Vocations

The mission of the Office of Vocations is to encourage young men and women to listen to the Holy Spirit in the context of a call to consecrated religious life or the diocesan priesthood through retreats, youth conferences, the formation house, the associates program, spiritual direction and prayer. The Office offers vocation awareness to the lay faithful of the diocese through education, awareness of needs and opportunities for prayer.

St. Joseph House of Prayer and Formation

The House of Prayer and Formation was established to provide a place for seminarians and men in serious discernment to live and work together in community under the guidance of the Director of Vocations. The House, located in Tallahassee, is open year round. The House is beneficial in allowing the individuals living there to form community among themselves, to get to know and minister to the people of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, and to continue their discernment and priestly formation under the direction of the Director of Vocations. Some who live in the House also attend Florida State University and other area colleges.

Discernment Retreats

Discernment Retreats are given once a year in the Diocese. They are held each year during the month of January at Saint John Neumann Renewal Center in Tallahassee. The Retreat is from Friday to Sunday and is open to men from ages 18 to 45 who believe they are being called to be priests. A series of conferences is presented throughout the weekend addressing the call, discernment, and life as a priest. Presenters include the Diocesan Bishop, Vocations Director, priests, and seminarians as well as selected Seminarian staff, lay counselors and married couples. These retreats aid men in their discernment for the priesthood. Everyone studying for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee has made a Discernment Retreat. The Retreat is extremely important in the discernment process. Our next retreat is on January 23-25, 2009 at the St. John Neumann Renewal Center, 685 Miccosukee Rd., Tallahassee, Fl.

The Associates Program is for men ages 18 to 45 who are interested in learning about the priesthood. The program is lead by the Director of Vocations and his representatives with locations in Tallahassee and Pensacola. These men come together in fellowship the First Thursday or First Friday of each month to attend Mass, share a meal, and hear a presentation about priestly life or discernment to the priesthood. They then have discussion followed by benediction. This program has been successful in helping to develop and maintain a community of men throughout the Diocese who are interested in knowing more about priestly life. Individuals are directed to this program by referrals from parish priests.   

For information about vocations to the priesthood, diaconate or professed religious life, please contact the Office of Vocations.

Msgr. Michael Tugwell, Director for Vocations
Jacinta Vogel, administrative assistant
11 North B. Street Pensacola, FL 32502
850-435-3552
vogelj@ptdiocese.org

The Diocesan Vocations Team:

Tallahassee, Fl:         
Msgr. Michael Tugwell
Reverend Edward Jones

Pensacola-Panama City, Fl:
Reverend Joseph Fowler
Reverend John Licari
Reverend James Valenzuela
Reverend Nicholas Schumm

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