We asked the parents of some priests and seminarians how they felt to have their son decide to become a priest and what impact it has had on their family and life….  

“It is a pleasure and a great blessing to have a son who is a seminarian and who, by the grace of the Lord, will soon be a priest.  I have always been very close to my son but now I feel a special bond and a deep emotion when I think about his new life.  I am very proud to know that he will be priest and that he will help people during their best and worst hours. To any mother whose son is thinking about becoming a priest, I will tell them that nothing in this world can compete with this feeling.”

—Mother of a Seminarian 

“We were thrilled when he entered the seminary but we are even happier now because he has such an influence on his siblings (and their boyfriends!), his little brother looks at him like a hero. It’s had such a positive influence on our family, it makes you think about your faith more, it has had a big influence on me.  He’s very close to his cousins and he will influence all of them as a priest. It has encouraged his siblings to think more about their faith and discuss it more. We are incredibly proud.

I would encourage parents to talk to their son if they think that is appropriate and ask, ‘Have you ever considered the priesthood?’”

—Parents of a Seminarian  

I was very happy when my son went into the seminary. He always says to me, ‘Your faith is a gift to you that you have passed on to me’.  I'll journey with him and support him in every way.  Those young men in the seminary have become my extended family, I pray regularly for them. Whenever I visit my son, other seminarians come up to me and say "How are you going?", some of them have come around to have a meal with me and some of them give me a call to see how I'm going and if there's anything they can do for me.  Brad often says that he has made friends for life by living in the seminary, it's like when your son or daughter gets married and the other family because your family, its like that.”

—Mother of a Seminarian 

"I address parents as well. May faith and readiness never be lacking in your hearts, if the Lord should bless you by calling a son or a daughter to missionary service. May you give thanks to God! Indeed, see that this call is prepared through family prayer, through education rich in spirit and enthusiasm, through participation in parochial and diocesan activities, through involvement in associations and volunteer work. The family that cultivates a missionary spirit in its lifestyle and in education itself, prepares good soil for the seed of the divine call and, at the same time, strengthens the loving ties and Christian virtues of its members."

—Pope John Paul II, Message on World Mission Day

Rome, Italy, May 22, 1994 

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS

To what vocation could God be calling your child?

Could it be to priesthood?

If your son said ’yes’ to priesthood, how would you respond?

How do you measure success? In terms of dollars and power, or service and giving? Would you ask your son to consider priesthood?