Currently, the diocese chooses and sponsors men for a seminary after conducting interviews, background checks and hosting group events.
With the House of Discernment, men will live in an environment of brotherhood, have daily access to the sacraments and be given daily responsibilities, allowing them to demonstrate their commitment before entering seminary.
The new discernment house will be on the property of St. Joseph Catholic Church and School, near Santa Ana's French Park.
"Well-formed priests are not an accident. The House of Discernment will offer men the opportunity to live in fraternity with fellow discerners, receive spiritual direction and participate in intentional human, spiritual and pastoral formation. "
"It is more than a building restoration. It is an investment in the men who may one day bless you with the sacraments, walk alongside your family or lead your parish in faith. We have a short timeline because so many men are interested in the priesthood."
When completed in the fall of 2027, the house will feature seven simple bedrooms for discerners and two large shared bathrooms. It will also have a chapel, kitchen, dining room, living room, outdoor patio space, prayer garden, as well as a visiting priest's suite and bedroom for the on-site priest who will provide spiritual guidance for the discerners.
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Men will live at the home for periods ranging from a few weeks to a year, allowing the diocese to journey with them from the very beginning until their ordination. During this time, they will determine if God truly is calling them to become a priest and make the eight-year commitment to seminary.
The diocese plans to preserve the original spiritual and architechtural character of the convent, including the refurbishment of the chapel's stained glass windows, while adapting the building into a specialized, 21st-century home for faith and discernment. Naming opportunities for key spaces, furnishings and liturgical items are available.
Investing in the House of Discernment is not limited to cash gifts. For some, the most meaningful opportunity may be gifts of appreciated stock, real estate, business interests or other assets that provide a tax-efficient way to also help build a chapel or underwrite a room where a young man can listen for God's gentle whisper.
The Orange Catholic Foundation would welcome the opportunity to explore how your philanthropic goals and the needs of the House of Discernment might come together to shape the future of the Diocese of Orange.
More than 500 guests gathered on the Christ Cathedral campus in July 2026 to experience a lineup of art, music, magic and yo-yo performances. Those in attendance gave generously to support the next generation of men discerning the priesthood.
