Sacrament Of Holy Orders

Do you feel God tugging at you at times? Have you ever thought of yourself as a diocesan priest, serving the People of God? Has the idea of becoming a Diocesan Priest or a Religious Sister or Brother ever crossed your mind? Do these thoughts excite you and cause you to want more information?

Your personal vocation is important as one of the greatest gifts God will give to you. It is also a very personal part of your life, especially as you begin your journey with all kinds of questions, emotions, and concerns. Always remember that you are not alone as you discern. You are in our daily prayers as you search for what you believe God is calling you to do with your life.

Please click here to visit the diocesan vocation’s webpage.

Journey to the Priesthood

What is it like to be a priest?
What does it take?
How do I know if God is calling me?
What should I do, if I am interested in becoming a priest?

If you find yourself asking questions like these, perhaps God is calling you to COME FOLLOW in His Son’s footsteps. Your consideration of becoming a priest is important and very personal. For this reason, we, the Bishop and Priests of the Diocese of Las Vegas, want to support you in your search. It is our hope that this information will help you as you discern your vocation. You are an important gift to us.

Discernment – Prayer – Sharing

Not everyone who thinks about becoming a priest actually does! There is a period of time called discernment during which each person comes to see if God is truly calling him to be a priest. The important element during this time is openness in prayer with God and in conversation with those assisting you.

The first step we suggest is to simply talk with your parish priest or any other priest with whom you can be open and comfortable. This priest may also become your Spiritual Director, and as such, would be able to assist you in your decision. It will be through him that you will make contact with the Vocation Director. Having such priests at your disposal will enable you to have your questions and concerns answered in a very personal way.

As you continue to discern, you may find yourself meeting more frequently with the Vocation Director. When your decision period enters into its final stages, you will be asked to join a discernment group. This group usually meets once a month in an informal setting for prayer, reflection, questions and answers. In such a group, you will share your calling with others who feel similarly. On occasion, the Bishop will meet with this group for an informal meeting. If all continues to progress positively, the Vocation Director will begin the formal application process with you.

Formal Application to the Diocese

When the time arrives for you to make a formal application to the Diocese, the Vocation Director will assist you in your personal meeting with the Bishop. Once the Bishop accepts you as a candidate for the seminary, you will begin to complete all the necessary forms and psychological evaluations that are required by the Diocese and Seminary. When all preparations have been completed, your application will be sent to the Seminary for processing. As part of this processing, you will be interviewed by the Seminary. Once accepted by the Seminary, the Bishop will welcome you as a seminarian for the Diocese.

Seminary Studies

The Bishop chooses the seminary for his seminarians. The Diocese of Las Vegas normally sends its college seminarians to Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon. Seminarians in Theology are sent to St. Patrick Seminary or St. John Seminary in Carmarillo, California. College graduates with little or no philosophy studies will partake in a pre-Theology program at the seminary. This special program helps prepare seminarians for their formal theological studies.

Seminarian Policy and Finances

The Bishop of Las Vegas has a Seminarian Policy and Financial Plan for its seminarians. This Policy states that all college seminarians studying for the Diocese are financially responsible for one-third of their college education expenses. It is for this reason that college seminarians are asked to seek summer employment to earn money to help with their tuition and for personal spending money.

Pastoral Year

Upon completion of their second year of Theology, seminarians begin a special assignment called a Pastoral Year. During this year, the Diocese works with the Seminary in assigning a seminarian to work in a parish on a very personal level. The purpose of this Pastoral Year is to give each seminarian a deeper and more intimate experience of parish life. An evaluation of the seminarian and his ministry will be completed by the pastor and sent to the Bishop and the Seminary.

Ordination Preparation

During the final two years of Theology, a seminarian will return to school and begin preparing for his Ordination to the Diaconate and Priesthood.

As a Priest, you join the Bishop and Priests in spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in a fast-growing Diocese. You also share the gift of your life as the Lord continues to build up His priesthood in the Diocese of Las Vegas. We need you — please give the priesthood some serious thought and, if it be God’s will, COME FOLLOW.

For Your Vocation

We know that during your discernment, you will have many questions. We, too, have asked the same questions when we began our journey toward priesthood. When you come to a point where you would like to ask some of your personal questions and receive some assistance in your discernment, please feel free to contact our Vocation Director, Very Reverend Ron Zanoni at (702) 629-4438.

Your personal vocation is important as one of the greatest gifts God will give to you. It is also a very personal part of your life, especially as you begin your journey with all kinds of questions, emotions, and concerns. Always remember that you are not alone as you discern. You are in our daily prayers as you search for what you believe God is calling you to do with your life.

Diocesan Vocation Prayer

Bishop Pepe has asked each of our parishes to pray often the following vocation prayers. It is no secret that when such prayers are prayed in faith, good results happen. We offer this prayer now to you; pray it earnestly and often, and ask the Lord to guide you with this important decision in you life.

Lord Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father and Mary Immaculate, grant to our young people the generosity necessary to follow Your call and the courage required to overcome all obstacles to their vocation. Give their parents that faith, love and spirit of sacrifice which will inspire them to offer their children to God’s service and to rejoice whenever one of their children is called to the priesthood or religious life. Let Your example and that of Your blessed Mother and Saint Joseph encourage both young people and parents and let Your grace sustain them. Amen.

May God bless you as you continue with your search. Remember that you are not alone and we are here to help whenever you need.

Called into the Desert

The Diocese of Las Vegas consists of 39,688 square miles of land located within the southern portion of the state of Nevada. Within its boundaries, 30 parish communities exist within both small rural towns and the large, brightly-lit metropolitan area of Las Vegas. Not only is the Diocese one of the fastest growing areas in Nevada, it is also home to one of the largest tourist destinations within the United States.

The basic facts of Las Vegas are striking: its city population is now over one million people, the tourist industry brings in some 35 million people a year and the people moving to the Las Vegas area number around 5,000 a month. We estimate that one third of our population is Catholic, or about 600,000 people. The Diocese consists of 29 Parishes, 1 Shrine, and 6 Missions. There are 34 incardinated active diocesan priests who receive assistance from 21 other extern diocesan priests and Religious.

With these statistics, you can easily see that the demand for parishes and priests in the Diocese of Las Vegas has never been greater. The need to build more parishes is crucial. Yet our Diocese lacks the number of priests needed to shepherd these growing faith communities.

The Catholic Church in Nevada is a vibrant community of faith filled people who gather often to celebrate their faith. Life within our parishes is filled with the demands of various church programs as well as priestly ministry expressed in a multitude of ways.

Whether it be welcoming new parishioners, celebrating parish Masses, visiting the sick, elderly and the dying, participating in RCIA, sharing in the sacramental life of the Church, teaching adults and children, visiting the imprisoned, or working with high school and college students, the priests of the Diocese of Las Vegas are dedicated men who work tirelessly in the sharing of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

As men of prayer, priests listen to the voice of God and, as men of ministry, they share God’s message with all. Together with their Bishop, these men become the “voices in the desert,” proclaiming the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to all they serve.

Who are called to join these “voices in the desert?” Men who have a deep love for the Church, a rich prayer life, are academically competent, morally sound, have good physical and psychological health, and are orthodox in their faith and in the practice of their faith; Men who have good common sense, and a love for mission and the People of God; Men who are self-sacrificing and desire to offer their lives for the good of the Catholic Church in Southern Nevada.

High school students are encouraged to contact their parish priest or the Vocation Director so that they may be supported in the process of making a decision. College students and men ages 19-40 are encouraged to contact the Vocation Director so that the process of discernment may be handled smoothly. Candidates may be asked to partake in a Pre-Theology Program in order to fulfill the necessary hours of Philosophy required before entering Theology. The Bishop, having reviewed each candidate’s academic background, will determine what Seminary College and School of Theology he will send his candidates.

Do you feel that you have a vocation to the priesthood within the Diocese of Las Vegas? Are you willing to commit yourself to the Catholic Church and the People of God in Southern Nevada? If you are open, willing and able, come and join our journey of faith. If you are high school-aged or older and wish to know more information about becoming a priest in the Diocese of Las Vegas, please contact Fr. Ron Zanoni at the Vocation Office by calling 702-735-3500 ext. 2223