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Discerning the priesthood
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April 22, 2020Priestly discernment and seminary formation involve a man asking the question, "Is God calling me to the priesthood?" Finding the answer requires the seminarian, his spiritual director, his vocations director and others to work together.
In a recent article* from the Catholic News Agency, “Discerning in, and discerning out: What happens when seminarians leave?”, Fr. James Wehner, rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, said only about 30 percent of men who originally enter seminary are ordained. While percentages may vary, one sign of a healthy formation program is that some of the men who begin discern out during the process.
How and why does a man decie to leave seminary formation? What does it mean when a man says he had "discerned out?"
The question is timely because one of our seminarians Jack Kinnunen at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Minnesota decided to leave seminary formation recently. This decision was made with prayer and in discussion with his vocation director, spiritual director, family members, and friends.
The core of a vocation is a call from God. The only sufficient reason to remain on the path to priesthood is if a man is convinced he is being called to that vocation. His conviction must further be confirmed by the seminary and the bishop.
Through prayer, however, a man may discover he is not being called. In some cases, he may be ill-suited for the work that a priest does. He or his formators may reach the conclusion that he needs to step away from formation, whether for a period of time or permanently. (A related topic is when a man takes time off from seminary to pursue growth or clarity before returning to priestly formation.)
The decision to leave seminary varies for each man. Some are asked to leave; some men reach that decision prayerfully on their own. The sincere pursuit of seminary formation and a good beginning do not guarantee that a man is called or is able to continue the journey to ordination.
Two of my close friends in seminary discerned out, one during the first year and one during the second year. Each one of them is happily married with children. They were sincere both in entering seminary, and in choosing to leave. Also, one of my best friends in seminary took time off during formation and received the clarity he needed to return to be ordained.
A healthy seminary formation process is able to engage each man's journey to challenge him and accompany him in seeking the Lord's call in his life.
In a healthy seminary formation program, good and prayerful men will begin the process and some will not continue to ordination. Please pray daily for each of our seminarians and for all the men discerning priesthood in our diocese.
