1. What does a priest do all day?
What a priest does with his day is so varied and complex that only a sampling can be given here. Prayer, work, and leisure are all necessary for a healthy life. We try to make sure we have a balance of all these -- but we don't always succeed.

In the area of work (ministry), many of us have one main occupation, such as teaching, parish ministry, social work, or hospital work, all of which have somewhat regular hours and somewhat predictable demands.

The unpredictables are also interesting and challenging. They center around meeting the needs of people: the sick, dying, old, angry, hurt, hungry, imprisoned, excited, happy. We share with them our understanding, encouragement, and support. We rejoice, cry, feel with them. Such events are both painful and rewarding, fatiguing and moving.

2. Do priests get time off and what do you do in that time?
We have approximately the same amount of leisure time as most adults. In this time, we are free to do whatever is legal, moral, and reasonable for adults in our situation. Obviously, because priests are unique individuals, we won't all choose the same types of recreational activity, and no one of us choose the same activity every time. Some of the more common choices are sports, movies, TV, reading, sharing with friends, enjoying the outdoors.

3. What is the difference between a diocesan priest and a religious priest?
A diocesan priest ordinarily serves the Church within a rather well defined area (a diocese). He ordinarily serves the people as a parish priest, but he may also be involved in many other forms of ministry: teaching, Chaplain in hospitals, prisons, campus ministry, etc. A religious priest, on the other hand, is a member of a community which goes beyond the geographical limits of any diocese.

4. What is the difference between a brother and a priest?
A brother is a layman who commits himself to Christ by the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, who lives in religious community, and who works in nearly any job: teacher, electrician, cook, lawyer, mechanic, artist, etc.

A priest's distinctive role is as minister of the sacraments: celebrating Eucharist, Baptism, Penance. He does a variety of other works as well, but sacramental life is central to his life.

5. What does a seminarian study?
There are four main areas of study and development in preparing for the priesthood: human, spiritual, the ability to minister (to serve and work with people) and academics. Spirituality, the study of prayer and the development of one's relationship with God, is covered mostly on an individual basis, with each man meeting with a priest-advisor. Ability to minister is developed in supervised programs. If a man goes to a college seminary, he has the same classes as a regular liberal arts college with the addition of classes on philosophy, the Church and God. After college, he enters theology, where his time is spent studying the Bible, the teachings of the Church, and the skills he will need to be a priest.

6. Do you have to be an "A" student in the seminary?
A seminarian should be an average or above average student. A priest need not be a "brain," but on the other hand a priest must have the ability to pass the courses the seminary requires in order to serve the Catholic community well.

7. Is seminary life hard?
Seminary life is not any harder than college or graduate work at another university but it is different. Seminarians have the added responsibilities of developing as men of prayer, and as a bearer of the Good News. Friendships are encouraged with both men and women, but dating is not part of the seminarian's life since he is preparing for celibacy, not marriage, They have the responsibility like any student, to fulfill the responsibilities that are part of their preparation for the life they've chosen.

8. How does a man become a priest?
Becoming a priest involves several stages. While these vary slightly from diocese to diocese in length of time and format, the following outline is offered as a general view of formation programs:

CONTACT: A man who is interested in the priesthood but still searching for the answer to the question "What does God want of me?" could join a program of "contact" with the diocese. (See Associates page) Usually through his pastor or by contacting the Vocation Recruiter. This is usually a very flexible program whereby the man meets with a priest and or a group of others interested in the priesthood on a regular basis and shares in experiences of prayer and community.

CANDIDATE: A more formal relationship with the diocese occurs when the man becomes a candidate. At this time he begins the process of interviews and meetings with the members of the diocesan vocations team under the direction of the Vocation Director.

SEMINARIAN: The candidate, sponsored by a diocese, now enters a seminary to begin his priestly formation and theological studies. At this point he is called a seminarian.

TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE: About 6 months to a year before ordination to the priesthood, the seminarian is ordained to the Transitional Diaconate (so named because the seminarian is in transition to the priesthood, and to differentiate from the Permanent Diaconate). The man makes promises of celibacy and obedience to his Bishop.

PRIESTHOOD: After much work, and a lot of prayers, the man is ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ by receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

9. What vows do diocesan priests make?
Diocesan priests make no vows. For ordination, they freely make promises of celibacy and obedience to their Bishop.

10. Do you ever get lonely?
As in any way of life, there are times of loneliness for priests.

11. Why did you become a priest?
I chose my life style as priest because I felt this was what God was calling me to do. As I grew to know myself, to recognize the talents and abilities He gave me, and to see the needs of the world, I came to believe that his was the way I could best respond to His love for me. I've always wanted to help people, and the desire to help in this way kept getting stronger, so I decided at least to give it a try.

12. How did your family and friends react to your decision to become a priest?
Most of us are fortunate in having families who encouraged us to do whatever would make us happy in life. They supported our choice without pushing us -- and in supporting us, asked probing questions that made us think more deeply about what we were choosing.

Friends' reactions varied a lot, from ridicule, to laying odds on how long we'd stay, to refusal to talk about our choice, to quiet support, to high enthusiasm. Obviously, some of those reactions are hard to take from good friends whose opinion you value. Sometimes we were pretty discouraged about our choice because of the reaction of our friends, and were grateful for the ones who said, "Do what's best for you." Or “Do what makes you happy.” This is what we have to do because we live our own lives; no one lives it for us.

13. Do you honestly enjoy your life?
I do! It brings me immense satisfaction and deep happiness to work with people in the many ways I do. As a minister of the Gospel. I touch the very center of others' lives. Trying to communicate the fantastic love Jesus has for us, seeing others grab onto that love and live it -- that really keeps me going. Sure, there are times of discouragement, frustration, and fatigue -- everyone has those. But if I had my life to live over again, I'd choose the same life.

14. What is the academic and formation program like?
Presently three programs are offered at St. John Fisher Seminary Residence:

Fisher Pre-Theology Program: A one– to two-year program for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The program is a pre-requisite mandated by the bishops of the United States to prepare students for the study of theology. It consists of up to four semesters, accredited by St. John’s University in New York, with a concentration in philosophy, while also studying theology, Greek and Latin. This period of study, which is combined with daily Mass, regular prayer, spiritual direction and discernment conferences, affords the student the opportunity for reflection on the Lord’s call to the priesthood. It also contains a component of pastoral work in which the student spends a portion of his week assisting in a local parish getting to know the priests and people of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Fisher College Program: A complete seminary formation program for young men who reside and take selected courses at St. John Fisher Seminary Residence, while pursuing their college degree at Fordham University, Bronx, NY, or Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.

Summer Intensive Program: A program for young men, both graduate and undergraduate, who receive spiritual formation and philosophy/theology training through an intensive summer experience at St. John Fisher Seminary Residence.

15. How long does it take?
The normal course of studies and formation can run from one to four years at St. John Fisher with four additional years at a major seminary.

16. What is life like at Saint John Fisher Seminary (SJFS)?
Please click here to view the current weekly schedule.

17. In entering SJFS, am I making a commitment to the priesthood?
No, upon entering St. John Fisher Seminary, you are making a commitment to discernment to determine if the priesthood is the true vocation to which you are called.