The Vocations Interview Committee assists the Vocations Office in evaluating candidates for priesthood in the Archdiocese of Vancouver by means of candidate interviews.
A. Membership and Terms
The committee consists of lay representatives from different walks of life and typically include both men and women.
The Committee members serve at the invitation of the Archbishop, but are recommended for the Archbishop’s consideration by the Director of the Vocations Office.
The Committee members normally serve for a term of three (3) years. This term may, with the Archbishop’s approval, be renewed once.
In accordance with the provisions of ecclesial and civil law, the Committee members are required to sign an “Oath of Secrecy”, thereby promising to observe strict secrecy in perpetuity in connection with any work of the Vocations Admissions Committee that requires confidentiality by its nature.
Each member of the Committee is encouraged to contribute their own impressions of the candidate. This information is then evaluated by the Vocations Advisory Committee.
The Committee will meet as needed to complete the application process of prospective seminarians.
B. Purpose
- To provide the Vocations Office with the perspective of the lay person in the pew as to whether or not a candidate for the priesthood is suitable for the role.
- To consider with greater objectivity than may be possible for the Vocations Director alone, the suitability of candidates for the priesthood based on the autobiographies of the candidates and the interview responses.