My name is Fr. Pier Giorgio of Christ the King, O.C.D., and I entered the order in 2014.

I was an athlete in high school and into college and didn’t participate in much else but practices. It was all about sports and school work. After high school, though, I had a conversion and I gave my life in service to the Lord when I was 20 or 21. The discernment of a religious vocation to the priesthood accompanied that initial call.

Relationships were the biggest help for me in discernment. When I had my initial conversion, I was involved in mostly unhealthy relationships with fraternity brothers and girls who came by the house. When my life started to change, I found a young adult community at my near by parish, and then met some amazing people working at a Catholic summer camp. My camp family, which included priests, seminarians, and young people committed to serving the Lord, was my inspiration to consider giving my own life in service to the Lord and the Church. Their example continues to provide strength and perseverance in postulancy with the Discalced Carmelites.

I spent 4 years in diocesan formation at a seminary. From the beginning, I had a feeling it wasn’t where I was called, and I spent a few miserable years trying to change myself to make it work. In the end, the difference between diocesan and religious life was not a matter of preference, but the specific place where the Holy Spirit was working to make me the most generous with my own individual charism and gifts. For me, I believe that place is Carmel, but for many others it could be the Diocesan priesthood.

At seminary I had professors, advisors and spiritual directors who were Dominicans, Jesuits, Franciscans and Cistercians.  Ultimately, I felt that the charism of prayer and contemplation, as well as the mix of both active and contemplative life, drawing me to Carmel.

My first contact with the Discalced Carmelites was through my mother, who is a member of the secular order (OCDS). She introduced me to the saints and the spirituality of Carmel through her own example. At the time I was not practicing my faith, but later when my life changed, it was the saints of Carmel who I turned to for their intercession.

I believe that Carmelite spirituality has an essential gift to men and women of my generation. Sts. Theresa and John can help us millennials with the discovery of self-knowledge and aid us in becoming more authentic to ourselves, to others, and above all, to God. With so many people hurting in our world, the Discalced Carmelite brings the wisdom of our saints to those far from themselves, and therefore far from God. By discovering who we really are in the eyes of faith, we can better love ourselves, our neighbors, and our God.

If you feel called to the priesthood at all, be sure to talk to your friends, your family, your priests, and anyone who loves you. Not everyone may understand the call you feel, but they love you and will obtain for you strength through prayer to help you discern where God is calling you.

Find other people out there in social networks who are discerning a religious vocation, or who are newly entered into religious formation. There is a lot or value in sharing experiences and interceding for one another in social media.