of work or ministry, many priests have one main job, such as teaching, parish ministry, or hospital work—all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands. The unpredictable demands lend richness to the life of a priest. These often include meeting the needs of people: the sick, old, angry, hurt, hungry, imprisoned, excited, or happy. A priest must share his life with others and to reveal Christ in all he does.
2. How long does it take to become a diocesan priest? Generally, it takes fours years of college, followed by five to six more years of seminary study. A seminary is a college or university run by the Catholic Church for educating/forming and preparing men to be priests.
3. What vows do priests, brothers, and sisters make? Brothers, sisters, and priests in religious communities make three vows, and some congregations make other vows as well. The three most common vows are:
4. What vows do diocesan priests make? Diocesan priests make promises of celibacy and obedience to their bishop.
5. What if you fall in love? It does happen. The basic responsibility in such a situation is to preserve the original, existing commitment—which is to live as a sister, brother, or priest. We try to develop relationships within the limits and responsibilities of our commitment to celibacy. Obviously, falling in love can be a very difficult situation for a sister, brother or priest. Yet we know that all Christians eventually face pain and difficulty in their lives. It isn’t always easy to be a faithful spouse or a single person of integrity either. Dealing with such a challenge can make us stronger than ever in our vocation.
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