Saint John Vianney
House of Discernment

Basics | Discernment Process | Schedule | Application | Our Patron

Areas for Discernment and Formation

The primary purpose of the Saint John Vianney House of Discernment is just that: discernment. The house is not a seminary, and therefore residents are not subject to the regimented discipline of seminary life. Proper discernment, however, is usually best accomplished amidst a structured environment, and residents who want to seriously investigate whether God is calling them into priestly formation will have an opportunity to experience some of the structured life of a seminarian, although at a more "relaxed" pace. Major components of the discernment process include the following areas:

Spiritual Discernment

Growth in the spiritual life is at the heart of the Saint John Vianney House of Discernment. Formed by the Word of God and nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, residents are encouraged to develop a personal discipline of both private and public prayer within a Christian faith community. They are called to fall deeper and deeper in love with Christ!

Prayer: The daily celebration of the Eucharist along with the Liturgy of the Hours creates the rhythm of spiritual discernment. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, days of recollection, an annual retreat, meditation, Marian devotion, spiritual reading and private prayer all contribute to individual and community life. Prayer is paramount to a priest's life.

Spiritual Direction: Each resident has a personal priest spiritual director with whom he meets at least once per month. This director assists the resident in discerning the movement of the Holy Spirit in his life, helping him to recognize and respond to God's personal communication, and to grow in intimacy with Jesus Christ. The spiritual director offers support, guidance, encouragement and insight all in the context of a private and confidential relationship. Residents may elect to use their spiritual director as their confessor.

Conversion of Life: Christ preached conversion of life as a preparation for the coming of the Kingdom. In desiring to pattern his life after Jesus Christ, a priest should bear witness in his own life to the ideals of sacrificial love, simplicity of life, and obedient service. In order to make a free and mature vocational choice concerning the ministerial priesthood, a resident must commit himself to:

1. Living a celibate and chaste life while seeking to gain a practical understanding of this way of life and its value for the Church and the world.

2. Being a witness to the benefits of a simple lifestyle, expressing in concrete ways his concern and support for the poor, for the world and for the environment. Modesty in spending habits is encouraged.

3. Learning the meaning of authentic obedience and to appreciate its value, keeping in mind that the way one responds to authority often mirrors the way they will exercise it.

Personal Growth

Community Life: Self awareness and the commitment to grow, hallmarks of the human development that underlies spiritual maturity, is encouraged and facilitated in the dynamics of community life and through individual and group conferences with the house directors. Personal growth is a process of recognizing God-given gifts and transforming areas of weakness into ministerial tools for building the Kingdom of God. Communal living fosters discipline.

Balanced Living: Residents are encouraged to develop a healthy rhythm of life, balancing academic work, apostolic service and community involvement with prayer, reflection, leisure, physical exercise, proper nutrition, silence and solitude.

Personal Goals: Upon initially entering the house, each resident defines in writing clear, attainable goals towards which they intend to work over the course of the year. These goals are the topic of frequent discussion between the resident and his spiritual director as well as with the house directors.

Pastoral Service

Ministry to Those in Need: Priesthood is a call to service. An essential element in the process of discernment is a ready and generous dedication to the service of Christ and His Church. Opportunities for direct service to people in need challenge those discerning a vocation to experience the personal dimension of priestly life. With guidance provided by the house directors, residents learn to integrate their pastoral experiences with their spiritual, personal and academic development.

Ministry Placements: Hours per month in particular ministry placements are tailored to fit an individual's school and work schedule. Placements may likely rotate so that residents could experience a diverse range of pastoral situations. Placements could include parish faith formation programs, youth ministry, RCIA, convalescent homes, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and the like. Residents also have the opportunity to observe the daily activities of priests, including marriage preparation, visits to the hospitalized, homebound or incarcerated, and preparation for celebration of the sacraments.

Human Experience: The emphasis in the pastoral service component of discernment is on the human experience, rather than on the ministerial service provided. Residents have frequent opportunities to reflect on their ministry experiences with the house directors and their fellow residents, integrating their experiences into their overall discernment of diocesan priesthood.

Intellectual Development

A resident's primary academic responsibility is his personal course of studies at a local university. Working professionals may elect to take introductory philosophy courses, most of which are transferable to Mount Angel Seminary, the primary seminary used by the Archdiocese of Anchorage. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the house library, containing works on philosophy, theology, Scripture, Church history, homiletics, priestly formation, and spirituality. Residents take part in monthly conferences on topics relative to priestly identity.

Although residents are encouraged to pursue an independent spiritual reading plan as recommended by their spiritual director, from time-to-time the community as a whole may read and discuss in common one of the spiritual classics of the Church.