In the first full week of November, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week. This week-long celebration is an annual opportunity to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.

As one of the largest Catholic seminaries in the United States, Mundelein Seminary is on the front lines of priestly formation for parishes in more than 25 dioceses across the country and around the world. Since 1921, thousands of seminarians have prayed, studied and discerned at Mundelein. After ordination, these holy, joyful priests have gone on to serve as a bridge between Christ and His people, accompanying their parishioners at the most crucial moments of their lives and reaching out to those on the margins who urgently need to recognize God’s love and mercy in their lives.

Vocation Stories

Deacon Derek Hooper (Diocese of Jefferson City) preaches on the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 20, 2020.
Audio courtesy of St. Joseph’s in Libertyville.

Seth Hostetler (Third Theology) and Lee Noel (Second Pre-Theology) of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming talk about how they initially discerned their vocations to the priesthood and what life and the Church are like in their rural home diocese compared to the Archdiocese of Chicago. They also share what they learned in seminary this week.