A call to serve: discerning your vocation
Are you feeling a calling to dedicate your life to God and his people? Discover more about the journey to the Diaconate or Priesthood within Our Lady & St Sebastian's Apostolic Catholic Church, an Old Catholic community, United Kingdom Erie and Kenya
Are you called to serve?
For those considering a vocation to the Diaconate or the Priesthood, this page is for you. We believe in service to others, and if you have a faith to give yourself to serve God and his people, you may be hearing a call to discern your vocation.
The Diaconate
Deacons are ministers of Word, altar and service. They proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and help others to know Jesus through catechesis, prayer and study of the Scriptures.
About deacons
Deacons in the Catholic Church
Deacons are ordained to be a sign and driving force of the Church’s service of those who are poor, sick, vulnerable or marginalised. They inspire and often co-ordinate the ministry of all the members of the Church who work for a more just and generous society.
They assist the bishop and the priests in the celebration of the Mass, preside at baptisms, weddings and funerals and lead communities in other liturgical services.
“The generosity of a deacon who spends himself without seeking the front lines smells of the Gospel and tells of the greatness of God's humility that takes the first step to meet even those who have turned their backs on Him." Pope Francis, Rome, 19 June 2021.
Discernment roadmap
Vocations to ordained ministry have to be discerned both by the individual and by the Church.
Men who feel called to the diaconate enter a process of prayer and discernment which involves a formal application and assessment.
Formation
Those invited by the bishop enter a four year process of human, academic, spiritual and pastoral formation.
Training and study
an online programme of St Patrick's seminary
Spiritual direction
Prayer and spiritual direction are integral to the process of discernment.
Frequently asked questions
What are deacons in the Catholic Church?
'From the very earliest days of the church deacons held a special place in the Christian Community, set apart along with bishops and priests for a special role modelled on that of Christ himself. ‘Deacon’ comes from the Greek word 'diakonos’ which means a servant or helper. In particular, deacons came to be considered helpers of the bishop, responsible for the community’s day to day material and spiritual well-being.
Those studying for the priesthood are ordained deacon as a step towards the priesthood (transitional deacons). The permanent diaconate was restored in the 1960s and those ordained as permanent deacons have a ministry in today’s Church that is far reaching. Working under their bishop and alongside the parish priest, they serve the Church through the celebration of baptism and marriage, by preaching and by helping the most vulnerable members of the community.’ National Office for Vocation.
Can Catholic deacons be married?
Yes, most Catholic deacons are married, often with children, but they make a commitment not to marry again if their wife should die before them. Single men can also be deacons and they make a commitment to remain celibate once they are ordained.
What is the difference between a priest and a deacon?
Priests and deacons perform different roles and receive different training, although there are some areas of overlap in their ministries.
Whilst a priest gives his life fully to the ministry of the Church, most deacons have jobs and are not in full-time ministry.
A key difference between priests and deacons is the sacraments that they can offer.
Only those ordained as priests can preside at the Eucharist, offer absolution in confession, and anoint the sick.
Deacons assist priests at Mass by proclaiming the Gospel, preaching the homily, and serving as ordinary ministers of the Eucharist. They can baptise and witness Catholic marriages and preside at Catholic funerals.
Is God calling you to be a deacon?
Are you a Catholic single or married man aged 30 plus and preferably below the age of 60? Are you committed to exploring what God is asking of you in your life? Are you actively engaged in the mission of your parish?
Do you have a desire to engage in the Church’s service of the world? Are you prepared to work for justice for the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalised in society? Do you have good communication skills and experience in working with others?
The Priesthood
The Priesthood
The Catholic Priesthood is a way of following Jesus Christ with your whole life, body and soul. Catholic priests celebrate the sacraments, offer pastoral care and teach the good news of Jesus Christ.
About the Catholic priesthood
The priesthood was established by Jesus Christ to sustain His Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that, through the priesthood, ‘the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry.’
Many people can feel unsure of how to process or respond to being called and it can be difficult to know who to talk to about it. If that sounds like you, you are not alone, our Church Vocations team are here to support you on your journey.
Discernment roadmapThe journey to the priesthood is different for everyone, but the stages towards becoming a Catholic priest are the same for all. Here’s how it breaks down. If this all goes well, your training for the priesthood can begin!
1. (Talk it over)
The best place to start if you feel called to the priesthood is to start a conversation. This might feel daunting, but every journey starts with a single step, and the journey towards to the priesthood begins with a conversation. This is not a commitment, but an opportunity to explore and discern God's will for your life. Talk to our Vocations Director. He is here to help guide you on your journey.
He will be happy to meet in person and be available to support over the years if you both discern that the priesthood is for for you.
In this early phase, you would also be offered and encouraged to have a spiritual director, who can help you grow in your spiritual life.
(Application & interview)
After a period of discernment, if you have decided that you want to be considered for the priesthood by the archdiocese, you will need to submit a formal application. This application goes to the Vocations Director.
Included in this process, is the preparation of an essay about your journey to the priesthood and why you feel called to this way of life.
There is an opportunity to meet with an interview panel who produce a report that goes to the archbishop and finally, you will then have a one-to-one interview with the archbishop.
(A foundation year)
Before going to seminary (a school for the training priests), you will likely first what is called a propaedeutic year; a foundation year.
This year often takes place at The Royal English College of St Alban in Valladolid, Spain.
This year is a great opportunity to live in community, deepen your spiritual life, experiment with different forms of prayer, and get a taste of what seminary life would be like.
If you still want to go forward after this year, you are on your way to seminary.
(Training in seminary)
The training process to become a priest in seminary takes a number of years which takes into account your age and experience.
Seminary life is community life, as men studying for the priesthood live, pray and study together. Alongside the community life of the colleges, seminary training also provides plenty of opportunities for pastoral experiences, through local ministry, for example in parishes, schools and hospitals.
Seminary formation is made up of four pillars, human formation, spiritual formation, intellectual formation and pastoral formation. Intellectual formation usually consists of studies in theology and philosophy.
(Ordination to the priesthood)
During the course of your formation, you would receive the the ministries of Lector and Acolyte and then towards the end of your seminary foundation, you would be ordained a deacon.
Having completed all of your studies, training and pastoral experience, you would be ordained a Catholic priest.
Frequently asked questions
(What do Catholic priest do?)
Catholic priests celebrate the sacraments, offer pastoral care and teach the good news of Jesus Christ.
Celebrating the sacraments looks like saying Mass, hearing confessions, baptising children, celebrating first communion and first reconciliation (confession), marrying couples and anointing the sick and dying.
Pastoral care is amongst all of this. Priests for an archdiocese will most often minister as parish priests, being local to a place and a people, helping them to grow in the Christian life and helping them to become disciples of Jesus. They will often provide pastoral care through chaplaincy roles at schools, hospitals and universities.
(Do Catholic priest get paid?)
Our clergy support their ministries through their secular work, and in some cases are of independent means. Some have ecumenical ministry too, earning from funerals, weddings and life-state services for standard fees. Our clergy have a deep connection with those they serve as they too are exposed to the pressures and situations of working life; it makes our clergy 'connected' and helps them in their pastoral care.
Old Catholic tradition
As an Old Catholic Church, we offer a unique spiritual home and a rich tradition for those called to serve.
A service to the people of God
To be a Deacon or a Priest in the Old Catholic Church is to commit to a life of service, spiritual growth, and community leadership. It's a profound journey of faith and dedication to God's people.
Discerning your path
Follow the calling
Vocation means 'calling’. Our team exists to help you discern what God is calling you to do with your life.
You are called
All of the baptised have a vocation – married or single, priests or deacons, monks, friars or nuns - we all have a part to play, and all share in the universal call to holiness.
“Courageously follow the path of personal holiness and diligently nourish yourselves with the word of God and the Eucharist. The holier you are, the more you can contribute to building up the Church and society.” - St John Paul II
Many people can feel unsure of how to process or respond to being called and it can be difficult to know who to talk to about it. If that sounds like you, you are not alone, our archdiocesan Vocations team are here to support you on your journey.
More about vocations
No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people. Did not Jesus say: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35)?"
Pope Francis – January 16, 2014
Priests
Catholic priests celebrate the sacraments, offer pastoral care and teach the good news of Jesus Christ.
About the Catholic priesthood
Religious Life
Monks, nuns and friars vow to give their lives totally to God and to live in the community.
About the religious life
Deacons
Deacons are ministers of Word, altar and service. They proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and help others to know Jesus through catechesis, prayer and study of the Scriptures.
About the diaconate
Married Life
In marriage, we see God’s vision for a loving union between man and woman and the foundation for family life.
Explore marriage and family life
Single Life
Single people are a valued part of the Church, and are encouraged to put their gifts to use in the service of the world and the Church.
Living a single life
We are here to help
Our Diocesan Vocations team are here to help you to discern what the Lord is calling you to. They are available to meet with you and assist you in this discernment.
If you have identified the way of life that you are interested in, get in touch with the team member for that vocation.
Supporting the vocations of all the baptised
We all have a part to play.
"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet." - Frederick Buechner
Growing in your spiritual life
Put your
faith into action
Contact our department:
A life of purpose
Embrace a life dedicated to serving God and enriching the lives of others within our Old Catholic community. It's a fulfilling path that allows you to make a tangible difference in the world.
