Explore Your Vocation
God calls men to serve the Church in many ways. For those drawn to religious life as brothers or priests, Holy Cross offers a path marked by prayer, community, and mission as Educators in the Faith. This page shares one brother’s story of permanent commitment and points you toward resources for your own discernment.
Brother Nich Celebrates His Final Vows
On February 15, 2014, Holy Cross Brother Nich Leanda Perez, CSC, professed his final vows in the St. Joseph Chapel at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana. Holy Cross Father Richard V. Warner, superior general, was the celebrant. Holy Cross Brother William Zaydak, provincial superior of the Moreau Province, received Brother Nich’s vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Final profession is the moment when a brother makes a permanent commitment to live the evangelical counsels within the Congregation of Holy Cross. For Brother Nich, that day marked the completion of years of formation and the beginning of full-time ministry as a religious brother. He later directed BRO: Men With Hope to Bring, a documentary about the vocation and witness of Catholic religious brothers. Learn more about the film or request a free DVD copy through our Contact page (U.S. addresses only).
How Discernment Begins
Discernment is not a single decision made in isolation. It grows through regular prayer, honest conversation with a spiritual director or vocation director, and time spent with the Holy Cross community. Many men first visit a campus ministry event, attend a Holy Cross Immersion weekend, or speak with a brother they already know through school or parish life.
If you sense a possible call to religious life, these first steps can help you listen more clearly:
Pray daily. Ask God for openness to his will, even when the answer is not yet clear.
Talk with someone you trust. A parish priest, campus minister, or Holy Cross brother can help you name what you are experiencing.
Visit and observe. Spend time with brothers in prayer, community meals, and ministry. Notice whether this way of life draws you closer to Christ.
Read and reflect. The Resource Library on this site gathers vocation guides, prayers, and formation materials.
Formation in Holy Cross
Men who enter Holy Cross pass through stages of formation that include postulancy, novitiate, temporary vows, and final profession. Formation addresses human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral growth, with strong emphasis on life in community. Brothers and priests serve together as Educators in the Faith in schools, parishes, and social outreach across the United States and in mission countries including Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
For detailed information about current discernment programs, retreats, and application steps, visit the Congregation of Holy Cross Office of Vocations. You may also call the Holy Cross Hotline at (512) 442-7856 or use our Contact Us page to reach the Moreau Province.