Public Presence

Steven recently took a trip to Washington DC to participate in the March for Life.     This was his second time participating in the march.    He found it important to be there with others, publicly witnessing.

One aspect of the march was that Steven participated while wearing clerics.     The first time that Steven had ever worn clerics was the prior time Steven had participated in the March.     Steven shared how he felt a little awkward, not being an ordained priest, yet wearing clerics.

Steven has found that while wearing clerics people will open up to you.    It is a great conversation starter.   You have a public presence.  Wearing clerics makes a public statement and many people are curious.

When Steven began in the seminary as a philosophy student, his dress was a collared shirt and a tie.    Now that he has progressed to be a declared candidate Steven wears clerics full time while at school.

No specific guidelines exist for when priest wear or do not wear clerics.      Steven has found wearing clerics in public as a symbol of commitment, much in the same way that a man wearing a wedding ring demonstrates a public commitment.