Discerning God's Call
Take time to prayerfully consider whether God is inviting you to the missionary priesthood.
A vocation rarely arrives as a single, dramatic moment. More often, it is a quiet and persistent question that returns again and again — in prayer, in service, in the ordinary moments of life. If you sense that question stirring in you, you are not alone, and you do not have to answer it by yourself. The Missionaries of Jesus walk with men at every stage of discernment, from the first uncertain thought to the day of ordination.
Listening Before Deciding
Discernment is not about trying to predict the future or choosing the "perfect" path.
It is a prayerful process of listening to God's voice, recognizing the gifts He has entrusted to you, and responding with freedom, generosity, and trust.
Whether God is calling you to marriage, the single life, lay mission, religious life, or the priesthood, every vocation begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The first step is not deciding.
The first step is listening.
How God Often Speaks
"Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening." — 1 Samuel 3:10
Every Vocation Begins with a Questions
Samuel did not recognize God's voice at first. It took the guidance of Eli, someone further along in faith, to help him understand what he was hearing. Discernment works the same way today. It is not a test to pass alone in silence, but a conversation — with God, with a spiritual director, and with a community that has walked this road before.
The Missionaries of Jesus were founded to serve where the Church's presence is most needed — among the poor, the remote, and the overlooked, like the Tagakaulo communities of Malita. A vocation to the missionary priesthood is, at its heart, a vocation to go where you are needed and stay.
Could God be Calling You?
Do you find joy in serving others?
Do you desire to bring people closer to Christ?
Do you long for a deeper life of prayer?
Are you willing to follow wherever God leads?
Do you feel drawn toward missionary life?
"God does not call the most capable. He calls those who are willing to entrust their lives to Him, and He gives them the grace they needed."
"My vocation didn't begin when I entered the seminary. It began the day I finally allowed myself to ask, 'Lord, what do You want me to do with my life?'"
— Missionary Priest
The Path of Discernment
First Contact — A conversation, in person or by email/phone, with a vocation director. No commitment, no application — just a conversation.
Getting to Know Each Other — Continued correspondence, possibly a visit to a mission community or formation house, so both you and the Missionaries of Jesus can discern together.
Come and See (if applicable) — A short stay with the community, similar in spirit to a Mission Experience, but focused on formation and community life rather than service.
Formation (if applicable) — [Propaedeutic / philosophy / theology stages — confirm actual formation structure and years with the vocation office]
Ordination — The culmination of a formation journey that, for most men, spans several years.
Meet the Missionaries of Jesus
Friends and Disciples of Jesus, Walking with God's People
The Missionaries of Jesus have served the Tagakaulo people of Malita, Davao Occidental since assuming pastoral stewardship of the mission in 2006, continuing a legacy of missionary presence that began in the late 1970s. Their work belongs to what the Diocese of Digos calls the Lumadnong Simbahan — the Indigenous Church — carried out through integral evangelization: a pastoral life and catechesis that lets the Gospel and Tagakolu culture encounter each other as equals, rather than one replacing the other.
Friends and Disciples
The Missionaries of Jesus understand their vocation as a life of friendship with Jesus that naturally flows into friendship with one another, their partners in mission, and the people they serve.
Mission on the Frontiers
Community and Mission
Walking with the People
Inspired by Christ's self-emptying love, they choose to journey with communities on the frontiers, embracing cultures, accompanying the marginalized, and proclaiming the Gospel through compassionate presence.
Mission is never lived alone. Prayer, community life, shared discernment, and mutual support sustain their missionary journey and strengthen their witness wherever they are sent.
Rather than working only for communities, the Missionaries of Jesus strive to live among the people, listen to their stories, celebrate their culture, and journey together in faith toward God's Kingdom.
"We are called to journey together, integrating into the life of the people."
A Vocation Story
Every missionary was once someone who quietly wondered, "Lord, are You calling me?"
Their Mission Continues Around the World
In the United States, they walk alongside multi-cultural faith communities. Their ministry is one of healing and encounter, confronting the wounds of exclusion, isolation, and spiritual resignation through the simple presence of Christ's friendship.
United States of America
Guatemala
Vietnam
A presence of Solidarity
In Guatemala, they are blessed to work, pray, and celebrate the Gospel with the vibrant Mayan people. Their shared life is a continuous effort to rekindle the light of Christ's hope amid the shadows of historical challenges.
A presence of Solidarity
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Journey with the Missionaries of Jesus
Stay connected with vocation stories, missionary life, formation, reflections, and moments from the everyday life of the Missionaries of Jesus.
Whether you are simply curious or prayerfully discerning, these pages offer a glimpse into the joy and beauty of missionary life.
How do I know if I have a vocation?
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Common Questions About Discernment
What if I still have doubts?
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Is there an age limit or educational requirement?
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What if my family doesn't understand or support this?
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Can I stop the discernment process at any time?
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Do I need to have a fully formed decision before reaching out?
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Take the First Step
You don't need to have this figured out before reaching out. Many men who are now ordained missionary priests began with nothing more than a question and a willingness to talk about it. If that's where you are, we would be glad to listen.
Continue your Journey
Our Mission and Identity
Discover the values, vision, and missionary spirituality that continue to guide our work today.
Stories of Hope
Read inspiring stories of faith, service, and transformed lives from our mission communities.
Mission Experience
Experience life alongside the Tagakaulo people and discover the beauty of missionary accompaniment through firsthand encounter.
"God never stops calling. The question is not whether He is speaking, but whether we are making room in our hearts to listen."
A Prayer for Discernment
Holy Spirit, you, light of our understanding, gentle breath that guides our decisions, grant me the grace to listen attentively to your voice and to discern the hidden paths of my heart, so that I may grasp what truly matters to you, and free my heart from its troubles. I ask you for the grace to learn how to pause, to become aware of the way I act, of the feelings that dwell within me, and of the thoughts that overwhelm me, which, so often, I fail to notice. I long for my choices to lead me to the joy of the Gospel. Even if I must go through moments of doubt and fatigue, even if I must struggle, reflect, search, and begin again… Because, at the end of the journey, your consolation is the fruit of the right decision. Grant me a deeper understanding of what moves me, so that I may reject what draws me away from Christ, and love him and serve him more fully.
Amen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Tagakaulo Mission
Malita Tagakaulo Mission, Demoloc, Malita Davao Occidental
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