Answering the Call to Become a Priest
Our Apostolate
The focus of our Apostolate is in the African American Community and is found primarily within the parish structure. Other endeavors of our Community work are in the fields of education, chaplaincies, and social justice issues. Our Josephite ministries are found primarily in urban and rural settings in the United States.
If you are trying to discern whether God is calling you to be a Josephite, you may want to prayerfully consider the major requirements for our Community and our work.
Requirements to be a Priest:
A religious spirit rooted in love for Christ and His Church
Love and fidelity to the Vicar of Christ
Motivation to work in the African American community
Ability to live and work with others in a community setting
Good physical and mental health
Emotional stability, including a healthy psychosexual development
A high school diploma, the ability to do college and post graduate work
Education & Formation
When a candidate is accepted to the priestly formation program, if he has not begun or completed college, his college level seminary formation will begin in Washington, DC. This time is considered as our pre-theology program. Every candidate is required to spend at least one year in the pre-theology program studying courses in both philosophy and sociology.
When the pre-theology program is completed, if the candidate is accepted, he advances to one year in the Novitiate. The Novitiate year teaches the new Novice the practice of prayer, helps to clarify the novices understanding of our Josephite way of life, provides time for spiritual counseling, and continued discerning of a priestly vocation within the Josephite Society. At the end of the Novitiate year, the novice requests permission to make “First Promises” as a temporary professed member of the Society.
The final portion of priestly formation consists of the seminarian spending at least four years in graduate study of Theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Washington, DC. These years at the Major Seminary will also include, Renewal of Promises, Perpetual Promises, and Diaconate Ordination. The Diaconate year is a period of continued studies and formation in preparation for Priestly Ordination.
Answering the Call to Become a Brother
St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has many wonderful, gifted, and talented men who serve the African American Community as dedicated Religious Brothers. These men make a promise to observe the Mission Statement of the Josephite Community, which calls for the promotion of the Gospels of Jesus Christ to the African American Community with an attitude of faith, justice, and charity. A Josephite Brother’s vocation is firmly rooted in a total dedication to live the will of God through the various works of the Josephite Apostolate.
The Josephite Brother is called to serve in the full ministerial capacity of the Society. Brothers are called to assist the priests in the parish in ministry to the people and to the larger community. While Brothers are not ordained to the ministerial priesthood, they are still committed to bring the Gospel message of Jesus to the People of God. The Brother is called daily to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit; participates in the celebration of the daily Eucharist; and is encouraged to develop a personal prayer life. Brothers also join the priests of the Community for the annual Community retreat.
In what capacities may a Josephite Brother be called to serve within the African American Community?
Parish Ministry:
- Parish Associate and Administrator
- Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist
- Lector
- Instructor in or Director of Religious Education Programs
- Pastoral Care for the elderly, the sick and shut-ins
Education:
- Instructor at St. Augustine High School, New Orleans, LA
Outreach:
- Involvement in Justice and Social concerns within the African American Community
- Assist with programs for those dealing with personal addictions (AA; NarcAnon)
- Involvement in Youth Ministry Programs on the parish and diocesan levels
- Campus Ministry
If you are trying to discern whether God is calling you to be a Josephite, you may want to prayerfully consider the major requirements for our Community and our work.
Requirements to be a Brother:
- A willing spirit of service in God’s Church
- Preparedness to live and work with others in a community setting
- Zeal to work in the African American community
- Good physical, mental and emotional health
- Openness to deepen a personal prayer life
- Openness to pursue pastoral care studies
- Ability to work with the laity
Request More Information
Anwer the calling
Founded after the Civil War to minister to newly freed slaves, the St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart is the only congregation in the American Catholic Church whose exclusive mission is to the African American community.
Josephite Spirituality is centered on St. Joseph and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Under the patronage of St. Joseph, the first missionary, the Josephites are committed to the ministry of hope and the formation of faith among African Americans.
Since 1871, the Josephites have been proclaiming the good news through apostolic, parish and educational works as the needs and times require.
- The Society serves in parishes, schools and special ministries in the dioceses and archdioceses in the United States and the District of Columbia.
- The Josephites were instrumental in incorporating the African American cultural experience into the liturgy of the Catholic Church in the United States.
- Four Josephites and three laymen founded the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver in 1909, which today is the largest fraternal organization of African American Catholics.
Contact the Josephite Vocation Ministry Office:
Phone: (202) 832-9100
E-mail: Vocations@Josephite.com
Mail: P.O. Box 65010
Baltimore, MD 21209
