Vocations

The Call to Priesthood is a profound invitation to serve God and His people in a unique and powerful way. For military members, the concept of service is already a cornerstone of their lives—protecting and defending the nation with dedication and sacrifice. The priesthood offers an extension of this service, one that nurtures the soul and provides spiritual guidance to those who may be in their greatest time of need.

As many of you know firsthand, the military is currently facing a shortage of Catholic chaplains. This shortage is felt deeply across the ranks, especially at a time when the spiritual needs of service members and their families are more pressing than ever. The priesthood within the military context offers a vital ministry, one that supports and accompanies soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines through the unique challenges of military life.

Responding to the call to priesthood is not just about fulfilling a role; it's about embodying spiritual accompaniment. Military priests walk alongside their fellow service members, offering the sacraments, counsel, and the comforting presence of Christ in every situation, whether in garrison, deployed, or at sea. For those discerning this call, consider how your experience in service can transition into a life dedicated to serving God’s people as a military chaplain.

If you are interested in pursuing a vocation to the priesthood, please visit the AMS's Vocations webpage to learn more. If you are unable to become a priest, please pray that the great need for Catholic chaplains would be met through increased vocations to the priesthood.

The Call to Religious Life offers a deep and transformative path to following Christ, one that resonates with the discipline, commitment, and sense of purpose that military life instills. While actively serving, military members are unable to commit to the communal aspect of religious life as a brother or sister, but this does not preclude them from discerning such a vocation for the future. Many who have served in the military later find that the values they lived by in service—such as obedience, community, and self-sacrifice—are profoundly echoed in the religious life.

For those who feel drawn to deepen their relationship with Christ while still fulfilling their military duties, the option of joining a secular third order provides a meaningful way to live out a religious vocation. Secular third orders are branches of religious orders that allow laypeople to participate in the spiritual life and mission of the order while living in the world, including continuing military service. As a member of a third order, you can adopt a rule of life that integrates prayer, penance, and acts of charity into your daily routine, enriching your walk with Christ while continuing to serve your country. Find more information about secular third orders here.

Moreover, discerning a religious vocation after military service can be a natural progression for those who wish to carry the spirit of service into a new realm. Religious life offers the opportunity to serve the Church and the world in profound ways, embracing a life of prayer, community, and ministry that reflects the discipline and dedication learned in the military. Whether as a future brother, sister, or a member of a third order, the religious life provides a path to continue serving with the strength and resolve forged through military experience, but now dedicated to the greater glory of God.

The Vocation of Marriage is also call to service, one that mirrors the dedication, loyalty, and sacrifice that military members know so well. For many in the military, marriage is not just a partnership but a mission—a shared journey of mutual support, growth, and love, grounded in the selfless service to one another and to God. Just as military service demands commitment and the willingness to put others before oneself, so too does the vocation of marriage.

In marriage, service takes the form of daily acts of love, sacrifice, and fidelity. It is a call to serve your spouse by being present, by listening, by offering support, and by working together to overcome challenges. Military life, with its unique demands and stresses, can make marriage both rewarding and challenging. Deployments, frequent moves, and the pressures of duty can test the strength of any relationship, but they also provide opportunities to grow closer, to deepen your love, and to strengthen your bond in Christ.

For those discerning the vocation of marriage, it’s important to recognize that this path is a sacred calling, one that involves not just a commitment to your spouse but also a commitment to God. In marriage, you are called to help your spouse grow in holiness, to build a family rooted in faith, and to serve the broader community together. The military experience, with its focus on teamwork, resilience, and service, uniquely equips couples to navigate the challenges of married life with grace and fortitude.

For those already married, or planning to marry while serving, marriage is an ongoing vocation—a daily decision to love, to serve, and to grow together in Christ. As military members, your vocation to marriage is a powerful witness to the world of what it means to love selflessly, to persevere through difficulties, and to remain faithful in all circumstances. This is the heart of marriage: a lifelong commitment to service, to your spouse, and to the God who calls you to this sacred journey together.