Holy Orders & Religious Life

"I am often asked, especially by young people, why I became a priest. I must begin by saying that it is impossible to explain entirely. For it remains a mystery, even to myself. How does one explain the ways of God? Yet, I know that, at a certain point in my life, I became convinced that Christ was saying to me what he had said to thousands before me: 'Come, follow me!' There was a clear sense that what I heard in my heart was no human voice, nor was it just an idea of my own. Christ was calling me to serve him as a priest.


And you can probably tell that I am deeply grateful to God for my vocation to the priesthood. Nothing means more to me or gives me greater joy that to celebrate Mass each day and to serve God's people in the Church. That has been true ever since the day of my ordination as a priest. Nothing has ever changed this, not even becoming Pope."


- St. Pope John Paul II

Interested in the Priesthood or Religious life?


Contact your pastor or the vocation director at the Archdiocese:

Office of Vocations
Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
2838 East Burnside Street
Portland, Oregon 97214-1895


503-234-5334

Discernment Resources


Need help with discernment? The St. Mary Vocation Team recommends these resources and prayers.


The Discernment Rosary


The Melchizedek Project


Men, have you ever thought about becoming a priest? Join us for Project Melchizedek, a group open to all Catholic men high school age and older to learn what the priesthood is all about and get practical advice on how to discern the Lord’s will. Find out more and register to join us at melchizedekeugene.com. No need to have attend prior sessions to join


Who are You, most sweet God, and who am I?


Fr. Mark-Mary is joined by Sr. Maria Regina, S.V., the Vocations Director for the Sisters of Life, to talk about the foundations for discernment of a call to a religious vocation. (This is Part 1 of a 3 Part series on discernment.)


Parish Library Resources

Our Parish Library has several books on discernment, biographies of priests and religious, and timeless spiritual wisdom that you can check out and read at home. Contact the Parish Office about library access.


Click here to see our top picks!




Archbishop Sample wants to know:

Do YOU have a calling to the priesthood or consecrated life?


Fr. Jeff Eirvin: Discerning your Vocation


Matthew Knight: Vocation Story


I Will Follow: Two Catholic Priests’ Vocation Stories


Scivias: Know the Ways of the Lord


We have Carmelite sisters in the Eugene area!


Carmelite website