Priest’s Personal Lives

They have every reason to be happy and bring others to happiness as disciples of the Lord. We possess true happiness only by living out our vocation with fidelity. We can be happy even in difficult situations.

Absolutely, just like everyone else! Many friendships are formed in the seminary and they become life-long. Many are priests that you meet along the way or religious that we work with in the Mission of the Church. A number of priests still keep in touch with their childhood friends and those from high school. Along the way as a priest, friendships will develop with families and parishioners that you come in contact with and serve. You are always a Father to them, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to a baseball game with them and cheer for your favorite team.

Almost anything that is fun, exciting, wholesome and renews the body, mind and soul: from basketball, to bowling, to going to a baseball game, to reading, to riding roller coasters, to going to the beach, jogging, soccer, biking, skiing, visiting museums, going to the movies, to visiting foreign countries, to spending time with families, to eating out – you name it! But, priests realize that recreation involves the soul, too, and that is why priests take a retreat each year.

It’s actually in canon law, the official law of the Catholic Church, that diocesan priests are to get a vacation. They take their weeks in any number of ways: with family, with a group of priests, traveling to different parts of the country or the world.

Depending on how close they live, you could see your family each week. Parish priest get a day off each week and many use that opportunity to visit family. For other priests, older or sick parents require that they look after them and their needs and parish priesthood affords a certain flexibility in this area.