Elliot G. Sher. Professor Gregory Mena English 101 “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. St. John Vianney's words resonate deeply with my calling to the Anglican (known as Episcopal in the United States) clergy, where I aspire to share my faith and strengthen others’ belief. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), clergy members in religious organizations make the average annual salary of $65,280 in the United States, and the average of $83,270 in California as of May 2023. This salary range is in line with my expectations in this field. My experiences with the church have continued to solidify my commitment to serving others and cultivating faith. I am committed to pursuing this career path and through the attendance and support of my Episcopal church community, I believe my priests and parish community will support my goals. The general job description of a priest …show more content…
I don’t exactly have the support and safety net most Christians will have during times of hardship because of my lack of religious background. This is a problem I have learned, and still am learning to, handle and work through now that I have more independence and time in college to build and build my own close-knit community. Career-wise, priesthood takes a lot of time and commitment, I notoriously do not have the commitment for many things. However, religion and my faith are surprisingly one of the most consistent parts of my recent life and I intend to keep being dedicated to my career path and life goals. Finding a diocese and a parish that will sponsor my seminary study will be difficult, but I am under the presumption that it is my calling, the Lord will provide. Especially with my contacts and church community that have previously sponsored people that I