Archdiocese of Portland Vocations Blog

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Fr. Peter Julia Shares His Story on EWTN

Fr. Peter Julia Shares His Story on EWTN

Fr. Peter Julia, Director of the Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Portland and Chaplain for the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard, shared the compelling and beautiful story of his calling to the priesthood with EWTN News. Though a little different...

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Bike4Vocations Completes Coast to Coast Journey

Bike4Vocations Completes Coast to Coast Journey

Bike4Vocations began on April 17th as Fern and Geoffrey Greenwell embarked on a 3800 mile bicycle trip from Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, Florida to Our Lady of Victory in Seaside, Oregon. Fr. Peter Julia, the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of...

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Two things to do while you’re discerning

Two things to do while you’re discerning

For years, Jacob has thought about being a priest. Sometimes it has been just a passing thought. A few times, especially during Mass, it’s been a very strong attraction. And sometimes—especially when he is dating—the thought seems to be altogether absent. Jacob’s...

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Total Abandonment

Total Abandonment

The way to perfect happiness is by giving up the pursuit of happiness. While this is not the conventional wisdom of the world, it is a staple of Christian spirituality. Ask most people you meet what makes them really happy and you'll probably get answers like...

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Check your baggage

Check your baggage

  "You can forget the past, but it will never forget you." When discerning your vocation, it's essential to deal with wounds from your past that may be keeping you from moving toward God's will for your life. Past events can be damaging even years after they...

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The Priesthood—Vocation of last resort?

The Priesthood—Vocation of last resort?

  Consider this remarkable statement: "The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator." CCC #1603 That's a strong statement. It makes it sound as if everyone is called to the vocation of marriage....

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The many different roles of diocesan priests

The many different roles of diocesan priests

  “No two days are alike,” say many priests when speaking of their day-to-day work. Ask an older priest to reflect on the history of his priestly ministry, and the likelihood is that you’re in for an interesting story. Because priesthood is a vocation, not a job,...

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Undecided is not a vocation

Undecided is not a vocation

  Nobody is called to do nothing with his life! God calls everyone to a specific vocation. And while discerning your vocation takes time, and can often be difficult, rest assured that God is not calling anyone to perpetual indecision. It might be easy to confuse...

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Priest Hero: Fr. Vincent Capodanno

Priest Hero: Fr. Vincent Capodanno

  In 1966, when the bloody Vietnam War was raging, Fr. Vincent Capodanno volunteered for service as a United States Navy Chaplain serving with the U.S. Marines. His mission was to minister to soldiers on the battlefront—an assignment that cost him his life. Born...

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2023 September

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What do Priests Do?

Priests do far more than celebrate Mass and pray all day. The life of a priest is busy, demanding, challenging—and incredibly rewarding.

Why Celibacy?

Celibacy is always a top concern for men thinking about the priesthood, but rest as­sured that every priest had the same thought before he went to seminary.

Signs of a Priestly Vocation

If Jesus has placed a desire in your heart for priesthood, no matter what your age, don’t ignore it. Talk to a priest you admire about how you feel.

Priesthood Discernment Self-Test

Examining oneself using these twenty qualities or signs is a good way to begin one’s discernment of priesthood, but it should not be done in a vacuum.