The Emmaus House offers a unique opportunity for the kind of serious reflection needed to make the important decision of vocation. Each house has a resident priest as the director of the discernment who supervises and guides the communal prayer and service life of the residents. The priest director does not enter into a confidential relationship with the residents because of his role in evaluation and recommendation to the resident’s Bishop or perspective seminary.
The Emmaus House is not a seminary. It will be an occasion for you to live in a small community of young adult men with similar interests, aspiring to a common goal. In this supportive environment, you are encouraged – and challenged – to examine your desire to be a priest in a prayerful and realistic way. You do so while attending a local college or university and even keeping your part-time job.
The Emmaus House offers prayer, fellowship and flexibility needed to explore a life commitment. It will provide you with an opportunity to consider if Christ may be calling you to the extraordinary adventure of sharing in his priesthood. It will enable you to discern if Christ wants your person, your intelligence, your energy, your faith, your love, your holiness. It will give you a chance to reflect and pray over these moving words of Pope John Paul II:
Let yourself be summoned by the love of Christ, recognize his voice which rings in the temple of your heart. Have no fear of the fact that the response he requires is radical, because Jesus, who first love you, is ready to give what he asks of you. If he asks much it is because he knows that you can give much.