"You, yourselves, like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).

Vocations

A person can have many different callings in life. For example, a person may be called to marriage, parenthood, single life, priesthood, or to a certain occupation. The ultimate goal of a vocation, in the Christian worldview, is to respond to and carry out the will of God.

The following is just a few of the many ways we can do this: 

• Discerning our primary vocation (marriage, priesthood, religious life, etc.)
• Discerning our particular vocation (whom to marry, etc.)
• Following God’s will for our relationships with others
• Avoiding sin and seeking to examine our conscience to discern where we are falling short and where we are responding to grace
• Seeking to understand how God wants us to respond to circumstances in the world around us

The Inquiry Process

Interested men, under the age of 55, should contact their pastor and begin a conversation with him about one’s attraction to Holy Orders. He may also reach out to the Omaha Archdiocese to learn more about this vocation. In time and with the consent of the pastor and the man’s spouse, should he be married, he should contact the office of the Director so his name can be placed on a waiting list. He then should continue to pray, discern, and otherwise look to the day when he can apply. 

Contact Information:

First, we encourage you to contact Fr. Del to speak with him about your interest in this vocation:

Fr. Lydel Lape
St. Mary's Rectory 
Phone: 402-291-1350
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Next, contact the Archdiocese of Omaha's Vocations Office to find out what the next steps down this path of holiness are:

Urban Director of Vocations - Fr. Scott Schilmoeller
Archdiocese of Omaha
Phone: 402-558-3100

News

The Priesthood 

Everyone is called to serve in a different way and God has a loving plan for all of us. For some, God has placed inside them the desire to join the priesthood and carry out his work. By joining, men are prepared and guided to lead others to Christ through a priestly vocation. God has placed in their hearts the desire to be a priest; to pursue a rewarding, purpose-driven, faith-driven life in His name.

Seminary Life

When one thinks about seminary life one often conjures up images of a mysterious place far away from home. Nothing could be farther from the truth! The seminary is a vibrant community of men discerning their call to the priesthood. Imagine one hundred seminarians all seeking God’s will, praying in common, celebrating the Eucharist together every day, sharing many of the same joys and struggles, and each of them seeking the priesthood. This is the vital reality of seminary life.

Permanent Diaconate

After the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI formally implemented the renewal of the diaconate, which is an ordained ministry for men (married or single) who are called to serve the Church. The Archdiocese of Omaha provides for the formation of men in preparation for ordination. Ordination is followed with a formal appointment by the archbishop to diaconal ministry. Formation and ministry adhere to the requirements defined in the “National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States."

About the Diaconate

A deacon is a member of the clergy who assists the bishop and priests. He is ordained, not to the priesthood, but to service. He has a three-fold role of service:

1. Charity, in which he is of service to the community.
2. Word, in which he proclaims the Gospel and preaches.
3. Liturgy, in which he assists at Mass, is an ordinary minister of the Eucharist and baptism, witnesses marriages, and leads the community in prayer - especially funeral services and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Deacons minister in many different settings from the traditional parish to prisons, hospitals, convalescent homes, juvenile detention centers, shelters for the homeless or the abused, soup kitchens, police departments, and the workplace. Regardless of where a deacon finds himself, it is there that he serves.

However, a married Deacon is not always alone in his various ministries. For some married deacons, their wives are an essential part of their ministry. Wives are required to attend the first year formation sessions.  The formation process is a period of time spent in formal education, spiritual direction, and practical ministry.  After the first year of formation, wives may voluntarily attend all of the formation sessions, attend retreats, and support their husbands in whatever way their schedule allows.

A candidate for the permanent diaconate, married or unmarried, may be ordained when he is at least 35 years old and, if married, with the consent of his wife.

The Call to Diaconate 

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Deacon, the best place to start is with your pastor, who can put you in touch with the Director of Deacons for the Archdiocese. The Director will be able to outline the various requirements and processes to be followed.

The Order of Deacons was instituted by the Apostles. It was restored as a permanent and public ministry in the Roman Church as a result of a decision made by the bishops at the Second Vatican Council. The restoration of the permanent diaconate was authorized in the United States in 1968.

The aims of the diaconate are to enrich and strengthen the works of service being performed by the Church, to enlist a new group of devout and competent married and single men in the active ministry of the Church, and to aid in extending needed charitable and liturgical service to the faithful. Wives of deacons assist in many of these areas.

Additional Resources