The Archdiocese of Chicago Vocations Office helps men discern a call to the priesthood through retreats, visits to the seminary and discernment opportunities. As well, the Vocation Office works with men to determine their eligibility to apply to the seminary for the diocesan priesthood in Chicago. Finally, the Vocations Office actively works to create a culture supportive of vocations through promotion, education, and parish based efforts to raise awareness.

The site, www.chicagopriest.com, will connect you with information about being a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Augustine John Tolton was the first African American Roman Catholic priest in the United States publicly known to be African American at the time.  He was a former slave who was baptized and reared Catholic.  He later studied formally in Rome. Fr. Augustine was ordained and served his first Mass on Easter Sunday at St. Peter's Basilica. Assigned to the Alton, Illinois diocese, he ministered to his home parish in Quincy, Illinois. Later assigned to Chicago, Fr. Augustine led the development and construction of St. Monica's Catholic Church as a black "national parish church", completed in 1893 at 36th and Dearborn on the South Side.