Each of us through our Baptism has been called to actively participate in the Church, to love God, serve our neighbor and help move forward the work of God’s Kingdom. In one sense we are all the same, all sons and daughters of God, loved and filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and together we make up the Body of Christ. At the same time, we have unique gifts and talents that we bring to our service of the Lord.
“So, we though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another…Our gifts differ according to the grace given to us.” (Romans 12:5, 6)
As we mature in faith we may experience a deeper call or a movement of our spirit that draws us towards a specific path as a priest, sister, religious brother, lay missionary, youth minister, etc. In response to this sense of feeling called, we can begin a process of discernment which helps to clarify more precisely what the call is and what the next steps might be in our response.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should last.” (John 15:16)
If you sense that you are being called to the priesthood, to cross-cultural missionary life and service to the poor however far away, you may have a vocation to become a Columban missionary priest, a Columban Father.
When you contact us we will assist you in your process of discernment to discover what God’s path for you is. This is called the Accompaniment period and it generally lasts for a year. A Columban priest will contact you initially by e-mail and then by phone. As your discernment process develops, at the appropriate time a Columban will visit you and, hopefully, your family so that we can get to know one another better and you can see if the Columban Fathers are the Society you are called to join.
During the accompaniment period you will be asked to provide documents regarding your birth, Catholic faith (baptism, confirmation, etc.), educational background, health, immigration, indebtedness, as well as a criminal background check and letters of recommendation.
You will be invited to share with us your experience in volunteer service, parish involvement and other activities that demonstrate a missionary vocation. It is strongly recommended during this discernment process that you avail of a spiritual director that you can meet with on a regular basis to walk with you through this period of coming to deeper clarity and assurance about the way the Lord might be inviting you.
If you continue on the path towards Columban missionary priesthood, you will be invited to participate in an Admissions Board which will recommend whether or not you are ready to go forward in Columban formation. The admission board will interview you and review all the pertinent documentation gathered during your accompaniment period as well as the results of psychological testing and behavioral assessment.
If recommended by the Admissions Board, your candidacy will be presented to the US Regional Director and his Council for admittance into Initial Formation.
