Vocation to Priesthood
A life of sacramental service, spiritual fatherhood, and faithful leadership.
St. Peter’s Seminary welcomes all who are discerning Christ’s call to the priesthood or religious life, as well as those walking with them – parents, teachers, mentors, and friends.
The priesthood is not just a role – it’s a sacred calling to give your life in service to Christ and His Church. As a priest, you are called to preach the Word, celebrate the Sacraments, and shepherd God’s people with compassion, courage, and love. At St. Peter’s Seminary, we accompany men in discerning this profound vocation and provide the spiritual, academic, and human formation they need to respond with faith and confidence.
Priesthood Page Navigation:
Vocation Discernment
Every Catholic has a vocation. In fact, as a member of the Church, every Catholic participates in the reality of “vocation” in three distinct but related senses.
First, there is the common Christian vocation that comes in Baptism. Our fundamental vocation, or call, is to be holy – to become saints! This can be expressed in various ways, but in general terms, it means loving and serving God and neighbor and helping to carry on the mission of the Church.
Psalm 119:105 (NRSV) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Forming the Whole Person for a Life of Service
Seminary Formation
Priestly formation at St. Peter’s Seminary is rooted in the four dimensions of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral development. It is a time of deepening your relationship with Christ, learning to serve His Church, and growing in maturity, discipline, and faith.
A Seminary has two core purposes:
- To see if a man is truly called to the priesthood and, if so,
- To prepare him for priestly ministry.
What it means then, is that some men will come to the Seminary without absolute certainty that God is calling them to this ministry, but thinking it is a real possibility. They will use their time in the Seminary to come to that decision, and so move from a questioning stage to a level of comfort that they are indeed called to this life-long commitment. We call this “moving from discernment to decision”. That decision can come early for some and late for others, but all the while, seminarians study, pray, and work toward that final goal.
Formation at the Seminary
What's it like? Seminary Overview.
Here is where the “program of formation” comes in, designed to prepare candidates for ordination in four basic areas: spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral. Each area represents an important element in the life and ministry of priests and gives the candidates insight into how this will be lived out in their future.
Human Formation
Human formation is the foundation of priestly life and ministry, shaping the seminarian into a mature, integrated, and virtuous man capable of authentic relationships and responsible leadership. It focuses on cultivating self-knowledge, emotional health, affective maturity, and personal integrity, so that future priests can be credible witnesses of the Gospel and trustworthy shepherds of God’s people. This dimension is vital because a priest’s effectiveness does not rest solely on his theological knowledge or pastoral skills, but also on the depth of his character, his capacity to listen and empathize, and his ability to live a balanced, disciplined life. At the seminary, the human formation counselor plays a key role by accompanying seminarians in their growth, providing guidance, support, and accountability as they face challenges, develop self-awareness, and learn to integrate their strengths and weaknesses in light of their vocation. This supportive yet challenging presence helps ensure that the seminarian becomes not only a competent minister but also a whole and holy man who can sustain the demands of lifelong priestly service.
Spiritual Formation
If priests are leaders of prayer then they have to be men of prayer. The spiritual formation helps the candidates to deepen their personal relationship with the Lord. Each day then, the seminary community meets at least twice for common prayer, including the Eucharist and either Morning or Evening Prayer, but the seminarians are encouraged to develop their own rhythm and time for personal prayer. Our liturgies are an important part of life here, and so we take great care in how we celebrate them. We begin each year with a three-day retreat and have days of recollection throughout the year. For these retreats and days, we invite bishops and retreat leaders from across Canada to share faith and contemporary spirituality. Students of theology also end the year with an eight-day retreat at a centre on Lake Erie. Each week, we have a time set aside for specific talks on issues related to developing the spirituality of the priesthood, and seminarians see their individual spiritual directors on a regular basis throughout the year.
St. Peter’s Seminary offers a six week Summer Spiritual Formation Program for Seminarians
Intellectual Formation
While preparing for the priesthood, seminarians are engaged in academics as they would for any profession. Priests have to be aware of the world around them and have an intimate knowledge of the Catholic religion in order to teach and preach. A broad range of studies is encouraged in the early years, but with a special focus on philosophy and the other humanities. Then seminarians start their theological studies which is, in the words of an ancient theologian,“faith seeking understanding”. Here specific studies are undertaken to ensure the broadest possible exposure to Catholic theology. Seminarians are students of the local university (in our case, the University of Western Ontario and King’s University College), and so normally acquire two university degrees during their years of study, following course timetables from Mondays to Fridays and assignments throughout the term as any university student would. Depending on what university work he has done, a seminarian can spend from five to seven years in the study here.
Pastoral Formation
The final important aspect is the pastoral formation. Through a variety of experiences, seminarians are introduced to the very practical side of priestly ministry, including a full year of work in a parish in their own diocese. Normally, while in residence throughout the school year, seminarians are required to spend four hours each week in volunteer work in such places as hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, AIDS hospices, and shelters for the homeless. They gather once each month with their classmates to reflect on their experiences.
From all this, you can see that seminarians are busy. Day in and day out, the demands of study and other parts of formation make up our daily routine. While prayer is important, the seminarian is not shut up in a monastery away from the world, but fully engaged in the world of the university and the community. The studies have a particular focus, but at the same time, there is room for personal interests and development. All the while, the seminarians form bonds of friendship that not only carry them throughout the years of formation but lead to lasting friendships in the brotherhood of priests. Through all this, the men who come to the seminary have the best chance to make the proper discernment and decision about God’s call for them.
Walking the Path - One Day at a Time
A Day in the Life
Wondering what daily life looks like for a seminarian? From early morning prayer to classroom learning, community meals, and evening reflection, seminary life is a rhythm of prayer, study, service, and growth.
A man thinking about the priesthood would naturally wonder what life is like in a Seminary. Am I going to be stuck in a monastery? Can I get out if I want? What if I come to realize it isn’t for me? Will I be allowed freedom to study what I want? How long does it take? All are good questions, and quite normal for any enquirer. Below is an outline of the purpose and “program of formation.” Be sure to have a look at “A Day in the Life.”
International Students
A Global Call - Welcoming Seminarians from Around the World
St. Peter’s Seminary welcomes qualified candidates from outside Canada. We offer guidance on academic equivalencies, visa processes, and cultural integration for international seminarians who feel called to the priesthood.
The Seminary for the Diocese of London is St. Peter’s Seminary which is is one of six English-speaking seminaries in Canada. St. Peter’s Seminary has welcomed not only seminarians from across our country but throughout its’ more than one hundred years history, St. Peter’s has also offered priestly formation to men from countries around the world. Currently, we have seminarians studying at St. Peter’s Seminary from the following countries:
- The Congo
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Vietnam
As a diocesan seminary, every individual who applies for entrance into our program of priestly formation must be supported by a Canadian Diocese and Bishop, with the expectation that the individual will serve as a priest in that Diocese after ordination.
More: International Students
St. Peter’s Seminary is unable to accept applicants who are seeking priestly formation on their own without the support of a Canadian Diocese. Nor is St. Peter’s able to accept applicants who seek priestly formation here in Canada with the desire to return to their home country to serve as priests after ordination.
If you reside in a country outside of Canada and are interested in pursuing seminary formation at St. Peter’s Seminary, please contact the Vocation Director of a Canadian Diocese to discuss the possibilities of studying to serve in that Diocese upon ordination to the priesthood.
An attractive feature available to International Seminarians studying at St. Peter’s Seminary is our affiliation with Western University. Western offers a specialized program which involves the teaching of English-as-a-second language together with lessons on Canadian culture and history, providing a good process of enculturation into Canadian society.
Our prayers are with you as you continue to discern and follow God’s call.
Promoting Vocations
Fostering Vocations in Parishes, Families, and Schools
We all play a role in encouraging vocations. Whether you’re a priest, educator, parent, or parishioner, you can help others recognize and respond to God’s call.
Fr. Matthew's Formation Story
From the Front Row of the Altar to the Priesthood
A Childhood Enchanted by the Mystery of the Mass
My name is Father Matthew Sawyer. I was born in Stratford, Ontario, and grew up in Mitchell with my parents and sister. From the very beginning, my parents knew how important the Catholic faith was, and they made sure it was part of our daily life. Prayer, stories about the saints, and Sunday Mass were central to my childhood.
A Life of Service
A Childhood Enchanted by the Mystery of the Mass
Unlike some children, going to Mass never felt like a chore-I loved it. The vestments, the music, the liturgy-it all drew me in. I begged to become an altar server as soon as I could, and after my First Communion, I finally got my chance. Being at the altar gave me a front-row seat to the mystery of the Mass and planted the first seeds of a vocation.
Fr. Matthew's Story Continued
When the Call Became Impossible to Ignore
I still remember being in Grade 3 and telling my teacher that I wanted to be a priest. Of course, firefighter and police officer were also on the list-but the priesthood always held a special place in my heart. As I grew, my interests widened-drama, hospitality, and community service-but my love for the Mass never faded. Throughout High School, I was introduced to faith-based events by a youth minister in a neighbouring parish and attended events like COR (Christ in Others Retreat), Lift Jesus Higher Rallies, and the Steubenville Youth Conference. All these events helped me in digging into my faith, realizing that there was more to Mass and our Faith than just serving the altar.
Interestingly, it was at a youth group in an evangelical church, where my best friend invited me, that the call to priesthood became undeniable. One evening we talked about servant leadership, and it hit me: this is what priesthood is about. The youth minister prayed with me, and from then on, I could no longer ignore the call. I realized priesthood was the perfect way to unite my love for Christ with my desire to serve people.
The Detours, Struggles, and Lessons Along the Way
In 2011, I entered St. Peter’s Seminary after attending a Come and See weekend. From the very start, the community felt like “home.” Still, my journey was not without challenges. The academics were tough, and living in community was a big adjustment. By my second year, I was struggling so much and in different ways that I stepped back from formation and focused on finishing my Philosophy degree at King’s University College.
Yet the call never left me. In 2018, I returned to formation at St. Peter’s to begin earning my Theology degree. I carried some self-doubt with me, but this time I was more mature and better prepared. I also learned humility-especially in asking for support. With the help of a spiritual director and the seminary’s human formation counsellor, I discovered the importance of mental health, self-care, and balance. Long walks, painting, exercise, prayer, and friendship became lifelines. Through these struggles, my prayer life deepened, especially through Eucharistic adoration. Prayer was no longer something I simply did-it became who I was.
From Seminary Halls to Parish Life
On April 27, 2024, I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of London. I now serve at the Lucan Northwest London Family of Parishes. Transitioning from seminary to parish life has been exciting, humbling, and full of new learning. One of my first experiences as a priest was walking with families through end-of-life situations-moments that called on compassion, self-knowledge, and presence.
I love the rhythm of parish life: visiting schools, celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and being with parishioners young and old. They give me energy, and I see Christ working in their lives every day. To stand at the altar now, on the other side, and witness people not only coming to Mass but coming to Christ-it makes every challenge and struggle on the journey worthwhile.
God’s Call: A Voice That Never Fades
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that God’s call never really lets go. The road to priesthood isn’t always straight or easy, but every step draws you closer to the One who calls. If you feel even the smallest stirring of God’s call in your heart, don’t be afraid to explore it-you may find, as I did, that He has been preparing you for something greater than you could ever imagine.
Who to Contact
Priestly Formation Inquiry
If you live within the Diocese of London, please contact:
The Diocese of London Vocations Office
Father Rob Renaud, Director of Vocations
Local Phone: 519-432-1824 x204 or ask for Vocations Office
Email: r.renaud@dol.ca
Toll Free: 1-888-548-9649 x204
Fax: 519-432-0964
