Vocations
Vocations Video | 8
Ways to Encourage Vocations | Today's
Priests | Links to other Religious Orders | Religious Communities of Men | Representation of Women Religious in the Diocese | Seminarians
Contacts at the Office of Vocations
 
Fr. Miguel Gonzalez
Director of the Office of Vocations
(407) 246-4875
E-mail:
mgonzalez@orlandodiocese.org
Sister Kathleen Power, SSJ
Associate Director of Vocations
(407) 246-4928
E-mail: kpower@orlandodiocese.org
PRAYER CARD
Prayer for Vocations -
Please pray this prayer daily.
God, our Father, we turn to you in this time of great need....
Download a copy of the prayer card in pdf format by clicking on it.
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RELIGIOUS LIFE FOR MEN AND WOMEN
Download an information packet regarding Religious Life for Men and Women and upcoming retreats in pdf format. Click here.
Continue below for information regarding the diocesan priesthood.
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VOCATIONS VIDEOS
Watch the video by choosing a connection speed below. Quicktime is required.
VocationVidEnglish.mov - 56k Modem
VocationVidEnglish.mov - 256k DSL/Cable
Follow the link below to get the Quicktime plug-in.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Click here to view photos of a previous vocation awareness weekend!
Also visit:
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary - http://www.svdp.edu
St. John Vianney College Seminary - http://www.sjvcs.edu
National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors - http://www.ncdvd.org
National Federation of Priest's Council: www.nfpc.org
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Bishop Wenski Ordains Two Priests on May 31, 2008 
Reprinted with permisson of the Florida Catholic
By Jennifer Powers
ORLANDO — St. James Cathedral brimmed with excitement and joy May 31 as family, friends and others gathered to witness the ordination of Deacon Mark Richard Wajda and Deacon Hector Antonio Vazquez Saad to the priesthood.
Father Miguel Gonzalez, director of vocations for the Diocese of Orlando, began the rite of ordination by attesting that both candidates had been properly prepared and found worthy of ordination, causing witnesses to break out into enthusiastic applause.
Bishop Thomas Wenski, in his bilingual homily, quoted Isaiah, Chapter 6, “Like Isaiah who heard the Lord’s voice asking, ‘Whom shall I send; who will go for us?’ you answered, ‘Here am I, send me.’ We thank you for accepting the call. Today, we share in your joy.”
Marking a solemn moment of the Mass, Bishop Wenski laid his hands on the head of each candidate, conferring the sacrament of holy orders. The 40 or more priests who attended joined in the laying on of hands as a symbol of welcome into the common priesthood of Christ.
Deacons Wajda and Vazquez removed their deacon’s stoles and put on their priestly stoles and chasubles before being anointed with chrism oil in the sign of the cross on their hands. The newly ordained received bread and wine from the bishop, symbolizing and inaugurating their ordained ministry. Afterward, the bishop and all the priests shared the kiss of peace with Father Wajda and Father Vazquez and the 2 men join brotherhood of priests.
About a dozen seminarians from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami attended the ordination. “Being present at the ordination gives me encouragement for my journey,” said sophomore Martin Nguyen. “The laying on of hands is something hard to express in words.” “It reminds me of what we are called to,” said Jonathan Stephanz, also a sophomore at St. John Vianney.
“Imitate the Good Shepherd,” Bishop Wenski told Father Wajda and Father Vazquez during the ordination Mass, “Go out and wash the feet of the people entrusted to your care.” In July, they will do just that. Father Wajda will begin his priestly ministry at Annunciation Parish in Longwood. Father Vazquez will be assigned to Holy Redeemer Parish in Kissimmee.
What happens during an Ordination? |
On the Road to Vocations - Father Miguel Gonzalez, the Director of Vocations, and many young men participated in Vocation Awareness Weekend. More than 70 men, nearly half from the Orlando Diocese, gathered at St. John Vianney College Seminary to experience a little bit of seminary life. In a retreat-like atmosphere, the visitors participated in Mass eucharistic adoration and the Stations of the Cross, and took time for sports and fellowship. The young men learned about the academic program of the seminary and talked with the seminarians about their experiences. Click here to see the pictures of the event. Photos are by Carol Ferrazzano. |
Click here to know read about Andrew Riccadonna
Seminarias with Bishop Wenski
Eight
Ways to Encourage Vocations
- Be faith-filled people.
Pray for guidance in decisions, and
seek to deepen your relationship with
God.
- Let Christian values
guide you. Be generous and of service
to others.
- Pray. Let the children
see you pray and pray with them in ordinary
and extraordinary circumstances.
- Share faith. Talk with
children about how faith affects your
life.
- Make and demand sacrifice.
Help children see both by example and
by what you expect of them that a holy
and happy life involves sacrifice.
- Stay in touch. Get to
know priests and religious by interacting
with them as opportunities arise so
that you are comfortable with them and
understand their commitment.
- Educate. Teach children
you know about the option of a call
to religious life or priesthood as well
as the call to marriage or single life.
- Support. If a child or
young adult speaks of a desire to be
a priest, deacon, brother or sister,
be supportive.
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 And
a Whole lot More!
Today's Priests Live
Full Lives, But Their Main Role is to
Lead the Church
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does the Church
need priests?
A. The Eucharist
is the source and summit of the life of
the Church. Without the Eucharist, there
is no Church. In a sacramental way, Christ
is present to the Church in the person
of the priest. All of the sacraments offer
a personal encounter with Christ, and
the priest is the one who offers the sacraments.
Q. How do I know
if God is calling me to the priesthood?
A. Today,
many people look to the future and ask: "What
do I want to do with my life?" The
proper question is: "God, what
do you want me to do with my life for
you?" To know if you are being
called, you must have a prayerful relationship
with God, since God is the one who calls
us to a specific vocation. Often, when
someone senses that God is calling them
to the priesthood, there is a negative
reaction. This is normal, but do not
think that it means you are not meant
to be priest. Very often, it is a positive
indicator!
Q. What qualities
are looked for in a priest?
A. A desire to serve
others - love for the Church - deep faith
- man of prayer - leadership ability -
one who relates well with people - and
one who is a builder of the community.
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 Q.
What do I do if I think I am being
called to the priesthood?
A. Speak to people
you trust and get their feedback. You
may also wish to speak to your pastor
or any other priest you know. Most of
all, speak with the vocations director
of the diocese, because he can answer
many of your questions.
Q. Do I have to know
for sure that I want to be a priest
to enter the seminary?
A. No There are two
levels of seminary formation, college
and theology. In both cases, seminary
is not only a place of education and formation,
it is also a place for continued prayer
and discernment.
Q. What is the process
for entering the seminary?
A. There is first
an application process for the diocese.
Once the student is accepted by the diocese,
then there is another application process
for the seminary.
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 Q.
Where would I attend the seminary?
A. Currently, the
Diocese of Orlando uses St. John Vianney
College Seminary, Miami and St.
Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary,
Boynton Beach. Once a student has been
accepted as a seminarian by the diocese,
then the student is assigned to the seminary
by the bishop.
Q. What are the academic
requirements to enter the seminary?
A. To enter seminary college,
a student must have completed high school
with a GPA of 2.0 or better. For the final
five years of theology, a student needs
a four-year college degree with a GPA
of 2.0 or better and some basic philosophy
requirements. Generally, the education
process requires nine years after high
school.
Q. If I were ordained
a priest for the Diocese of Orlando,
where would I serve?
A. Most diocesan
priests serve as parish priests, However,
some do serve in other roles, such as
high school chaplain, hospital chaplain,
or in offices at the Catholic Center.
Q. How much does
seminary cost and who is responsible
for the expenses?
A. For college seminarians,
the student and the family are responsible
for the expense. However, there are numerous
financial aid packages available through
the school, and the diocese will do everything
it can do to see that no one is turned
down on the basis of financial need. At
the theology level, the diocese covers
the basic expenses of room, board, tuition,
books, and health insurance premiums.
The theology students also receive a monthly
allowance to help defer other personal
expenses.
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