Could God be calling you to the priesthood?

The world needs priests. It needs strong, faithful, courageous men willing to die to themselves for the sake of Christ’s Bride, the Church. It also needs men who want to conform themselves to Christ, who can proclaim his Word and dispense his mercy in the darkest corners of the culture.

If you think God could be calling you to this sacred mission, Franciscan University’s Priestly Discernment Program can help.

Surrounded and supported by a band of brothers who are also discerning their vocation, you’ll live and study in an environment conducive to hearing God’s voice and finding the courage to respond. You’ll also receive extensive preparation for both seminary and priestly life.

The preparation you’ll receive at Franciscan follows the model for priestly formation laid out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Under the direction of Father Jonathan McElhone TOR, you’ll receive the spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, and human formation you need to pursue God’s call in a diocesan seminary or with a religious order. You’ll also receive fraternal formation—a unique feature of Franciscan’s Priestly Discernment Program.

Practically speaking, that means you’ll grow spiritually through daily Mass, regular confession, praying both Morning and Evening Prayer as a community, deepening your personal prayer life, taking on a weekly Holy Hour, and making two retreats annually.

You’ll also grow in your understanding of the faith and the philosophical foundations undergirding a Catholic worldview. With world-renowned scholars such as Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. John Crosby, and Dr. Pat Lee for your professors, you’ll take 30 hours of coursework in philosophy and another 18 in theology, along with your other required classes.

Your pastoral formation will take place through a deep and sustained involvement in the life of Franciscan University. As a member of the Priestly Discernment Program, you’ll serve at University Masses and assist with Chapel Ministry programs. You’ll also go out into the local community, helping the spiritually and materially poor through activities such as feeding the homeless, praying at abortion clinics, and performing other works of mercy with your fellow students.

Human formation—growing in wisdom, maturity, and virtue—comes by way of spiritual direction and one-on-one meetings with the program director. It also comes through living your life as part of the larger Franciscan community, where both your fellow students and your professors are joined together in a common pursuit of holiness.

Lastly, you’ll receive fraternal formation—help living a life of Christian brotherhood. This happens through small faith-sharing groups, brotherhood nights, and especially through Franciscan’s household system, which encourages Christ-centered friendships and Christian maturity. Men in the Priestly Discernment Program belong to one of two households: Koinonia and Living Stones. During your time in the Priestly Discernment Program, you will live, study, and pray side by side with your household brothers, holding each other accountable and encouraging each other to follow God’s voice.

To apply to the Priestly Discernment Program, please fill out the application for Admission to Franciscan University of Steubenville.

For all other communications, you can reach us at [email protected] or call us at 740-283-6495.