"A Vocationary," Father Justin himself said, "is a religious house where, in a spirit of prayer and study, we educate and guide, free of charge, candidates who wish to dedicate themselves to a life of service to the Lord, but who are not oriented yet towards diocesan priesthood or religious congregations."

Therefore, a Vocationist, both in his daily activities, in schools, parishes and missions and in the exercise of his ministry will give his apostolate the special dimension of endeavoring to identify young men with signs of a divine call to a special life of personal holiness and service to others and guide them toward a Vocationary for further evaluation and strengthening of their vocations.

In the Vocationary, candidates study, pray and discern first of all the authenticity of their calling, under the guidance of the Vocationist Fathers; simultaneously, they are slowly introduced to an adequate knowledge and appreciation of a life of service either in diocesan priesthood or in a religious congregation.

Those who continue showing signs of Divine Call while living in a Vocationary have an opportunity of being exposed more deeply both to the life and ministry of a diocesan priest and to the mission and charisma of the main religious congregations in the Church. Once a candidate reaches his final decision, the Vocationist Fathers make the necessary contact with the diocese or religious congregation that a given candidate has chosen and recommend him to the care of its superiors.

Those who choose to join the Vocationist Fathers will make the application and follow the usual steps of the formation process.

Admission & Formation of Candidates

• Candidates seeking admission in the Society of Divine Vocations must have a very strong desire to serve God and His people.

• One must have the ability and the inclination to work in vocation ministry.

• One must have completed at least his high school education.

• Be in good health, be a baptized and confirmed Catholic and be free from canonical impediments.

• Upon completing the admission process an individual may be accepted into the community as a candidate.

• After a short period of candidacy, one will start the postulancy (Pre-Novitiate)

• This is followed by one year of novitiate, after which the candidate takes temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for one year.

• These vows are renewed annually. At the end of three years in temporary vows, one will take perpetual vows.

• Candidates for the priesthood must also obtain a college degree and attend four years of theological studies before ordination.

Get Directions    Speak to the Director of Vocations

Missions

The Society of Divine Vocations, S.D.V. (Vocationist Fathers), founded by Fr. Justin Russolillo, is a clerical religious community of Pontifical Right, whose members intend to live in the footsteps of Jesus, following His chaste, poor and obedient way of life. Their first duty is "to be with Him."

The ultimate goal of the Society of Divine Vocations is to direct and lead all members, and through them all people, to a perfect union with the Divine Persons, through communion with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

For the achievement of this divine union, it works for Universal Sanctification promoting ascetical and mystical life and the propagation of religious life in every walk of life.

For the achievement of Universal Sanctification, it considers the whole world as "a great sanctuary" and directly works for the furtherance of all parochial, Diocesan and pontifical ascetical activities.

Within the Church, the Society of Divine Vocations embraces as its own particular mission, the searching out and formation of priestly and religious vocations, especially among the underprivileged, through its characteristic work, the VOCATIONARY.

Through this charism received from the Lord, it serves the Church in Dioceses, fostering local vocations both for the Diocesan clergy and religious life.

The Holy Church, the Holy Family, and the Divine Trinity are the center and axis of the Society of Divine Vocations. The Vocationist works in the Church, with the Church, for the Church. He imitates the Holy Family in the relationships of soul-child, soul-spouse, and soul-mother of God.

The spirit of the Vocationist toward the Lord is that of a living image and likeness of Him and of a personal relationship of love with Him with docility to the divine inspirations controlled and approved by the Church.

Toward the neighbor, in every ministry, the spirit of the Vocationist is that of the humble, faithful and loving servant, who becomes everything to all men, according to the characteristics of the good servant found in the revelation of the Old and New Testaments, in order to unite all to the Lord as true religious of God.

Toward himself, the spirit of the Vocationist is that of the daily conversion to the Gospel, in the silence of all his being, and in the multi-faceted oblation of himself to the Lord, in order to be all absorbed in His glory, love, and will.

Most of all, the Society of Divine Vocations, endeavors to pursue the Divine Union for its members and for all mankind by promoting the idea of universal sanctification and by urging everyone to practice "religious community life" which is to be extended to every class of people. Father Justin believed that every human being, in one way or another, is called to a life of consecration which leads to holiness.

Countries with a Vocationist Presence

Our Parishes in the United States

Vocationist Apostles of Universal Sanctification (VAUS)

VAUS is the short form of Vocationist Apostle of Universal Sanctification. It is a third order of the Vocationist Family, founded by Venerable Justin Russolillo, as a Secular Institute. The Members embrace chastity, poverty, and obedience.  Living in Divine Union with Christ, the Redeemer is their first duty. The VAUS members are in not only the USA, but also Brazil, and Italy as well.

Goal: Direct and lead Souls to perfect union with the divine persons through communion with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They work for the Universal Sanctification through the apostolate and propagation of religious life. In realizing Universal Sanctification, they consider the whole world as a great sanctuary and work for the furtherance of parochial, diocesan and pontifical activities. They embrace the searching out and the cultivation of vocations to ministries in the Church, and consecrated life especially among less privileged in society.

Spirituality: The Spirituality is one of daily Conversion to the Gospel.  The Holy Church, Holy Family, and Divine Trinity are the center and axis of VAUS (Vocationist Apostles of Universal Sanctification).  There is much on the Apostles of Universal Sanctification. 

Books & Letters

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