Many people have asked me about the process of becoming a Salesian and also becoming a priest.
There are two types of priests one is called “religious” or “order” priest and the other is called “secular” or “diocesan” priest. I am studying to become a religious priest.
A religious priest (by the way the title in no way means that these priests are holier or more religious!) is a priest that is dedicated to a certain mission (Salesians are dedicated to the mission of serving the young and the poor especially through education and evangelization) whereas a diocesan priest is dedicated to serving in a specific region of his area (called a diocese, like the diocese of Newark or the diocese of Ft. Worth)
Young men in formation and Salesians with Don Chavez our Rector Major.
When becoming a Salesian or any “religious” brother, priest, or sister you first join the order. If you will go on to become a priest you will have to complete more studies following your profession (joining of the order) to prepare you specifically for the priesthood.
So what does my path look like?
Well I spent one year in China as a Salesian Lay Missionary
I arrived in 2006 for my pre-novitiate year
From August ‘06 – August ‘07 I am a novice and hopefully this August I will (with God’s help) make my profession (promise for one year to give all I am to the mission of the young, to live in community and to also live the three vows of obedience, poverty and chastity) On that day I’ll be Brother Sean!
From there I will probably have two years of studies (called post-novitiate)
Then I will work in our ministry for two years as a teacher, youth minister etc. (called practical training)
Follow practical training I will go to major seminary for four years and following that with God’s help and if it be His and the Church’s will I will be ordained a priest of God.
When I tell some people that it is going to take about seven or eight years before I am ordained a priest, they think it is long. But really days in seminary (formation) fly by and as you take each day as it comes you realize that the goal is not “to be a priest” but to do God’s will.
In the end it doesn’t really matter if I am ordained in seven years or in seventy years if that makes sense. Following Jesus fills you with immense joy 
and I am so blessed to just be here, I am blessed to be a Salesian of Don Bosco walking in the footsteps of so many great saints.
Please let me know if you would like to know more about the process.
Haha funny story I thought I’d add…one of my guidance counselors at school (who I’ve gotten pretty close to) said that I have to say her wedding when she gets married. I told her “Ms Trombetta, if you are willing to wait 12 years then I will absolutely say your wedding.” She immediately freaked out and said if she’s not married in 12 years she should just quit altogether lol but did say I could baptize her kids =).
12 years seems like a long time, but honestly it doesn’t matter to me because it’s not like those years before ordination (if I get there of course) are going to be a drag, I know I’m going to enjoy every single day as a Salesian so the time involved really doesnt matter at all!!!