Bishop O’Connell’s 2024 Vocation Message ~ link
God made you for a unique purpose. Even before you were born, He knew your vocation, your mission in life. And if you are a faithful Catholic man, God may be calling you for a higher purpose — to become a Catholic Priest.
Priests have a critical mission: to bring people to Jesus and Jesus to people. They are spiritual fathers to thousands of Catholics. They preach the Gospel and offer the sacrifice of the Mass. In short, priests are living witnesses of Christ in the world — men of strong character who stand out in our secular culture.
If you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood, join us for our Vocations BBQ, hosted by St. Luke’s Church , Toms River, on June 10th, 2025 Adoration/Mass followed by dinner and fellowship.
“Come and See” Discernment BBQ Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Beginning with Adoration & Mass at 5:00 PM BBQ Dinner to follow for Men between the ages of 15-40 that are interested in the Diocesan Priesthood are invited to a discernment BBQ at St. Luke’s Parish, Toms River, NJ.
Reach out to Fr. Chris Colavito, Vocations Director, Diocese of Trenton.
Questions…contact our Vocations Office at 609-406-7448 or Vocations@DioceseofTrenton.org
Priestly Ordination 2025
Rev. Mr. Bridges excited to become a priest on May 31 Ordination day
National Vocation Awareness Week, November 2-9, 2025
Please ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by their families and our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of a vocation.
Praying for vocations is the most powerful way to support vocations. A vocation is a call from the Holy Spirit, a gift from God that is nurtured in prayer. When we pray for vocations, we lift up to our Father those men and women whom He is calling to follow Him in a very special way.
If you are discerning a possible calling to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life, please feel free to speak to one of our priests or deacons, their extensions can be found on the Contact Us -Staff Page of our website.
Diocese of Trenton Office of Vocations
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Links
Holy Orders
Our Lady of Good Council – Vocations from our Parish
Father Jim was ordained on June 2, 2018. His first Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel on June 3, 2018.
Father James Smith is from Our Lady of Good Council Parish prior to ordination he served at Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton, during his year as a transitional Deacon. His first priestly assignment after Ordination was St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson where he served for six years as Parochial Vicar. Father Jim was installed as Pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton by Bishop David O’Connell on June 30, 2024.
Priestly Ordinations – June 2018 – Keepsake Publication – ‘Gift and Mystery’
