The life of a Catholic priest is characterized by service and sacrifice. There are generally two types of Catholic priests. Religious order priests belong to a specific order, like the Dominicans or Franciscans, and diocesan priests belong to a diocese, an administrative unit of the church associated with a particular geographic area like a city, county, or region.
Priests in religious orders generally take vows of obedience, poverty, and celibacy. They usually live communally and participate in various projects together. Diocesan priests also take vows of obedience and celibacy but are paid a modest salary by the diocese. Many dioceses provide their priests room and board as well. Diocesan priests are the most visible members of the priesthood, as they say Mass daily and officiate at weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies; they also spend a great deal of time attending to the spiritual needs of their parishioners in areas like marriage counseling, teaching catechism class, and visiting the sick.
Although the financial rewards are minimal, those who are ordained as priests in the Catholic Church must undergo rigorous training, which generally includes eight years of postsecondary education leading to a bachelor’s degree and an advanced degree, usually a master of divinity. Their training includes not only Catholic theology but such disciplines as prayer, liturgy, and philosophy, as well as counseling. During their graduate training, most candidates complete a pastoral year, during which they experience a parish priest’s life.