Finding the right diocese for your discernment process is a very important task.  The diocese that you do your discernment process in will greatly influence the adequacy, the method and the amount of time it takes.  The diocese that you discern in is also the diocese that will send you to seminary and ordain you, and mostly likely be the place where you do at least your first few years of service.

The question of finding the right diocese is a new one, and may seem strange or even somehow ‘unethical’ to people who have been involved in Church life for a long time.  Traditionally, when the population was much less mobile and young people tended to stay closer to home for longer, the parish where you grew up would sponsor you and your diocese would be the one that you had been in most or all of your life.  All this has since changed.  For one thing, young adults go to school further away from the home they grew up in, and it is not uncommon for young adults to travel to other states and countries for jobs or to do internship or volunteer programs.  Some dioceses even use internship or other recruitment programs to attract young adults interested in ministry.

The first thing to remember in finding the right diocese is that it is a choice.  It is extremely important to ask a lot of questions.  A lot of things about dioceses, such as the inner workings of Commissions on Ministry and the differing roles of bishops in each diocese, are often difficult to learn. It is important to ask a lot of questions, listen, and actively explore issues of interest or concern.  There is almost an infinite number of issues to consider in finding a diocese.  The following are just a few: views on gender, sexuality, age, race and muti-culturalism, support for new clergy, where the diocese sends people to seminary, financial support during seminary, cost of discernment process, health and functionality of Commission on Ministry and bishop, ease of communication, stability of bishops and overall political and theological climate. 

The place to start is always your home parish.  Often, young adults have several parishes that they consider home,’ such as one at school, one where you grew up and maybe even a third.  Your work of discernment first is going to begin in a parish, so it is as—or more—important to understand the ‘landscape’ of the parishes you are involved with.  Start by talking to the rector, vicar, or priest-in-charge.  Ask him or her to tell you about the parish, the diocese, the discernment process, the Commission on Ministry, and the bishop.  If you have a diocese and a parish that feel like a good match, great!  You can move forward in your work of institutional discernment.  If not, you can broaden your horizons and look elsewhere.

Moving beyond the communities that you know and that know you can be a very scary proposition.  Remember that you are not alone in this process. God in Jesus Christ is always walking with you.  Also, always be on the look-out for fellow companions, guides and mentors whom God will send you while you walk this new path – sometimes they are found in some of the most unexpected places.

Changing dioceses often means making a move.  Most dioceses have a residency requirement before you begin official, institutional discernment work, but many dioceses are suspending or shortening these requirements for young adults.  Start your search by getting hooked up with networks of other young people in the Church.  This can happen through regional or national conferences (some of which are focused on discernment) or through internet lists, some of which are linked to this website.  Use these networks to ask questions about various dioceses and discernment processes.  Look into internship programs, many of which are listed on this web site.  Try to find a diocese that is near employment, volunteer and other enrichment opportunities for you to participate in while you are spending time working on discernment.  Always remember that what you do in your life and ministry while you discern is as important as your discernment work itself!

Last, a note on seminary.  Many young adults, while they are looking for a diocese or parish to discern with, decide to go to seminary.  Be aware that some dioceses frown upon aspirants who went to seminary before (or while they begin) their discernment processes.  Sometimes this can lead to extra difficulty and delay in the process.

Always remember throughout your discernment process, as throughout life, that Jesus Christ walks with you and is there to guide you.  Also, the path that the Holy Spirit leads you to also may not be the path that is the most expedient, practical or the one that makes logical sense.  Whatever you do, follow Christ and you will be walking the way of truth.