For Men & Young Men Open to the Priesthood
Sons of St. Joseph
A brotherhood rooted in prayer, identity, virtue, adventure, and the discovery of who you truly are: a beloved son.
Established May 1st, 2026 — Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
Who We Are
Who Are the Sons of St. Joseph?
The Sons of St. Joseph is a brotherhood for men and young men who are open to the priesthood. Are you older than 13 and open to the priesthood? This is for you.
Guys that are open to the priesthood often think they have to "figure it all out" on their own. They browse websites, listen to lectures, read books about "discernment," and the result is often increased confusion and isolation.
The process of exploring the priesthood should be, above all, a journey of discovering who we truly are: beloved sons.
Younger Brothers
Ages 13–18Older Brothers
Ages 19+The Vision
Beloved Sons
The Father looked down upon Jesus and declared his identity before he ever did any public ministry. Likewise, the Father looks upon each of us and declares:
In participating in the Sons of St. Joseph, you will begin to discover and relish in the power of this reality. By growing in your identity as a beloved son and learning about the priesthood, you will be better positioned to make a decision about whether or not to apply to the seminary when the appropriate time comes.
What to Expect
Practically, What Will This Entail?
Weekly gatherings, study, prayer, retreats, conferences, outdoor activities, sports, adventures, seminary visits, and genuine brotherhood.
Weekly Formation
Structured study sessions with two distinct cohorts and zoom access for those without a local chapter nearby.
Hiking & Backpacking Trips
Day hikes & multi-day wilderness adventures.
Sports & Fellowship
Basketball before gatherings, plus social events throughout the year.
Holy Hours
Regular time in adoration, open to all brothers in both cohorts.
Seminary Visits
See seminary life firsthand with scheduled visits.
Conferences & Camps
Quo Vadis days, Steubenville & SEEK Conferences, Idaho Family Camp and more.
Weekly Gatherings
Thursday Schedule
The "home-base" is Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Caldwell (outside of Boise), but there are Local Chapters in other parts of the Diocese. If there isn't one near you, you'll be able to join in the formation meetings over Zoom.(All times are Mountain Time)
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Thursdays
Zoom starts at 6:00 for remote participants
Zoom starts at 7:15 for remote participants
4th Thursday — Templar Altar Servers
5th Thursday (Once a Quarter)
Curriculum
Formation Content
Semester A (May-Oct)
Relationship with God, identity as beloved sons, prayer, and virtue.
Semester B (Nov-Mar)
Exploration of the priesthood, seminary life, and decision-making principles.
Semester A (May-October)
Full Calendar
March 30, 2026
April 24, 2026
Vocations Bingo
6:00 PM
St. Pius X Church
Coeur d’Alene
April 25, 2026
Hike & Holy Mass with Fr. Cintra
Coeur d’Alene
Exact location and time TBD
May 1, 2026
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
6:00 PM Launch Mass (Livestreamed)
St. Joseph Consecration
7:00 PM Basketball & Pizza (or BBQ out in the pavilion)
May 7, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
(See schedule above)
May 14, 2026
2nd Sons of St. Joseph Night
May 16, 2026
Begin Novena to the Holy Spirit
May 18, 2026
Ambassador Zoom Call
May 19-21, 2026
Older Brothers 3-day camping trip at City of Rocks
18+ only
May 19, 2026
North Idaho Eucharistic Procession
Coeur d’Alene
May 21, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
May 26, 2026
BBQ & Frisbee - 6pm at Eagle Rock Park
May 27, 2026
Transitional Diaconate Ordination of Ian Willnerd
St. John's Cathedral at 11:00 AM
May 28, 2026
Templar Night
4th Thursday of the Month
May 29, 2026
Older Brothers- Service Projects at Camp JP2
June 4, 2026
No SSJ Night
June 5–7, 2026
Older Brothers SSJ Campout at JP2 Camp
June 7-9, 2026
Younger Brothers SSJ Campout at JP2 Camp
June 11, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
June 15-18, 2026
Fathers in the Forest
(Older Brothers Only)
June 18, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
June 19, 2026
Vocations Trap Shoot
Boise, 7:00 AM–1:00 PM
June 23–26, 2026
Diocese of Baker Quo Vadis Days
Near Bend, OR
Younger & Older Brothers
Details TBD
June 25, 2026
Templar Night
June 28–July 2, 2026
Camp RIM
JP2 Camp
July 2, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
July 9, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
July 16–19, 2026
Idaho Family Camp
JP2 Camp
July 23, 2026
Templar Night
July 26–29, 2026
Mount Borah Trip
August 6, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
August 9–13, 2026
North Idaho Catholic Youth Camp
Bearpaw Camp in Washington
August 13, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
August 17, 2026
Ambassador Zoom Call
August 27, 2026
Templar Night
September 3, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
September 10, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
September 12, 2026
Vocations Trap Shoot
Grangeville, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
September 24, 2026
Templar Night
October 1, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
October 3, 2026
Vocations Trap Shoot
Twin Falls, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
October 8, 2026
Sons of St. Joseph Night
October 15, 2026
SSJ Night (at OLV and via Zoom)
October 16–18, 2026
Younger Brothers Silent Retreat
Verbum Spei Monastery (Boise)
October 22–25, 2026
Older Brothers Silent Retreat
Verbum Spei Monastery (Boise)
End of Semester A, 2026
Schedule of Events for Semester B to Come
January 1–5, 2027
SEEK Conference
San Antonio, TX
February 2027
Seminary Visit
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully there will be a Local Chapter near you (currently under development). But even if there isn't, you'll be you'll be able to Zoom in for the "formation" part of the gathering. This way you can still participate in the study and discussion regardless of your location.
Yes, absolutely.
Yes.
No. The Younger Brothers and Older Brothers formation meetings are separate, with content tailored to each group.
From May 1st, 2026 (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker) to March 19th, 2027 (Solemnity of St. Joseph).
You'll be invited to either do the program again or to apply to the seminary, depending on factors such as age, education, maturity, and debt.
For this first year there will be no cost for the program itself, but you'll be responsible for purchasing your materials and for the costs of the various trips. Scholarships are available for those concerned about trip costs.
Applications for the 2026–2027 cohorts are open now through April 15th, 2026.
If we're still in Semester A and you can attend a few events before Semester B (especially the catch up retreat at the end of September and the silent retreat at the end of October), we'll let you jump in. But if we're already in Semester B, then you can wait until the next cycle begins (May 1st of 2027). This is because it is important to have a decent foundation on the content of Semester A (relationship with God, prayer, identity as beloved son, virtue) before jumping into the decision-making tools of Semester B.
If you think you're ready to go to seminary this Fall, contact Fr. Nathan Dail at vocations@idahovocations.com
For Priests Who Want to Support Their Men
Father, thank you for your dedication to your flock! Click here to learn all the ways you can get involved.
Join the Brotherhood
Apply to the Sons of St. Joseph
Applications open now through June 1st, 2026.