• Religious profess the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience by vows, thus dedicating their entire life to God’s service.
• Religious belong to a particular institute and share a common tradition and rule, common works, pooled resources and a special communion with God and the members of the same institute.
• Religious are persons steeped in prayer and spirituality.
• Religious experience life long formation in their quest to become more and more a disciple of Christ.

A diocesan priest lives and ministers along with his bishop and fellow priests in a particular geographic area called a diocese. He does not belong to a religious community or order. He lives celibately and promises obedience to the bishop. He most often works in a parish, but may also be involved in many other forms of ministry: teaching, hospital chaplaincy, prisons, university, migrants and disadvantaged groups. Through ordained ministry, a priest proclaims God’s word and celebrates the sacraments.

A religious priest belongs to a community that may go beyond the geographical diocese. He lives within a community of other like-minded men for mutual support in meeting the needs of church and society, and freely commits himself to live a vowed life of poverty, celibacy and obedience. Some religious priests may be Dominicans, Franciscans or Jesuits. A Religious Priest administers sacraments as an ordained minister.

A religious brother is a member of a religious community who commits himself to Jesus by the same vows as a religious priest. The fact that he is not ordained does not mean he is less a member of a community. Rather, it shows community life to be a gathering of brothers, joined together in a common purpose. Brothers work in just about every imaginable capacity. The religious priest, on the other hand, has a distinctive sacramental role: celebrating Eucharist, Baptism and Penance. He may work in other areas as well, but sacramental life is his special ministry.

Religious communities arose in response to the religious and societal needs of their times. Those who founded congregations sought ways of spreading the message of Jesus within society. Each congregation has its own particular charism (gift of the Holy Spirit) that distinguishes it from the other. All congregations share a common mission to proclaim the Gospel message so that it can be understood and lived in today’s world. Religious congregations are dynamic and evolving, always seeking new ways of announcing the Kingdom of God.
How do I know which order to join?

Several Religious congregations of men and women serve in the Diocese of Youngstown. You would be wise to contact a member of the congregation, which interests you.  See list of communities.

Contact details are also available for those on line. If you are interested in a congregation that is not listed, several of the related links such as www.visionguide.info will list numerous congregations and contact information.

The following is a basic overview of the formation process:

Contacting the Community

There are many religious communities for men, and each has a different mission and charism (gift of the Holy Spirit). Finding the community to which God has called you, that is the one that fits your gifts and talents may take time, research and prayer. Feel free to contact our office if you would like a directory of the various religious communities or check out the links to the various communities serving in the Youngstown Diocese. You may also contact any religious community directly. The vocation director will gladly send you more information.

Often times it is recommended to make a brief visit of a few days to those few communities to which you have an attraction. If you think you found the community that fits well, and if they are in agreement, you may be able to arrange for a leave of absence from work in order to spend time with the community for an extended visit of one to three months. This affords you an excellent opportunity to experience religious life for a longer period of time, which will assist you in discovering where God is leading you.

Candidacy/Postulancy

This is a more formal time in your discernment that allows you the opportunity to live within a religious community. While participating in religious life through continued ministry, school and prayer, the postulant or candidate will receive guidance from the members to help in his transition to religious life. This period generally takes one to two years.

Novitiate

This one-to-two year period is a time to learn more about yourself as well as an opportunity for more intense prayer and study of the vows, the spirit and rule of life of the community, and your relationship with God. As a novice, you are officially welcomed into the community.

Temporary Vows

This is the time when you formally respond to God’s gift of love through the profession of the evangelical counsels. You make a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience for a period of one to three years. Now you enter more deeply into religious life as a vowed religious, while continuing your discernment of embracing final vows. This period of temporary vows can last up to nine years.

Generally after first profession of Temporary Vows, you will pursue professional studies. For those preparing for the religious priesthood, these studies will include philosophy and theology.

Final Vows

With the help of God you ask the community leadership to admit you to final or perpetual profession and thus become a full member of the community.