Seminarians, Religious Primary  Focus of Office of Vocations
Seminarians from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City with Archbishop Beltran.

The primary tasks of the Vocations Office are to recruit candidates for the seminary and then to assist with the formation of Archdiocesan seminarians. This work is done under the guidance of the Archbishop and with the assistance of the Seminarian Board. The Vocations Director also works in close collaboration with staff members at those seminaries chosen by the Archbishop where Archdiocesan seminarians receive education and formation. A secondary but very important function of the Vocations Office is to be of assistance to men and women considering vocations to the religious life.

The Vocations Department has two retreats each summer; one for young men and one for young women. Young men and women from the Archdiocese are invited to the retreats that are held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Camp. These retreats offer these young people an opportunity to think about their future and discern their vocation in life.

Another opportunity for discernment is the annual Come and See Weekend. Young men in high school are invited to visit a seminary and see daily life is like for a seminarian. A chartered bus takes the students and members of the Vocations Team to Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo. for a weekend experience of a personal opportunity to sense the unique vocation of the priesthood. This has proven to be a positive experience and has helped young men to make the decision and take the first step to become a seminarian.

 Once the decision has been made to apply to be a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City the application process begins. Once the candidate is accepted by the seminary the formation begins. The Archdiocese is responsible for tuition, room and board, books, health insurance and a monthly stipend for seminarians in Theology. For college seminarians the Archdiocese is responsible for tuition and a monthly stipend. Forty percent of these expenses where covered through donations to the ADF, during the annual fund drive. This year we have 16 seminarians studying for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City from 14 different parishes. The parishes are: St. John the Baptist, Edmond; Holy Trinity, Okarche; St. Andrew dung-Lac, Oklahoma City; St. Thomas More, Norman; Immaculate Conception, Oklahoma City; Sacred Heart, Oklahoma City; Sts. Peter and Paul Kingfisher; St. Mary, Ponca City; St. Benedict, Shawnee; Our Lady of Victory, Purcell; Holy Spirit, Mustang; St. James Oklahoma City; St. Mark, Norman; and St. Charles Borromeo, Oklahoma City. We hope and pray that we would have a seminarian from every parish.