Vocations

ARE YOU CALLED TO THE PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS CHRIST?

Dear Friend in Christ,

Welcome to the Belleville Diocese Priesthood site!

Have you ever thought of becoming a Catholic priest? Would you like to serve the Catholic Church in southern Illinois as a priest in the Diocese of Belleville? Would you like to know what you need to do to learn more about the possibility of becoming a priest? You will find the answers to these and other questions on this page. May God bless you as you think about the best way to live your life as a follower of Christ.

Faithfully yours,
Bishop Edward K. Braxton

Helpful Links:
Questions about Vocations
PRAYER for VOCATIONS to the PRIESTHOOD
Diocesan Vocation Directors Information

PRAYER for VOCATIONS to the PRIESTHOOD

Personal prayer is very important as you go forward. Try to participate in daily Mass. Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently. Begin the practice of spiritual reading (e.g., the lives of the saints, especially priest saints). This will surely help you to decide if you should commit your life to Christ and His Church as a priest. Know that if you embrace the Diocese of Belleville as a future priest, the whole Church of southern Illinois will be praying for you as well.

Why not join us in praying our Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood each day? The prayer is:

Leader: God is good.
Response: All the time!
Leader: All the time.
Response: God is good!

Let us Pray:
Lord, Our God
we know that You are Goodness itself.
Throughout history you have called forth ministers of Word and Sacrament to lead, guide, and serve your people as priests.
We join with our Bishop in praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood in our Diocese

We ask you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to stir up a desire in the hearts of young men in our parishes to serve your Church in the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Help them to hear and respond generously to your call deep within their hearts, so they may join with those who have built up your Church, through their ministry as priests.

O God of Love and Mercy, we pray that you will inspire our priests to continue to share the joy and the happiness of their ministry at Your Altar in the Christian community.
Prompt parents, grandparents, and teachers to realize that sometimes you call future priests to your service through the encouragement of those who see in them the qualities of a good priest.

We pray especially for our seminarians.
We ask you to help them to be the best human beings, the best Christians, and the best priests they can be.
Graciously hear our prayer through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of priests and in the name of Jesus who is Christ the Lord. AMEN.

Would you like more information about vocations and the Church?
Please consult the following United States Conference of Catholic Bishops vocations website: www.foryourvocation.org

Diocesan Vocation Directors Information
Rev. Msgr. William P. McGhee, 618-233-2391, William-mcGhee@sbcglobal.net
Rev. Trevor Murry, 618-932-2828, johnthebaptist@mchsi.com
Rev. David M. Wilke, 618-274-3486, revdwilke@aol.com
Mrs. Patti Warner, Secretary, 618-235-9601, Ext. 148, PWarner@diobelle.org

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