Life At Oscott Catholic College

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Staff and seminarians line up outside Oscott College to applaud and welcome new deacons after their ordination by Archbishop Bernard Longley on June 28, 2014 in Birmingham, England. St. Mary's College, Oscott opened in 1794 and was designed by the gothic architect Augustus Welby Pugin. The formation for catholic priesthood takes six years living in the college of seminarians dedicated to prayer, study and pastoral work in the local community. During the first three years a seminarian progresses to the ministries of Lector and Acolyte, in readiness for a pastoral role in his home diocese. the seminarian returns to his studies and at the end of his fourth year is accepted as a candidate for Holy Orders. After five years he is ordained a deacon in the college chapel and, finally ordained priest in his home diocese at the end of his sixth year. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)