1. For more information or other vocations resources, please contact Graeme Munks, convenor of the Rosebank Parish PPC Vocations sub-committee, on 083 235 6813 or email abbot@iafrica.com

2. 6) Get Involved in your Parish - In Matthew Chapter 25, our Lord welcomes into paradise those that have put their faith into action by helping people in need (the hungry, homeless, etc). Get involved in some form of service with the Church. There are many ways to get involved, including outreach to the poor (e.g. help with collections for the St. Vincent De Paul Society), helping with Parish Catechetical programs & youth groups, and visiting the sick or elderly. These are all ways to get a taste of “ministry” and may increase your desire for ministry and service. 7) Read Good Books – Once you enter the Seminary, there will be a lot of helpful and inspiring reading material as part of your training. But you may wish to learn more about God, your faith, your Church, and how to grow in holiness by reading good books on your own. Obviously, the most important book is the Bible. Get a good Catholic translation of the Bible and begin with the Gospels. After the Holy Bible, the next critical book is The Catechism of the Catholic Church which is the primary source for official Church teaching on just about every issue you will face in your day to day life. Finally, read works written by great saints. The more you get to know them from their own words, the more “real” they will become to you. You will realize that your struggles are not very different from their struggles. 8) Spiritual Direction - Speaking with a priest or qualified individual trained in spiritual direction about one’s prayer life and seeking advice from this person on a regular basis can be very helpful as one discerns a vocation. Most probably, in their past they would also have shared the same concerns and thoughts as you do now, and could offer calm, constructive advice without pressuring you in a time of uncertainty. 9) Discernment Programs - Attend discernment retreats at seminaries or other discernment events hosted by your diocesan vocations office. Your privacy would be guaranteed, and you would be under no obligations thereafter. Visit the seminary as well and meet some seminarians. These are valuable activities that will give greater clarity to God’s call. In order to obtain further information about seminary and priestly life, contact the Vocation Director for your diocese. Regular meetings or discussions with the director may also help you uncover God’s will for your life. In the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, contact Fr. Lionel Sham at 011 402 6400 or email admincatholic@icon.co.za Discernment is an art and it is learned by doing, not just by reading about it. It is a function of an individual’s personal relationship with the Lord. When we desire to do God’s will, are willing to be open to God and have a solid knowledge of God, then discernment is possible. Therefore, prayer is an essential component to the process of discernment. As we become more familiar with the Lord in prayer, we will come to know that the “still small voice” speaks in peace, never in turmoil, anxiety or restlessness. Some practical suggestions which will help you discern God’s call are: 1) Mass - To discern God’s call, you are encouraged to participate in the celebration of Mass so that you can grow in your relationship with the Lord through frequent reception of the Blessed Sacrament. This could include an additional midweek perhaps. 2) Sacrament of Penance - The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance is the way in which one attempts to live a more holy life, through the frequent confession of sins and reception of the merciful grace of God. Regular use of this sacrament will guide you to a deeper understanding of where your greatest struggles are in life and will provide you with God’s grace to gain mastery over those weaknesses. Perhaps begin by receiving the sacrament monthly. Many of the holiest people of our time went to weekly confession, including Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. 3) Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - The body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ are substantially present in Holy Eucharist. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a powerful way to grow in love with the Eucharistic Lord and to grow in the spiritual life. At Rosebank, the Holy Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance every Wednesday at 18h00, followed by Benediction and a Communion Service. 4) Daily Prayer - This is time set aside for God alone, usually in a quiet place at a specific time each day. This prayer time might consist of talking to the Lord in one’s own words, or praying the Sacred Scriptures, especially the Gospels. Developing a daily habit and pattern of prayer will help one to hear more clearly the call of the Lord. 5) Devotion to the Blessed Mother – Try to find time to pray the rosary, or at least pray some ‘Hail Marys’. Seeking the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother is especially recommended in the discernment process. Discernment means “to come to know” or “to figure out.” Typically, the thought of being a priest is one that has lingered in your mind for a long time. Sometimes the pull is strong and sometimes, not so strong. But, it keeps coming back. Or you may have had a powerful experience in your life that raised the priesthood as something you ought to do. Either way you have the sense that maybe you are being called to something remarkable - to the priesthood. While you are discerning God’s call (both before and during the seminary), the Church is also discerning if you demonstrate the ability to gain the skills and the knowledge necessary to be a priest. You must also show a desire to do all the proper things that need to be done in order to be a good priest. In other words, you must desire to be a man of service to the Church out of your love for the Lord and zeal for souls. These efforts and desires will demonstrate your readiness for the vocation. Should I or Shouldn’t I? There are two sides to discernment, and the Holy Spirit is actively intertwined throughout both sides. On one side, there you are, reflecting internally, perhaps asking family and friends for advice. The other side of the decision is the Catholic Church - the more objective side, the institutional side; which includes the Diocesan Vocation Director, the Seminary and the Archbishop. Once you make the decision to formalize your discernment and engage the Vocations Office, you and the Church start moving down the road together. You have the ability to back away at any time stopping the whole process. With this understanding, some people leave the seminary for various reasons and do not become ordained. Therefore, it also takes determination and grace. In most cases, your discernment and training will go smoothly, but there may be times when you need to take some time away and re-evaluate before joining the process again. The Holy Spirit is intertwined and enmeshed throughout this long and difficult, but rewarding process, both in you and the institution, because we’re all the Church. When you reach the final steps, and are ready to make a commitment, the steps lead to the Archbishop laying hands on you and then you’ve become a priest.