My Vocation Guide

SIGNS THAT YOU MAY NOT YET BE READY FOR SEMINARY

A serious vocation to the priesthood is not just about desire, admiration, or the fact that one has been attending Mass regularly. Many young men are attracted to the priesthood for different reasons, but attraction alone is not the same as readiness. Seminary is a place of formation, yes, but there are also deeper matters that should already be present before a man steps into that path. If these things are missing, it may mean he is not yet ready, even if he is still spiritually interested.

One clear sign is when the desire for priesthood is built mostly on external things. Some are drawn by the respect priests receive, the clean image of the clerical life, the honour attached to the collar, or the idea of being seen as important in the Church. When the attraction is mainly about status, image, or escaping ordinary life, that is a strong sign that the heart has not yet reached the right place. Priesthood is service, sacrifice, and hidden fidelity, not a platform for self-importance.

Another sign is a deep resistance to obedience and correction. Seminary life is not perfect, and no young man enters already fully formed. But there is a difference between a person who is still growing and a person who cannot submit to guidance at all. If a man already has a hardened spirit, cannot accept authority, cannot listen, and always wants to do things his own way, that is not a small matter. Such a person may struggle badly in seminary because priestly life itself depends heavily on obedience, humility, and teachability.

A more serious sign is the presence of a double life. This is not about ordinary weakness or human struggle that can be corrected with time. It is about a person who consistently lives in pretence, hiding who he is, saying one thing and doing another, and refusing to live with honesty before God and man. Seminary cannot be built on deception. A man who is not truthful with himself, with his superiors, or with the Church is still standing on unsafe ground.

There is also the issue of inner stability. Some young men are not yet ready because their emotional life is still too unstable, too reactive, or too deeply broken for the demands of priestly formation. If a person is constantly controlled by anger, bitterness, deep resentment, or uncontrolled impulses, and he has no serious desire or capacity to change, then he may need more maturity before entering. Seminary is not a place for pretending that everything is fine. A man must have enough self-control and inner order to begin the journey meaningfully.

Another important sign is when a person does not truly love prayer, silence, and spiritual discipline. It is one thing to admire priestly robes, titles, or altar service; it is another thing to enjoy being alone with God, to stay faithful in prayer, and to live a disciplined spiritual life. A man who avoids prayer, resists spiritual seriousness, and only appears religious in public may not yet be ready. The priesthood is sustained by a real relationship with God, not by religious appearance.

A young man may also not yet be ready if he is still running from life rather than responding to a call. Some people begin to think about seminary because they are tired of confusion, tired of struggle, tired of the world, or tired of not knowing what else to do. But priesthood should not be used as an escape route. If a man is entering mainly because he feels lost, pressured, or afraid of ordinary responsibility, then he may need more time to understand himself before making such a serious move.

Some young men considering the priesthood may genuinely mean well and still not be ready for seminary yet. There are stages in life where certain attitudes, intentions, or personal dispositions can make seminary formation difficult from the beginning. It is better for a person to admit he is not yet ready than to enter formation unprepared and struggle with realities he was never disposed for in the first place. Honesty during discernment deserves more respect than unnecessary haste or pretence.

HOW TO DISCERN IF GOD IS CALLING YOU TO THE PRIESTHOOD

Many young men carry this question quietly in their hearts: how do I really know if God is calling me to the priesthood? It is not always a loud answer or a dramatic experience. Most times, it comes in a simple and steady way that grows with time, through reflection, prayer, and honest self-understanding.

One of the first things to observe is the interior attraction that does not easily disappear. It is not just admiration for priests or the beauty of the altar, but a deeper interest in the life of service, prayer, and sacrifice. Sometimes it begins as a thought that returns again and again, even when you try to ignore it.

Another important sign is the presence of peace when you imagine that life, even if there is fear. It is normal to feel uncertainty. But beyond the fear, there is often a quiet sense that says “this path is worth considering seriously.” That inner calm is not excitement alone, but something more stable.

It is also important to look at your willingness to serve without seeking attention. The priesthood is not mainly about honour or public respect. So, a young man discerning should ask himself whether he is ready for a life where service comes first, even in hidden and difficult places.

Your personal character also matters. God does not call perfect people, but He calls people who are willing to grow. If you notice a desire to become better, to pray more, to correct your weaknesses, and to live with discipline, it may be part of the movement of vocation.

However, feelings alone are not enough. Discernment requires time, guidance, and honest conversation with God. Speaking with a priest you trust, staying close to the sacraments, and being patient with yourself are all part of the process. A vocation is not forced; it is gradually understood.

It is also important to remain open. Sometimes God’s call is not what a person initially expects. A young man may start discerning priesthood and later discover another path where he is equally fulfilled in serving God and people.

Getting to know if God is calling you is not about sudden certainty, but about steady clarity. It grows as you live sincerely, pray honestly, and listen deeply within your daily life. The call of God does not confuse forever; it slowly leads a willing heart into light.

DON’T ENGAGE IN DECEPTION BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE SEMINARY

A young man who wanted to become a priest shared his story with me about how he engaged in a deceptive, or rather fraudulent, activity just to gain admission into a religious congregation here in Nigeria.

He applied for admission into this particular congregation whose entrance examination participation is solely by invitation, and he was one of the people that was invited. He attended and passed the written part of the exams but could not proceed to the next part even though he passed, due to an unusual issue with his baptism card. The vocation director told him it was not possible to allow him to move to the next phase, which was the oral interview with some senior priests in the congregation, because even if he did, the issue would still be detected and the candidate would be withdrawn from the process. The vocation director therefore advised that the best thing the young man could do was to go and rectify the issue and apply the next year, should he still feel a possible vocation to the priesthood.

Because of the age factor, the congregation warned that any aspirant who was present, and would be above 21 years with only an O’level academic qualification or above 25 years for graduates, should not bother to apply again the next year because such people would not be considered for admission.

This young man came back and ensured that the issue with his card was resolved. Since his current age had exceeded the maximum age for people who have only O’level certificate for that particular congregation he hoped to join, he changed his date of birth on his baptism card to a date that would still make him eligible. He applied to this same congregation the next year and was called again for the entrance examination.

The congregation assured those who had applied the previous year but could not be admitted that they would consider them first, before attending to those who were applying for the very first time. This young man was fully assured that he would be considered for admission since he had also applied the previous year but was not admitted on the grounds that his baptism card had an issue, which he had now rectified.

When the time for screening came, he was called by the vocations director for the exercise. He got to the table, and the first thing the vocations director requested was his baptism card. A careful look at the baptism card revealed that the date of birth had been altered. The vocations director inquired about the reasons for the alteration, and the young man maintained that the current date of birth was the real one. Meanwhile, unknown to him, the vocation director already had a soft copy of the same baptism card and other important documents from the first encounter stored on his personal computer. He showed the young man the soft copy of the baptism card and the original date of birth and persisted in the interrogation. It was at that point that the young man confessed that he had changed his date of birth so that he would still fall within the age range of those to be considered.

The vocation director became very disappointed. According to him, there are many young men who are currently undergoing formation in that particular congregation who were above the age limit, but because of their potentials and performances, he personally ensured they were admitted even though he had no prior affiliation or contact with them. This particular young man would have possibly been considered for admission into the congregation, but because of this very fraudulent and deceptive act, he lost such an opportunity. Any man who seeks his way into the seminary by being deceptive will surely do the same for ordination. The vocation director concluded by advising this young man to never, in his entire life, engage in a deceptive or manipulative act in the service of God.

This young man could not achieve his aim because of that particular act of deception.

If you are still seeking admission into a religious congregation or diocese, you can learn from this story. Concerning your documents, always ensure to have a clean and unaltered baptism card with accurate information that aligns with all other official documents, and do not be deceptive in a bid to be admitted into a religious congregation or diocese. The end here does not justify the means.

Kindly share the message.

HOW CAN I GAIN ADMISSION INTO THE SEMINARY?

Since I began learning about vocation, I have noticed a very common misunderstanding. Many people talk about the seminary as if it is a place where anyone who feels called to be a priest simply applies and gets admitted.

That is not how it works.

The seminary is not the place where you apply to become a priest. In fact, the seminary does not accept application letters from individuals at all. Yet, many young men still write letters titled “Application for Admission into the Seminary.” This is a mistake.

Let me explain this as simply and clearly as possible.

When a young man begins to feel called to the Catholic priesthood, the first decision he must make is this:
Do I want to be a diocesan priest or a religious priest?

This is very important.

A diocesan priest serves a particular diocese. He works under a bishop and promises obedience to that bishop and his successors. His ministry is usually within that diocese.

A religious priest, on the other hand, belongs to a congregation. He can be sent anywhere, depending on the mission and work of that congregation.

If you are not yet clear about this difference, take your time to learn it well. It will help you make a better decision.

Now, after making this choice, the next step is not to apply to a seminary.

You apply to a diocese or a religious congregation.

This is where the real process begins.

Once your application is received, the diocese or congregation will begin to assess you. This is not something done in one day. It usually involves several stages such as vocation programmes, retreats, entrance examinations, interviews, and sometimes even a period of close observation.

It is important to understand clearly that the seminary is not the one inviting you for these stages. The seminary is not even responsible for selecting candidates.

The selection is done completely by the diocese or the religious congregation.

If, after this process, you are accepted, something very important happens:
you are now admitted into the diocese or the congregation, not into a seminary.

It is only when you are admitted by a congregation or diocese that you are then sent to a seminary.

This is the point where the seminary now becomes involved but in a different role.

The seminary is a school and its primary work is formation of seminarians, not selection of those to be admitted.

In the seminary, you are trained and formed in four major areas: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral life. During this time, the seminary keeps communicating with the diocese or congregation about your growth and progress.

This is also why some seminarians do not complete their formation. If a candidate does not meet the required standards, he may be asked to leave. This decision is usually made in collaboration with the diocese or congregation.

When formation is successfully completed, the seminary can then recommend the candidate for ordination but the final decision still belongs to the bishop or the superior of the seminarian in question.

In Nigeria, different dioceses and congregations send their seminarians to particular seminaries they are already connected to.

So, when you hear that someone has “gained admission into the seminary,” what it really means is that
his diocese or congregation has accepted him and sent him there for formation.

This is the key point many people miss.

So to drive home the point, you do not apply to the seminary.
You apply to a diocese or a religious congregation.
They admit you.
Then they send you to the seminary to receive formation.

I hope this explanation helps to clear this confusion once and for all.

If it helps you, please share it. Many people are still making this mistake, especially when writing their application letters.

Stay connected to this page. We will continue to talk about vocation, seminary life, and everything you need to know as you discern your call to the priesthood.

See you in the next post.