Priesthood
Why not take the first step; go and talk to your parish priest, or a priest you know well?
Now is the time to go forward.
Visit the Events page for details of up-coming Enquiry Evenings.
For further information please contact the Vocations Director, Fr Paul Turner.
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What is a Priest?
The life of a priest is a life of spiritual leadership and service in Christ's Church. In his ministry the priest works under the Bishop and under his authority to lead Christ's people in their journey of faith, proclaiming God's word, celebrating the sacraments and acting as a good shepherd to them. When Christ's people assemble to celebrate the Eucharist the priest, who has been anointed with the Holy Spirit and consecrated for this sacred duty, acts in the person of Christ, the Head of the Body, the Church. He offers the saving sacrifice with Christ's people and for them.
When you baptize, you will bring men and women into the people of God. In the sacrament of penance, you will forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church. With holy oil you will relieve and console the sick. You will celebrate the Liturgy and offer thanks and praise to God throughout the day, praying not only for the people of God but for the whole world. Remember that you are chosen from among God's people and appointed to act for them in relation to God.
Bishop's Address at an Ordination
To download the Four Questions For Every Priest document
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Priestly Formation
The seminaries where our students train are:
a) St John's Seminary, Wonersh - 7 year course of formation. 5 years at the seminary with the possibility of a Bachelor of Theology degree from the University of Surrey. All work for these awards is done in the seminary under the guidance of the seminary staff. During the formation period an Extended Pastoral Placement of a year is normally taken. The final year as a deacon is spent in a parish.
www.wonersh.org
b) English College, Rome - 7 year course which includes an S.T.L. degree from one of the Pontifica Universities.
www.englishcollegerome.org
c) Beda College, Rome - 4 year course for those mature students who have already completed a course of tertiary education.
www.bedacollege.com
d) Some candidates may be sent for a pre-seminary year to the Royal English College, Valladolid.
www.valladolid.org
The priests of the New Testament are, it is true, by their vocation to ordination, set apart in some way in the midst of the people of God, but this is not in order that they should be separated from that people or from any person, but that they should be completely consecrated to the task for which God chooses them...They could not be the servants of Christ unless they were witnesses and dispensers of a life other than that of this earth. On the other hand they would be powerless to serve men and women if they remained all of from their life and circumstances.
Life of Priests (Presbyterium Ordinis) 3, Vatican II
To find out more about the current students click here >>>