Office of Vocations

Contact Information
Rev. Luke LaFleur
Director of Vocations
P. O. Box 7417
Alexandria, LA 71306
Phone: (318) 445-2401
Email: frllafleur@diocesealex.org
Deacon Richard Mitchell
Director of the Permanent Diaconate
P.O. Box 7417
Alexandria, LA 71306
Phone: (318) 445-2401
Email: dcnrmitchell@diocesealex.org
Rev. Martin Laird
Vicar for Religious
P.O. Box 9
Plaucheville, LA 71362-0009
Phone: (318) 922-3131
Email: frmlaird@parish.diocesealex.org
Sister Sandra Norsworthy, OLS
Vicar for Women Religious
9968 Bayou des Glaises
Moreauville, LA 71355
Phone: (318) 985-2772
Email: sacredheart@kricket.net
Our Seminarians
Our Deacons
Brothers of the Holy Eucharist (F.S.E.)
Infant Jesus Monastery
P.O. Box 25
Plaucheville, LA 71362-0025
Phone: (318) 922-3630
Sisters of the Holy Family (S.S.F.)
Mere Henriette Convent
3200 Elliott St.
Alexandria, LA 71301
Phone: (318) 483-9480
Julliette Gaudin Convent
3110 George's Lane
Alexandria, LA 71301
Phone: (318) 619-8573
Superior: Sister Greta Jupiter, SSF
6901 Chef Menteur Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70126
Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (O.L.S.)
St. Joseph Convent
440 Browns Bend Rd.
Alexandria, LA 71303-4146
Phone: (318) 443-1553
Sacred Heart Convent
P.O. Box 179
Moreauville, LA 71355
Phone: (318) 985-2164
Superior: Sister Sandra Norsworthy, OLS
9968 Bayou des Glaises Rd.
Moreauville, LA 71355
Vocations Director: Sister Fatima Aphiri, OLS
Email address: vocations@ols.org
Sisters of the Secular Institute of the Two Hearts (S.I.T.H.)
Superior: Mother Agnes Frias, SITH
P.O. Box 1179
Hanceville, AL 35077

How to become a priest.
The Office of Church Vocations is commissioned to reach out to those who want to join the clergy and to minister to those who have already made the decision to join the clergy. God promises to provide shepherds and ministers to His people. It is the task of the Office of Church Vocations to encourage, support and inform the men and women in the diocesan community as they consider whether they have been called as priests, deacons, sisters, brothers, or ministers of Christ's sacraments, His Gospel and His life.
Each of us has a call - a vocation - to be holy as a married or single lay person, or as a priest, deacon, or a religious brother or sister. God offers to everyone the special graces required to fulfill their calling. Through prayer, vocation retreats, workshops and preaching in the church parishes, the Office of Church Vocations strives to strengthen parishioners' relationships with God to ensure that they are filled with the grace necessary to fulfill their calling.
Catholics who feel called to support the ministry of the Office of Church Vocations can join the Serra Club to pray for vocations and affirm the clergy and religious as they seek to submit themselves to Christ through their vocations.
Prayer for Vocations
"Heavenly Father, bless your Church with an abundance of holy and zealous priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Make us a kind and understanding family so that we will help one another discover our vocations and follow them faithfully. Form us all in the likeness of your Son so that in Him, with Him and through Him, we may love You more deeply and serve you more faithfully, always and everywhere. With Mary we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."
How long does it take to study for priesthood?
Answer: 8-10 years!
Requirements:
4 years of college with a minor in philosophy
4 years of theology
8 total years and the student graduates with a Masters of Divinity.
However, if a student has a 4-year college degree in anything, but not a minor in philosophy, he must
take two years of philosophy (also called pre-theology) before taking the 4 years of theology:
4 years of college with a degree
2 years of philosophy (pre-theology)
4 years of theology
10 total years and the student graduates with a Masters of Divinity.