Diocesan Discernment Program for Men
The Diocesan Discernment Program is an opportunity for men who are open to the possibility of discerning the vocation of Catholic priesthood to gather on a monthly basis for discussion, prayer and reflection. The program is for men who are in college, young adult and older men and also juniors and seniors in high school. The monthly Discernment Days of Reflection take place on a Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) in the Knoxville area. The program normally runs on an academic year schedule (beginning around August and concluding around May).
In addition to the monthly gatherings, men in the program are encouraged to
- develop the habit of daily prayer (through resources provided by the program) and daily Mass attendance
- be involved in their parish community and also in some form of service in their parish and/or local community
- meet monthly with a priest spiritual director.
During the course of the program, participants also have opportunities to visit seminaries and experience seminary life to help in their continuing discernment.
Below are the topics discussed at the monthly Discernment Group gatherings:
- Vocation, Prayer, and Discernment
- Living the Christian Moral Life
- Celibacy and Chastity
- The Life of a Diocesan Priest
- The Promise of Obedience
- Community and the Church
- The Call to Discipleship
A weekend diocesan discernment retreat is also held every year.
Participants in the discernment program are encouraged to take part in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. (The discernment group joins with other groups from our diocese to attend the march.)
To receive more information on the program, contact Father Michael Cummins at 423-926-7061 or etsucatholiccenter@yahoo.com.
