Average age for seminarians 40?

[MarcoPolo]

Roman Catholic seminaries have the oldest students — the average age of entering students is nearly 40. LINK.

Anyone ever heard this? All the seminarians I know are usually young guys.

 

[Tonks40]

We’ve had quite a few newly-ordained priests come to our parish to serve in their first assignments. One is past his 50’s; another is in his late 30’s after working as an engineer. One of my friends in currently in seminary and he’s 35.

Yes, it appears to be happening quite frequently.

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

As we return to the faith of our fathers, the Faith of our fathers returns to us.

 

[Paul2274]

We have an incredible priest that fills in occasionally that has been ordained for about 12 years or so and that is only after he was married for 34 years!!! His wife passed away and he became a priest. Wow! To have been called twice in a lifetime to two vocations is a great blessing, and an even greater blessing for us that he listened to that second call and became a priest.Thnk you very much Fr. Fred for your answer of obedience to God.

Paul

 

[MarcoPolo]

Ok, here is an article saying the average newly ordained priest is 35, meaning they were in the seminary well-before that.

This site says 36.

This site is also 36.

I think the average age of being IN the seminary at 40 is a little specious. A friend was trying to tell me this, but I thought it sounded funny.
It’s really a confusing thing, huh.

How long is time in the seminary usually?

 

[Madaglan]

I’ve never been in seminary, but I would think that most seminary formations are six years at the least. Seminarians are thoroughly trained in philosophy before commencing with their theological studies, at least in most of the programs I’ve come across.

Religious priests (such as Jesuits and Dominicans) spend much longer in formation.

 

[chicago]

I think the average age of being IN the seminary at 40 is a little specious. A friend was trying to tell me this, but I thought it sounded funny.
It’s really a confusing thing, huh.

How long is time in the seminary usually?

Norms have changed in the past few decades.

It used to be that the typical path to priesthood was that of the “lifer.” He attended Catholic grade school, Catholic high school (possibly a minor seminary), then had 7-8 years in the seminary for philosophical and theological and “practicum” studies. This got him ordained sometime between the ages of 23 and 27, typically. Anyone who came to things from another route was a “special” case or a “late vocation.”

Nowadays, there are few “minor” (high school level) seminaries. (Though there are a growing number of college seminaries, at least.) Recruitment to the priesthood often doesn’t even begin until sometime during the college years, most often. “Second career” vocations are quite common. So the man who starts discerning his priestly vocation generally won’t get ordained until sometime in his 30s or 40s. It is not atypical for older men (even into their 70s) to be ordained. There are (in the U.S.) at least 2 or 3 seminaries which serve older (usually over 35 or 40) men, in particular.

Theological studies and practicum (the basics of “how to” priest - such as celebrating the Sacraments) generally take 4 to 5 years. Since there are a certain level of philosophical prerequisites, also, this might add 2 -3 years preceding for the man who enters without those sort of studies completed. Plus, there is often a sort of early discernment period which can take place concurrently or before one initially enters seminary. So a man who is starting out usually is looking at anywhere from 4 to 8 years before he ever gets ordained. In some religious orders, it will be even longer due to their particular processes of growing in their way of life.

Bottom line: men tend to get ordained to the priesthood at a somewhat significantly older age than in the past; perhaps most often in their 30s and 40s.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Bottom line: men tend to get ordained to the priesthood at a somewhat significantly older age than in the past; perhaps most often in their 30s and 40s.

Very interesting! Thx chicago. The same trend appears to be evident in married life, with the average age to get married much older. Vocations are getting later it seems in this generation.

 

[chicago]

Very interesting! Thx chicago. The same trend appears to be evident in married life, with the average age to get married much older. Vocations are getting later it seems in this generation.

Yes, it’s a wise observation. People take their time maturing and jumping into the more serious responsibilities of life nowadays. I’m not sure if that is good or bad. I suppose it has its hazards as well as benefits.

In fact, I was just thinking about this a few minutes ago. The young priest in times past may have been more isolated in his discernment and life experiences (especially with women other than his sisters and neighbors.) But, then, when he entered parish ministry in his mid 20s, those gals were all married already and the bulk of parishioners dealing primarily with basic concerns of family life or work. Plus, the newly ordained often was in a place to learn a lot on the job while being mentored by older, more experienced pastors. His job was often to help out the school kids and do lots of legwork, keeping busy and out of trouble while maturing within his vocation. Nowadays, he is almost expected to have that understanding much more in place when he enters seminary.

 

[m134e5]

Yes, it’s a wise observation. People take their time maturing and jumping into the more serious responsibilities of life nowadays. I’m not sure if that is good or bad. I suppose it has its hazards as well as benefits.

I’m not sure I like it…

Of course, good can come from knowing an older priest who has years of experience and wisdom. It can also be helpful to see young- but experienced- priests around. In that case, it really helps if we see more priests who went to seminary right out of high school. They’re ordained when they are 25-26 years old or so, and can relate to the young generations in a special way- because they are a part of them. Not to say that “late vocations” aren’t as good- but we need younger priests.

 

[ganzle]

Which seminaries in the US entertain older men for the priesthood? Someone possibly starting in their 60’s?

 

[otjm]

I’m not sure I like it…

Of course, good can come from knowing an older priest who has years of experience and wisdom. It can also be helpful to see young- but experienced- priests around. In that case, it really helps if we see more priests who went to seminary right out of high school. They’re ordained when they are 25-26 years old or so, and can relate to the young generations in a special way- because they are a part of them. Not to say that “late vocations” aren’t as good- but we need younger priests.

We don’t need “young” priests if what we get are priests who have too little life experience to be able to make a clear commitment to the vocation.

Sorry, but I was born right after WW2, and I attended college seminary; I can remember now (with a great deal of embarrassment) at how naive and how immature we all were at 18 (when I started college seminary). I also remember how isolated we were up there on the hill.

There are any number of younger priests and a goodly number who are not “younger” who can relate to young people. Anyone who is on fire for Christ can relate to young people, and young people to them. Take a look at the most recent meeting in Brazil of youth from the world; it wasn’t a bunch of 26 to 30 year old priests but older ones who were leading the youth; and who were the youth relating to? A pope who hasn’t seen the age of 25 for well more than 45 years. It is not your age that matters.

Why we have so few high school seminaries - people have learned (shock of shocks!) from the mistakes of the past. They looked at the cost of a high school seminary; looked at how many students started at some point in high school and how many were finally ordained; and then looked at how many, after ordination, threw in the towel and either asked to be laicized, or didn’t bother and just walked away.

 

[ganzle]

Father, Thank you for your lengthy response. It has helped me in my discernment. There is however another problem. Most seminaries still want young men. I imagine it will require contacting them anyway and letting them know that I am well educated holding several degrees and have been teaching for over 40 years. Along the lines of your thinking, I imagine they are looking for longevity on the “investment” even though I am capable of handling that myself.

My students, also, do not follow the younger teachers easily–they tend to look for a teacher who does have a lot of life experience. Most only have one parent or parents that are both working and thet are raising themselves, so they look to us more and more.

You mentioned WWII and that brought back the memory to me of my Monsignor. Thomas Michael Reardon, who was the first chaplain to land on the beaches of Quadalcanal. He, like my father, never spoke of the war. But he tended the soldiers for all those long years. His chalice was donated to Seton Hall University by his family in the Archdioses of Newark.

 

[coachdennis]

And the problem with this…is???

 

[m134e5]

We don’t need “young” priests if what we get are priests who have too little life experience to be able to make a clear commitment to the vocation.

Sorry, but I was born right after WW2, and I attended college seminary; I can remember now (with a great deal of embarrassment) at how naive and how immature we all were at 18 (when I started college seminary). I also remember how isolated we were up there on the hill.

There are any number of younger priests and a goodly number who are not “younger” who can relate to young people. Anyone who is on fire for Christ can relate to young people, and young people to them. Take a look at the most recent meeting in Brazil of youth from the world; it wasn’t a bunch of 26 to 30 year old priests but older ones who were leading the youth; and who were the youth relating to? A pope who hasn’t seen the age of 25 for well more than 45 years. It is not your age that matters.

Why we have so few high school seminaries - people have learned (shock of shocks!) from the mistakes of the past. They looked at the cost of a high school seminary; looked at how many students started at some point in high school and how many were finally ordained; and then looked at how many, after ordination, threw in the towel and either asked to be laicized, or didn’t bother and just walked away.

You are responding to a very old post of mine. Since I wrote that post, I’ve come to recognize that priests of as many generations as possible are needed. When I wrote that post, I must have been frustrated because my town was never being sent the new, young priests. We were always getting the ones in their 40’s or 50’s. People in my generation desperately needed to see someone from their generation with such a deep love for the Church that they lay down their life for her. At the time, in my town, there was no one like that from my generation. Those circumstances have changed now, and the change has been a very healthy one.

When I was in high school and, to an extent, college as well, I’d put a guard up when someone much older than me would talk to me. Not everyone is that way, but I know I’m not the only one who was that way either. It takes an exceptional person, such as Bl John Paul II, to get people like that to let the generational guard down. It’s also a rarer gift that people seem willing to admit. I know it isn’t fair that some have to work extra hard to reach certain people because of conditions beyond their control, but it is what it is.

 

[m134e5]

Which seminaries in the US entertain older men for the priesthood? Someone possibly starting in their 60’s?

Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell CT is one.

Just a suggestion…if you have a question such as this, you might want to open a new thread to ask it rather than post on such an old thread.