LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA — “Am I being called by God to the priesthood? Is this God’s plan for me?” Now the answers to those questions may be just a mouse click away. In the newest section of the Saint Vincent Seminary website, men contemplating the priesthood can read the stories of others discerning a vocation and learn about how they came to realize they were being called to the priesthood.
The new vocations section is devoted to telling the stories of men who have left careers in biochemistry, the media, engineering and even as the maitre d’ of a posh Pittsburgh club to become priests. In addition, the Seminary website will follow some recent graduates through their first year of the priesthood and the challenges they face once ordained. The Seminary’s website is: http://benedictine.stvincent.edu/seminary/. Visitors should follow the “vocations” link.
“Men who answer God’s call today will become the priests of tomorrow,” said John P. Marous, Jr., Chairman of the Seminary Board of Regents in annoucing the website addition. “The Seminary educates future priests, and is now expanding its role via the Internet to assist with vocations to the priesthood.”
“Each man called to the priesthood hears the call in a unique way,” said Father Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., Seminary Rector. “By featuring the stories of some of our seminarians we hope to assist others who are discerning a call to the priesthood.”
Rev. Mr. Thomas Burke, a transitional deacon from the Diocese of Pittsburgh will be among the first Seminary graduates to tell his story, including his thoughts regarding his approaching ordination, and monthly updates on his first year in the priesthood.
The Seminary website also provides information on how one goes about becoming a priest. The Seminary does not recruit students directly, as colleges and universities do. Archdioceses, dioceses and religious communities work with men discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Once a candidate commits to becoming a priest for that archdiocese, diocese or religious order, then a Seminary is chosen for his education.
Saint Vincent Seminary was founded in 1846 and is the fourth oldest Roman Catholic Seminary in the United States. More than 2,400 diocesan and religious priests have been ordained following graduation from the Seminary. There are 28 bishops, archbishops and cardinals among its distinguished alumni. The Seminary currently serves seventeen dioceses, ten Benedictine monasteries and one other religious order. If offers the Master of Arts, Master of Divinity and Bachelor in Sacred Theology degrees.
