Becoming a priest in a forign country

[celtic1967]

Hello brothers and sisters. God be with you

I have a question about vocations is it possible to have a choice of vocation in a country apart from you own.

I am a 21 year old man from Glasgow Scotland in the last year i have lived in Ireland ,Poland and Spain with an Eletrician firm and before the end of the year i am moving to New Zealand for 2 years. As you can tell im not a big fan of staying in Scotland or more importanly britain for that matter.
Ive always had to deal with Anti catholic and anti Papel comments over the years but it is only in the last 2 years when i have really became a Catholic i have felt it hurt the most.
I know if i COULD become a priest in Spain or Italy i would jump at it with two hands.
I could never see myself being a Priest in Scotland i know i have a vocation but i know that the travelling i have done has been because of God. I have seen things and felt things that only God could be guideing me.
I know he is guideing my life somewhere across the sea,

P.S i have a serious devotion to Mary and i feel as if my life is a detication to her . I have seen serious devotion to Mary in spain and even more so in Poland. It is the one thing Britain is lacking is Mary . without Mary there is no Jesus and without Jesus there is no God.

I hope i can become a priest one day.

Thanks for all your help

 

[Inity]

If I were you, I’d apply for a religious Order which has missions in the countries that interest you…
BTW, isn’t being a catholic in Britain that bad? I wonder if you could tell us more. For me, applying to english community is an option I’m seriously discerning (there are only two women dominican communities in Russia, and I don’t fit their age limits). So I’m looking for communities abroad.

 

[celtic1967]

Thanks for your reply .
Please follow your vocation where ever it is you have been called. England is very different from Scotland. I would say there is a very sacritarian devide in Glasgow between Catholics and Protestants which is not the same in many other parts of Britain i say follow your vocation to where ever it is God wants you to be and he wants you there for a reason.
Remeber tho Britain is a Protestant country and there is still a law today that doest allow a Catholic to marry in to the Royal family.Absolute nonence
I just feel as if my vocation is elsewhere.

Thanks

 

[Inity]

I don’t know if living in “Protestant conntry” would be harder than living in our “Orthodox” country There are many orthodox people here with anti-catholic attitude as well.
(but I feel that Orthodox church is closer to catholic, than Protestants, anyway)
And not many options for those women who want to join catholic convents in Russia. We just have to move into another country.
May be later we will return and establish new missions, who knows I think Russia needs Catholic communities for women, accepting vocations older than 30 years old… We need someone like Gemma (Cloisters) working here

I think that I will visit UK this autumn, “coming and seeing” several communities.

 

[celtic1967]

Good luck and im sure your find exactly want you want in the uk.

God bless

 

[Inity]

Thanks
I think I want to spend a couple of days in London before going to the convents - because I’m sure the plane will bring me into London first. I don’t know much about London as a city, so may be you can give a piece of advice, what are “must see” catholic places there?
I didn’t start seriously googling for the touristic information about UK yet Only was researching the requirements to get visa.

 

[celtic1967]

Hello
Well suprisingly for some one who as travelled so much.
I have never been in London either has any of my immediate family so they would be no help if i asked them. I dont think there is any ‘must see catholic places’ in London tho im not sure.
I have only ever been in England,Liverpool once in my life and that was for my Aunt’s funeral over 10 years ago so i can barely remember it.
Sorry i cant be of any help with that question im sure there are tons of English members who could help you.
I find these sites a great help in finding out things when travelling.

virtualtourist.com/

tripadvisor.com/

Hope that helps

Dont forget to visit Scotland lol

 

[Inity]

One of the sisters I’m in contact with, writes me from Glasgow - so who knows, may be I will visit

 

[jwywong]

I have a question about vocations is it possible to have a choice of vocation in a country apart from you own.

I’d say “yes”. I heard testimonies from seminarians who, for different reasons, studied in another country and eventually ordained to serve in that country. However, I think the key is the motif behind this choice. Is this person truly discovered that God is calling him to serve in that foreign country? Or is this person who himself wants it?

I am a 21 year old man from Glasgow Scotland in the last year i have lived in Ireland ,Poland and Spain with an Eletrician firm and before the end of the year i am moving to New Zealand for 2 years. As you can tell im not a big fan of staying in Scotland or more importanly britain for that matter.
Ive always had to deal with Anti catholic and anti Papel comments over the years but it is only in the last 2 years when i have really became a Catholic i have felt it hurt the most.
I know if i COULD become a priest in Spain or Italy i would jump at it with two hands.

What makes you compare being a priest in Scotland vs. in Spain/Italy? The proportion of Catholics in the population? Why do you think God would possibly be asking you to serve in Spain? in Italy? in Scotland (or rather, “but not in Scotland”)?

I could never see myself being a Priest in Scotland i know i have a vocation but i know that the travelling i have done has been because of God. I have seen things and felt things that only God could be guideing me.

Why can’t you see yourself being a priest in Scotland?

I know he is guideing my life somewhere across the sea,

How so?
I don’t really know enough to make any comment… but just from reading what you’ve written… the question that came across my mind was, “ok, God led you to see the different countries, potentially countries with a stronger Catholic faith in general than Scotland and which your heart is very much attracted (of course, esp. for one who is thirsting so much for the Lord), would these traveling experiences be sources to strengthen your will to “bite the bullet” – to pick up the cross of serving as a priest in Scotland?”

 

[celtic1967]

Thanks for your comments .
I know exactly what your saying the exact same things have crossed my mine actually the exact same thing about serving in Scotland crosses my mind every single day.
Is it my own selfishness thats wants to serve abroad or is it God. The thing i think my heart yearns for and what i am jealous of is the dovotion to Mary i see in other coutries. Which is extremely bare to say the least in the uk.

I have a gift from God tho that i have a desire to see the world and grow in faith in him.
I feel most close to God when i am in the unknown and extremely vunerable.
it is the only true way i feel my confidence and happiness growing in him knowing that he is by my side as they say to walk on water like St Peter you have to get out of your boat.

I go to New Zealand on a 2 year working visa before the end of the year. Im going to leave my current job family and everthing i know.
I dont know anyone over there i am totally on my own but the one thing i have is Jesus. It might sound extreme to some people but i think it is what he wants from people total faith in him alone. And i know from experience he gives you a hundred times over what you would ask of him.And i believe he has a giant grin on his face everytime we do these things.
So for me tavelling and vocation go hand in hand.

Thankyou

GOD BLESS