By Voice staff

Persons considering a vocation to priesthood or religious life can participate in local retreat weekends and monthly group sessions focused on discernment.

St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park is holding its annual discernment retreat, Jan. 16-18, for men interested in exploring a priestly vocation. There will be times for prayer as well as opportunities to meet with seminarians and faculty and learn about the life and ministry of a diocesan priest.

There is no cost to attend the retreat, and attendance does not imply further commitment or obligation. Information: Mary Verducci at St. Patrick’s Seminary, (650) 325-5621, ext. 211 or mary.verducci@stpatricksseminary.org.

The Northern California region of the National Religious Vocations Conference sponsors a monthly discernment group for men and women interested in religious life. Each month there is a different topic for discussion as well as Scripture quotes for reflection. Information: Sister Beth Quire, O.P. (510) 449-7554 or sbquire@hotmail.com.

The diocesan Vocations Office will be sponsoring five regional Project Andrew dinners to which men are invited by a priest or parish vocation advocate to learn more about a vocation to the priesthood. The dinner will include prayer, stories from priests about their call to priesthood, a question and answer period, and a presentation by Bishop Allen Vigneron.

Attendees who show a serious interest in discerning a priestly vocation will be invited to attend a monthly discernment meeting.

Project Andrew is a program that focuses on having priests identify men who might have a calling to priesthood. It was the Apostle Andrew who led his brother Peter to Jesus. Information: Father Larry D’Anjou, vocations director, (510) 267-8345 or ldanjou@oakdiocese.org.

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