Dear Patrick,

You don't have to wait at all before talking to someone about your feelings. In speaking about them you will begin to test them to see if there is more to them than feelings, and if they are also a reflection of the direction that God's spirit is leading you. And never doubt that it is God who is leading you, for even though you have searched and tested and found the Catholic Church convincing, it still takes a direct grace from God to go from "The arguments are solid" to I believe".

Once you have been able to test and see if what you are experiencing has all the signs of being a call from God to the priesthood, the next practical step of actually following that call and entering a seminary will depend on several elements: one is discovering the type of priest God is calling you to be (whether diocesan or religious), another has to do with your personal situation (health, psychology, freedom...), and still another is the element of time.  Usually it is recommended that a prudential amount of time has passed between acceptance into the Church and acceptance into the seminary, often taken to be at least a year and a half, to make sure the necessary settling down in the faith has taken place before taking the step towards the priesthood.

You have been given a great treasure in your newfound faith. No doubt God wants you to witness to it and stir up the faith of those who take it for granted. Perhaps he wants you to do that as a priest. The important thing is to discover what HE wants, so keep the lines open between the two of you in prayer especially when you are able to receive him with full faith and knowledge in Communion, visit him really present in the Eucharist, and approach him as your redeemer in Confession.

Congratulations, and please let me know if I can help you out in any way.

God bless,