Dioceses accepting "older vocations"....any suggestions?

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BigRedpg51

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Hello Fellow Catholics,

I am a 57 years old ‘cradle-Catholic’, am finally debt-free, and am able to follow God’s calling for me to enter the priesthood of the Catholic Church. I am certain of this calling. However, all of the dioceses that I’ve inquired into so far have told me that I’m too old. Almost all of them have lowered their maximum seminary entry age to 35-45 yrs. old.

I’ve even made inquiries to the three major seminaries that used to specialize in ‘older vocations’ – Sacred Heart in Hales Corners, WI; Holy Apostles in Cromwell, CT; and Pope John XXIII in Boston. All three of their vocations directors have told me that they did not know of any dioceses that were still processing ‘older’ or ‘second career’ vocations anymore.

Do any of you know of a diocese that I might try?

(your suggestions would be most gratefully appreciated!)

God bless you all,
John
 
BigRedpg51 said:
Hello Fellow Catholics,

I am a 57 years old ‘cradle-Catholic’, am finally debt-free, and am able to follow God’s calling for me to enter the priesthood of the Catholic Church. I am certain of this calling. However, all of the dioceses that I’ve inquired into so far have told me that I’m too old. Almost all of them have lowered their maximum seminary entry age to 35-45 yrs. old.

I’ve even made inquiries to the three major seminaries that used to specialize in ‘older vocations’ – Sacred Heart in Hales Corners, WI; Holy Apostles in Cromwell, CT; and Pope John XXIII in Boston. All three of their vocations directors have told me that they did not know of any dioceses that were still processing ‘older’ or ‘second career’ vocations anymore.

Do any of you know of a diocese that I might try?

(your suggestions would be most gratefully appreciated!)

God bless you all,
John
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That surprises me.

Have you tried New York? They have ordained men in their 60’s fairly recently. There is also a current seminarian in his 50’s (he actually was in seminary 20 or so years ago, left and returned.)

Call Father Luke Sweeney, vocations director for New York. Tel: 914.968.1340 E-mail: vocations@archny.org

archny.org/seminary/vocation-office/

May God Bless you in your vocation!
 
Do you have a Spiritual Director? Have you looked into any of the religious orders? If God has truly called you to the priesthood, He will show you the way!
 
Thanks for the suggestion, bilop! I’ll follow up on it.

The Paterson Diocese also ordained a priest (65 yrs. old) 2 years ago…but they won’t now. Like the others, they too have lowered their maximum entry age.

Thanks again, and God bless you!

John 🙂
 
Catholic 1954…yes I do have a Spiritual Director, and I am starting to look into the various religious orders (at least, the ones that are not corrupt). I’ve already gone out to Utah to visit the Cistercians, and I may be going to visit the Servants of the Paraclete order soon.

One order that I have much respect for is the Adorno Fathers (Clerics Regular Minor), but they, like the dioceses, have a low maximum entry age (30 or 35, if I remember correctly).

Thanks for the encouragement, though!

God bless you!
John 🙂
 
BigRedpg51 said:
Thanks for the suggestion, bilop! I’ll follow up on it.

The Paterson Diocese also ordained a priest (65 yrs. old) 2 years ago…but they won’t now. Like the others, they too have lowered their maximum entry age.

Thanks again, and God bless you!

John 🙂
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You’re welcome. PM me and let me know what response you get from Father Sweeney.

God Bless and good luck!
 
I did a search on religiouslife.com for religious orders that may accept older vocations since you are open to that possibility. These communities may or may not allow older vocations into the priesthood, so you’ll have to talk to the Vocation Director or Superior about that possibility. All of the community profiles have websites listed at the top for more information. All the communities that are listed are good communities (faithful to the Magisterium). 🙂

Servants of Charity

St. Mary’s Monastery

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
 
Thank you, CarmeliteGirl, for your suggestions. I’ve already made contact with the Servants of Charity, but it doesn’t look like a good fit. The other two orders look interesting, however, and I’ll follow up on them.

God bless you for your kindness!
John
 
Part of the issue is the new requirments for entry into a major seminary.

A man must have 30 credits of philosophy and 12 credits of theology.

This would necessitate two years of study before one could start the majory seminary which is another 4 years plus most dioceses have a one year pastoral year worked into their programs which means that it would be 7 years before a man could be ordained to the priesthood.
 
I don’t know what the current situation is, but a few years ago I was in New Orleans and attended Mass at the cathedral there. It was Vocations Sunday and several newly ordained priests concelebrated with the archbishop. The one who gave the homily was a widower in his 50s.

Perhaps it would be worth giving them a call.

Actually, now that I think of it, one of the priests ordained for the Los Angeles Archdiocese this year was in his 50s. Maybe you should check with the vocations office here as well. (See Fr. Christopher Fagan at the-tidings.com/2009/052909/newpriests.htm )
 
Roght now, in several diocese in Texas, they will accept a half-boiled turnip into formation. Abp. Gomez in San Antonio appears to be accepting pretty much any breathing person, and a few recent ordinations here have been older men. For sure, you don’t have to actually “know anything” or “believe anything” so the standards are pretty low across the board.

Also, if you are orthodox, please come, we need you badly. If you are a heterodox crazy, please stay away, we value our souls.
 
ipwnuathalo said:
Roght now, in several diocese in Texas, they will accept a half-boiled turnip into formation. Abp. Gomez in San Antonio appears to be accepting pretty much any breathing person, and a few recent ordinations here have been older men. For sure, you don’t have to actually “know anything” or “believe anything” so the standards are pretty low across the board.

Also, if you are orthodox, please come, we need you badly. If you are a heterodox crazy, please stay away, we value our souls.
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This is not the place for such a comment.

You are not privy to the discernment of the individuals or the diocese in question. You are making a blanket hateful judgment that you have no right to make.

Very uncharitable and unchristian.
 
BigRedpg51 said:
Hello Fellow Catholics,

I am a 57 years old ‘cradle-Catholic’, am finally debt-free, and am able to follow God’s calling for me to enter the priesthood of the Catholic Church. I am certain of this calling. However, all of the dioceses that I’ve inquired into so far have told me that I’m too old. Almost all of them have lowered their maximum seminary entry age to 35-45 yrs. old.

I’ve even made inquiries to the three major seminaries that used to specialize in ‘older vocations’ – Sacred Heart in Hales Corners, WI; Holy Apostles in Cromwell, CT; and Pope John XXIII in Boston. All three of their vocations directors have told me that they did not know of any dioceses that were still processing ‘older’ or ‘second career’ vocations anymore.

Do any of you know of a diocese that I might try?

(your suggestions would be most gratefully appreciated!)

God bless you all,
John
Click to expand...
I am in the Diocese of Sacramento. Their website says that they accept men 21 - 40 yrs old. However, I know that they have men that were older have enter the priesthood.

Our current pastor, Fr. Terry Fulton (frterryfulton.org/index.html), was ordained 15 yrs ago at 50 yrs old. He was a permanent Deacon who entered the priesthiid after the last of his 4 adopted daughters (his orphaned nieces) got married. Knowing him, he would “talk” your ear off about older vocations if you email him.

He recently returned from a reunion at Sacred Heart Seminary. He may have picked up some insight into the status of older vocations at the reunion.
 
You are not privy to the discernment of the individuals or the diocese in question. You are making a blanket hateful judgment that you have no right to make.
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That’s funny, ByzCath…I was under the impression that you had no idea who I am or what my position is.
Back to reality (note, I consider most interactions with religious in this day and age a distinct departure from reality).

the facks are da facks…some diocese have been radically mismanaged as concerns…well, as concern basically everything come to think of it…but also in the area of vocations. This has created all sorts of problems, but it also has created an opportunity for people who have non-sandard vocations and, under normal circumstances, might be overlooked by most diocese.
 
ipwnuathalo said:
That’s funny, ByzCath…I was under the impression that you had no idea who I am or what my position is.
Back to reality (note, I consider most interactions with religious in this day and age a distinct departure from reality).

the facks are da facks…some diocese have been radically mismanaged as concerns…well, as concern basically everything come to think of it…but also in the area of vocations. This has created all sorts of problems, but it also has created an opportunity for people who have non-sandard vocations and, under normal circumstances, might be overlooked by most diocese.
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You are correct that I do not know who you are but you are pretty clear in what your positions is.

How do you define “non-standard” vocation?

You are speaking out on things that you have no way of knowing which is very uncharitable and unchristian and really have no place in this thread.
 
Uncharitable to fill the OP in on something he might need to take advantage of?

I doubt it.

Facks is facks. A diocese more in need of people to fill positions in parishes is going to necessarily have to lower its standards. Certainly has happened here in Texas. Affects the academic standards of the seminaries, too.

BTW, this is the sort of thing I expect from religious, them taking offense at anyone who speaks plainly about what actually goes on in the Church.
 
ipwnuathalo said:
Uncharitable to fill the OP in on something he might need to take advantage of?

I doubt it.

Facks is facks. A diocese more in need of people to fill positions in parishes is going to necessarily have to lower its standards. Certainly has happened here in Texas. Affects the academic standards of the seminaries, too.

BTW, this is the sort of thing I expect from religious, them taking offense at anyone who speaks plainly about what actually goes on in the Church.
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While it is true that facts are facts you are providing no facts, just your opinion which really means nothing as you are not providing any support for it.

As for your ad hominem attack against me, I refuse to take the bait but I will report it.
 
What, you want me to name names? Obviously not.
I refuse to take the bait but I will report it.
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Yeah, I figured that, too.

In my experience in the Church, in any discussion, Religious are the voice of inaction, confusion, timidity.
 
ipwnuathalo said:
What, you want me to name names? Obviously not.
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As you said, facts are facts and until you provide any all that you say is the opinion of an anonymous poster on the internet which amounts to nothing.
Yeah, I figured that, too.
Click to expand...
In my experience in the Church, in any discussion, Religious are the voice of inaction, confusion, timidity.
Click to expand...
Yes, I am used to such hate.
 
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