So, you’re thinking about the priesthood? Start here

By 
Fr Kenwyn Sylvester,

Director of Vocations

Ever so often, a young man says, “Father, I think I want to enter the seminary. What should I do?”

Whenever I hear that, I silently thank God. The fact that you are asking means something is stirring in your heart. The Lord may be calling, and you are listening. That is a beautiful place to begin.

The call to the priesthood does not begin with a form. It starts with prayer, honest conversation, and a willingness to be led, one step at a time.

Here in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, no one discerns alone. We, the Office of Vocations, walk with you through real questions, real life, and genuine faith, so that you can discover what God is truly asking.

I think of Michael, a man in his 20s who caught me after Mass. “I cannot stop thinking about the priesthood, but I am not sure,” he said. He was already serving at his parish, assisting at the altar, helping to lead youth prayer, and visiting the elderly with the Legion of Mary.

Over several months in our Discernment 180 journey, we prayed, talked, listened, and tested. When he eventually applied to the seminary, his ‘yes’ was not a guess. It had become a growing conviction born in prayer and service.

What is Discernment 180?

Discernment 180 (D180) is our first formal step. It is a six-month path that helps you hear Jesus more clearly and respond more freely. You will lean into:

• 
Daily prayer and Scripture
• 
The lives of the saints
• 
Spiritual direction and brotherhood with other men who are discerning
• 
Meaningful service in parish life
• 
Honest reflection on your relationship with God and your vocation.

By the end, you may not have every answer. No one does. You will, however, be clearer about the next faithful step.

Where to begin

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Pray every day. Spend time with the Lord, especially before the Blessed Sacrament. Let the Gospels speak to you. Keep Sunday Mass, frequent Confession, and the Eucharist at the centre of your life. Priesthood is not a career move; it is a covenant with Christ. A true ‘yes’ is born in prayer.
• 
Get involved in your parish. A vocation grows in the heart of the Church. Serve as a lector or altar server, join the choir, help with catechesis, or assist in outreach. Parish life, with its joys and its challenges, teaches you what it means to shepherd God’s people.
• 
Contact the Office of Vocations. You do not need to have everything figured out. Bring your questions. We will listen, guide, and help you take the next step in faith.
• 
Be open to growth. Discernment looks at your human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral life. Are you learning chastity and integrity? Do you keep commitments? Are you generous in service? No one starts perfect, but everyone must be willing to be formed.

For parents, siblings, and friends: walk with him

If you are reading this because you notice a call in your son, brother, or friend, your encouragement matters. Discernment is personal, but it is never solitary. You can make a quiet and decisive difference.

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Invite, do not pressure. A simple question, such as, ‘Have you thought about the priesthood? I see gifts in you,’ can open a door without forcing it.
• 
Pray with him. Share a Holy Hour at your parish or attend a weekday Mass together.
• 
Make space for courage. Offer practical support such as a lift to parish activities, a quiet place to pray, and time to speak with a priest.
• 
Trust the process. Discernment 180 and seminary formation are designed to clarify the call. If God is asking for a ‘yes’, He will also supply the grace.

What happens after Discernment 180?

If the call continues to echo in your heart, you may apply to the seminary. Part of that process includes an Admissions Panel Interview. It is a conversation that helps you and the Church reflect together on readiness for formation.

If you are accepted, your first stage is the Propaedeutic Year at the First House of Formation, St Joseph. This is a precious time of deepening prayer, living in community, growing in maturity, and learning to centre your life on Christ.

When that year concludes, you pause, you pray, and you make a fresh application to the Major Seminary. You ask again, “Lord, are You asking me to follow through?”

It is important to remember that entrance into the seminary is not a guarantee of ordination. Some men discern that God is leading them to another vocation, and they step forward into it with peace. Others continue with a clearer and stronger ‘yes’. Both outcomes are signs of a faithful heart that has listened well.

Ready to take the next step?

If the call is stirring in you, pray daily, serve generously in your parish, and reach out to the Office of Vocations at (868) 499-0302 or vocations@catholictt.org to learn more about Discernment 180 and upcoming opportunities to connect.

The Lord who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to bring it to completion. If He is calling, He will open the way. We will walk with you.