• A message from Bishop Malooly:
  
  When I think of the priests who inspired me as a young man – and, in fact, throughout my priesthood – three things come to mind.
  
  First of all, they were men of prayer. You could tell by dealing with them that they spent regular time speaking to God and listening for God’s voice.
  
  Secondly, they took Christ’s command very seriously: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). The Lord reminds us over and over again that what we do for the least of his brothers and sisters we do for him.
  
  Finally, they helped me see the face of Christ. Priests are called in a special way to act in the person of Christ, and the ones who were most helpful to me and to my faith were joyful men; they were priests in whose company I found it easiest to sense the Lord’s presence.
  
  The Church needs good holy priests. If you’re a young man who finds himself attracted to service, who loves the Church and who is comfortable listening for God and opening your heart to Him, if bringing the love and joy of Christ to others seems exciting and natural to you – then God might be calling you to the priesthood.
  
  You owe it to yourself to find out.
  
  God bless you.
  
  
  
  W. Francis Malooly
  Bishop of Wilmington
  
  
  If you think the Lord might be calling you to priesthood or religious life, and if you’d
  like some help in discerning and answering that call, CLICK HERE to contact the Diocesan Director of Priestly and Religious Vocations.