Can a man over 50 be accepted to ANY seminary?

[Baja_Bert]

I’ve been a devout Catholic for most of my life. And at the age of 58 after taking care of my parents for the last 10 years, I’d like to explore the priesthood. But it’s like there’s a sign hanging in the window “old guys need not apply”. I’m in great shape and have been very athletic for my entire adult life. Weight lifting and horseback riding (dressage) has preserved me quite well. What do I have to do to get my foot in the door…lie about my age??? Thanks for any assistance you can provide. G*d love you!

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Definitely DO NOT lie about your age to get accepted. I’m sure there are orders that will accept older applicants, but you need to know whether you are called to the diocesan priesthood, or to a religious order. It may be easier for you to find entry in a religious order. There are some who allow older applicants, and some that have no set age limit. Peruse these options:

Servants of Charity
Missionaries of Mariannhill
St. Mary’s Monastery
Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

If you are considering the diocesan priesthood, you need to speak with the diocesan vocation director at your diocese’s office. They can give you all the information you need.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”–Matthew 7:7-8

Prayers for you!

 

[kyria]

I used to have a brochure that had a story of a guy who entered the seminary in his 50s. And a google search showed a number of diocese that were open to ‘older men’ the term used.

How old was Moses?

What you have is life experience and the wisdom of age. You don’t need to lie about your age. You just have to pick up the phone and make some enquiries that is all.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

Two seminaries, Blessed John XXIII near Boston and Sacred Heart in Hales Corner, WI, specialize in 2nd career or late vocations and have ordained men in their 70s. Ultimately, it will be up to the order or diocese you apply to. Good luck!

 

[Baja_Bert]

Thank you so very much for the lead. I will follow it up. May Our Blessed Lord be with you!

BB

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

Do you have a college degree (BA or BS)? Becoming a Catholic Priest requires a M. Div (Master of Divinity) which is a four year program (at least in Chicago). You would have to have at least an undergraduate **minor in philosophy **to begin studying at the master’s level for the priesthood (unless they’ve changed the rules since I’ve been out of seminary). A man from my old parish (whom was already a deacon) became ordained a priest in his sixties (when his children were grown and years after his wife passed away).

Get thee to your Archdiocese! CRUCIAL: Ask your parish priest for starters. If he thinks you have a vocation as well, he’ll know whom to call.

Or you could take CarmeliteGirl25 or Angel Bradford’s advice and seek out an order. You could become a professed brother without a BA if I’m not mistaken.

 

[Baja_Bert]

Greetings, Nom!
Thank you for your response. Yes, I do have a degree (albeit in Journalism), but I’ve been employed as a CPA for the last 20+ years and have been a Eucharistic Minister for a number of years. In fact, I did speak with my pastor this last weekend, and he is considering what I should do. Once possibility is to first become a deacon, and then our archdiocese is more likely to consider an ordination to the priesthood. However, our parish is crawling with deacons, so there may be an issue of oversupply. The Lord will take care of the details.

Kindest regards,
BB

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I’ve been a devout Catholic for most of my life. And at the age of 58 after taking care of my parents for the last 10 years, I’d like to explore the priesthood. But it’s like there’s a sign hanging in the window “old guys need not apply”. I’m in great shape and have been very athletic for my entire adult life. Weight lifting and horseback riding (dressage) has preserved me quite well. What do I have to do to get my foot in the door…lie about my age??? Thanks for any assistance you can provide. G*d love you!

Have you checked with the vocation director for your diocese? I know that at least some dioceses are open to older vocations. I was visiting in New Orleans on what turned out to be Vocation Sunday and attended Mass at the cathedral. The homilist was a newly ordained priest in his 50s who looked into the priesthood after his wife’s death.

You might also find it helpful to check out the Vision Vocation Guide at vocation-network.org/ You can put in information about yourself and it will match you up with communities.

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

Greetings, Nom!
Thank you for your response. Yes, I do have a degree (albeit in Journalism), but I’ve been employed as a CPA for the last 20+ years and have been a Eucharistic Minister for a number of years. In fact, I did speak with my pastor this last weekend, and he is considering what I should do. Once possibility is to first become a deacon, and then our archdiocese is more likely to consider an ordination to the priesthood. However, our parish is crawling with deacons, so there may be an issue of oversupply. The Lord will take care of the details.BB

Well, you’re taking all the right steps, and if your pastor is helping then that is a sign of vocation.

There is no “oversupply” when it comes to the ordained. Most of the country is hurting for vocations, though I know what you mean (in the regional sense). And, to be honest, a **CPA **with a vocation is a rarity. There were some majors in my college seminary that we couldn’t take, like buisness, medicine, law. They feared that some might come to the seminary with ulterior motives (and they were right). The irony came when many of the seminarians who eventually became ordained couldn’t balance the parish budget having no financial background.

Here is one last thing to consider: the path to becoming a permanent deacon is different than the priesthood; it’s a four year program in and of itself. To be ordained a deacon (in four years) and *then *to go to become a priest could take 6-8 years, depending. You might be better off finding out what philosophy requirements your major seminary has, take those classes somewhere, and then go into the major seminary as a candidate for the priesthood (5 years instead of 8). As an older candidate they should take you seriously. You are not some fly-by-night starry-eyed aspirant that Archdioceses around the world put up road blocks to stop (which, for the young, they have to put up road blocks and obstacles to test maturity and other things).

You’re right: God will take care of the details. I just wanted to enumerate some of those details that I am aware of. Concrete information is always better than the abstract.

Peace

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Here is one last thing to consider: the path to becoming a permanent deacon is different than the priesthood; it’s a four year program in and of itself. To be ordained a deacon (in four years) and *then *to go to become a priest could take 6-8 years, depending.

Not only is the path different, being a deacon is a different vocation from being a priest. Men who are ordained as permanent deacons are intended to spend the rest of their lives as deacons. See the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States (from the USCCB) Source]:

1. Underlying the restoration and renewal of the diaconate at the Second Vatican Council was the principle that the diaconate is a stable and permanent rank of ordained ministry. Since the history of the order over the last millennium, however, has been centered on the diaconate as a transitory stage leading to the priesthood, actions that may obfuscate the stability and permanence of the order should be minimized. This would include the ordination of celibate or widowed deacons to the priesthood. “Hence ordination [of a permanent deacon] to the Priesthood…must always be a very rare exception, and only for special and grave reasons…Given the exceptional nature of such cases, the diocesan bishop should consult the Congregation for Catholic Education with regard to the intellectual and theological preparation of the candidate, and also the Congregation for the Clergy concerning the program of priestly formation and the aptitude of the candidate to the priestly ministry.”

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

Not only is the path different, being a deacon is a different vocation from being a priest. Men who are ordained as permanent deacons are intended to spend the rest of their lives as deacons.

You’re right, of course. If Baja Bert is discerning a vocation to the priesthood, then that is what he should apply for. What I meant by “path” was really “curriculum.” Deacons, as a specific vocation, have their own unique formation program. Treating the *permanent *diaconate as “step” towards priesthood should not be considered. I think that was what I was trying to get at when I read Baja Bert’s comment about what his pastor said about becoming a deacon first. Fourth year major seminarians are ordained deacons as the last “step” towards priesthood as your quote details, so that is what Baja Bert needs to discern.

Deacon or Priest. What do you think, Baja Bert?

 

[Baja_Bert]

Definitely the priesthood. The permanent diaconate is not even on the radar screen. BTW I’d like to extend my humble thanks to all of the kind and thoughtful insights shared by the posters to this thread. Your help has been immeasureable and you are all in my prayers!

Baja Bert

 

[GratefulDad]

Bert, How is your search going? Found any interesting Orders yet?

 

[Baja_Bert]

Howdy, Grateful Dad!

I’ll know more after I talk with my pastor this weekend. But thanks for asking, and I’ll keep ya posted.

Kindest regards,
Baja Bert

 

[allan_frederick]

Dear Baja Bert,

I am also 58 but I have managed to enter the seminary. I am in my 1st year of Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corner Wisconsin. We can help you if you would like. We have a person here responsible which will talk to you and guide you if you like. He will also guide you as to which Diocease are open to talking to men like your self.

Keep praying and spending lots of time before our Eucharistic Lord in adoration. If He want you as a priest He will find the way. Remember its not about you its about Him.

May Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph Guide you to Jesus.

Your Brother in Christ

ARF

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Definitely the priesthood. The permanent diaconate is not even on the radar screen. BTW I’d like to extend my humble thanks to all of the kind and thoughtful insights shared by the posters to this thread. Your help has been immeasureable and you are all in my prayers!

Baja Bert

*Bert,

My prayers are with you as you discern your vocation. As so many have already posted please do contact your pastor.

In addition to prayer you might also [if you haven’t already] find a good spiritual director. I know in the Los Angeles Diocese we have ordained older men to the priest hood. ( I am not sure of their age or schooling prior to entering seminary… but do be of good hope…Many Dioceses and Orders are recognizing the value of later vocations.
I have seen the seminaries listed before:

(Two seminaries, Blessed John XXIII near Boston and Sacred Heart in Hales Corner, WI, specialize in 2nd career or late vocations and have ordained men in their 70s. Ultimately, it will be up to the order or diocese you apply to. Good luck!)

You will be in my prayers and the prayers of many others on the forum as you begin your own unique journey. Please keep us informed of how your search unfolds.
Blessings of Peace and All Good!

 

[GratefulDad]

Dear Baja Bert,

I am also 58 but I have managed to enter the seminary. I am in my 1st year of Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corner Wisconsin. We can help you if you would like. We have a person here responsible which will talk to you and guide you if you like. He will also guide you as to which Diocease are open to talking to men like your self.

Keep praying and spending lots of time before our Eucharistic Lord in adoration. If He want you as a priest He will find the way. Remember its not about you its about Him.

May Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph Guide you to Jesus.

Your Brother in Christ

ARF

Great post Alan,

How are your studies going? I think in today’s world “Old Pro” vocations, are a vast untapped(I know they are increasing, but they’re still treated as a fringe group) resource, of great leadership potential for our Parishes and Faith. Guys like you and Fr. John Corapi are the next big wave of Leaders of the Flock. Sometimes I wish I could join you. But don’t tell my wife I said that.