Lord, let me know clearly the work you are calling me to do. Grant me the grace and generosity I need to answer your call with courage and love, for to do your will is my joy and my peace. Amen.

Holy Orders

The sacrament of Orders consecrates men as deacons, priests, and bishops for the service of the Church. Ordination makes someone a member of the clergy, whose role is to administer the sacraments, lead public prayer, serve the poor, and preach. Diocesan priests serve in parishes, visit the sick, oversee religious education programs, and provide pastoral care; permanent deacons and religious priests are often more involved in ministries of service, charity, and evangelization.

If you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, you can reach out to Fr. Dan (dtm33@cornell.edu), the pastor of your home parish, or check out these resources: 

• Diocese of Rochester Priestly Vocations

• Diocese of Rochester Diaconal Vocations

• USCCB Vocations and Discernment Resources

Religious Life

Men and women also serve the Church in religious life as sisters, brothers, nuns, friars, and monks. Some (male) religious are priests and deacons, but not all are. Some bishops and cardinals are members of religious orders, but most are not. (There are, of course, notable exceptions: the Pope is a Jesuit!)

You may have heard of the Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, or Jesuits. In fact, there are thousands of religious orders, congregations, and communities, each with a special way of life, spirituality, apostolate (mission), and charism (spiritual gift). In general, what all religious share are their vows to live by the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

If you are interested in religious life within the Diocese of Rochester, there are many orders and communities that you can explore. Get started using this list of communities with contact information.

To help you in a wider geographical search, the Vision Vocation Network website provides a rich array of resources, including a database of religious communities and interactive discernment tools.

Other Vocations

Whether you are single, married, lay, religious, or ordained, our Catholic tradition offers many additional paths for living out the Christian commitment, such as secular institutes, lay third orders, or lay ecclesial movements. Check out more on the Vision Vocation Network website!

Discernment

Discernment takes time, reason, prudential planning, the good counsel of trusted friends and mentors, and above all prayer. Here are a few questions to get you started, no matter what vocation you may be discerning. Consider reflecting on one question a week.

1. Imagine Jesus looks you in the eye, calls you by your first name, and says, “What is it you really want your life to be about?"

2. Don’t be afraid to tell Jesus all you hope for in life. Listen for his response deep in your heart: it will be the thought that brings you the most peace. (Those quiet moments just after Holy Communion can be a great time for this conversation with God.)

3. Think about the things you do each week. What brings you the most happiness?

4. Think of the people that you admire most in your life. What qualities about them do you like the best? What are their Spirit-given gifts? Do you have some of those same qualities and gifts?

5. What is the biggest decision you’ve made about your life, so far? How did you come to that decision? Was it a good one?

(Source: Diocese of Rochester, http://www.rocpriest.org/)