Mar 30, 2015
by Brett Mangold
Discernment Weekends are an informative and prayerful time to consider a call to the priesthood.
Is God calling me to the Roman Catholic priesthood? Ten men seeking to answer that questionand seeking first-hand experience of what it's like being a seminariancame together for a Discernment Weekend on March 19-22. The Office of Priestly Vocations of the Archdiocese of Detroit hosted the event, which was held at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
What's It Like?
During the four-day overnight program, participants interacted with seminarians, attended classes, learned the seminary schedule, discussed a priestly calling with others, and spent time in prayer. The men also had a chance to kick back and enjoy the lighter side of seminary life by playing soccer and watching the play Camelot presented by the Sacred Heart seminarians.
The weekend was a rewarding experience, the men agreed, which provided them more clarity on their discernment. As one participant expressed, Nothing is set in stone at this point, but every time I come to a discernment event, I feel God shaking me.
From Many Parishes
The men who attended the event were eighteen to forty-seven years old and came from parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit: the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, SS. Cyril and Methodius in Sterling Heights, St. Thecla in Clinton Township, St Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation in Rockwood, St. Francis Cabrini in Dearborn, and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Detroit. In addition, two men from the Diocese of Lansing attended the event.
The Office of Priestly Vocations sponsors three Discernment Weekends each year. The weekends aim to provide men with the tools for proper discernment and are open to high school seniors up to men fifty-five years old. Attending a Discernment Weekend does not always lead to the priesthood, but it is always time well spent.
High School Overnight Coming!
On April 10-11, a two-day Discernment Overnight will offer high school men (Freshmen through Juniors in high school) an opportunity to experience the seminary and learn about the priesthood. And there is still time to sign up. The young men will meet new friends and grow in understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. They will hear presentations, have time for quiet reflection, and hang out with current seminarians.
The Vocations Office hosts two High School Overnights each academic yearand men are encouraged to attend both. Every event features new content; no two are the same. Typically, fifteen to twenty high school students attend each event.
Why Not Take the Leap?
Are you a single man seeking to serve the Church? Take a leap of faith and consider a discernment visit to Sacred Heart. Do you know someone whom you think would make a good priest? Why not forward him a link to this article?
For more information, call 313-868-7040 or visit the website detroitpriest.com. All discernment events are free of charge.
Brett Mangold
Brett Mangold is the vocations coordinator for the Archdiocese of Detroit Office of Priestly Vocations.