Discerning: Diocesan or Religious?

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I’m discerning a vocation to the priesthood, however I’m not sure whether to join the Diocese here in London, Ontario, Canada, or the Trinitarian Order in Baltimore, MD, or the Servites in Ottawa.

If I am accepted to the seminary, it will be very expensive. There will be some support from various sources, however I will probably have to pay for the majority, or get a loan for my first year, and then work summers.

A religous order fully funds your studies after your novitiate.

Diocesan priests are fairly well off, and don’t live a life of poverty that a priest in a religious order does.

I think I like the idea of living the charism of a religious order like the Trinitarians or Servites.

Also, I’m 32 years of age, 8 years in the seminary is a long time, it’s a couple years or more less for religous orders.

What advice do you have for me? Also, please keep me in your prayers. I’m going to a Come and See weekend at the seminary in town this weekend. During the first week of January, I will be spending a weekend retreat with the Trinitarians in Baltimore, MD.

Please pray that I follow where God is calling me. Thank you.

SK John P. Noonan, MI
 
May God bless you for answering his call. I know priests from Orders and from the diocese. I have learned this from a diocesan priest: He enjoys living alone and not having to possibly clash with the personality of brother priests. However, what he wishes he had is the care that the Order priests get. They promise to take care of you until death.They become your family. There is a beautiful Franciscan infirmary on the coast of California. (Amid 10 million dollar homes) The retired priests and brothers are cared for in a loving way. The parish priest will have to hope family can help him or in the case of another priest that I know, go to a Catholic retirement/care home type of facility. They treat you well there but not like family.

I am partial to the Franciscans, but may God be with you in what ever you chose. We need vocations!

Deacon Tony SFO
 
I also send prayers to you. The best way to decide where you want to go is to maybe go on a retreat to the orders you are looking into.

Deacon Tony, my husband and I are partial to Franciscans, too. He is a solemn professed Franciscan Tertiary of the Immaculate (our patron - Maximilian Kolbe). I’m still discerning my role there. That is a beautiful order.

However, the diocesan priests are very special treasures these days. We need all the holy priests we can get.

May Our Lord and His Blessed Mother direct you in the way you can do the most good.

Sue
 
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ChiefCounsellor:
I’m discerning a vocation to the priesthood, however I’m not sure whether to join the Diocese here in London, Ontario, Canada, or the Trinitarian Order in Baltimore, MD, or the Servites in Ottawa.

If I am accepted to the seminary, it will be very expensive. There will be some support from various sources, however I will probably have to pay for the majority, or get a loan for my first year, and then work summers.

A religous order fully funds your studies after your novitiate.

Diocesan priests are fairly well off, and don’t live a life of poverty that a priest in a religious order does.

I think I like the idea of living the charism of a religious order like the Trinitarians or Servites.

Also, I’m 32 years of age, 8 years in the seminary is a long time, it’s a couple years or more less for religous orders.

What advice do you have for me? Also, please keep me in your prayers. I’m going to a Come and See weekend at the seminary in town this weekend. During the first week of January, I will be spending a weekend retreat with the Trinitarians in Baltimore, MD.

Please pray that I follow where God is calling me. Thank you.

SK John P. Noonan, MI
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My friend, If i were you. I would stick with the TRINITERIANS of Baltimore!!! They are solid, faithful (that province at least) and the formation is great. That province actaully study at the Dominicn House of studies, (D.C.) which is a great ORTHODOX school and it is pontifical.
Many blessings. I too went on a many “come and sees” at one point, but visit NOT on those days only. ask to stay for an extra two weeks, LISTEN to what they say, and how they act in INFORMAL times: supper table, around tv, in theology discussions, how they offer mass (true for all the places you visit).
Wish you the best.
There is a new and great order, you may want to visit in Maryland too. www.iveamerica.org The Institute of the Incarnate Word Fathers!! GREAT!!! Vet strict, a hiarchy, discipline, but GREAT!!!
 
Sue- good for you and your husband. As I read the posts on this site, I see many that may have a vocation to a secular order. We all need a spirituality that fits the charism, the gifts that God has given each one of us.

May God bless you and your family.
 
what are the charisms of each order you are considering? what is the special charism of a diocesan priest? It sounds like having decided to go to graduate school, but picking a college and a program of study. What is it that is calling you to the priesthood? Have you gotten help with that discernment? What guidance did you receive? How about an Ignatian directed retreat to guide you through this process?
 
I wouldn’t worry so much about the finances. Let that take care of itself.

Rather, you need to examine what your particular charism is and where you would best fit. I’d recommend that you talk to a spritual director or get involved with a vocational discernment group. This could help you to better discover where, particularly, God is calling you.
 
I’ve been speaking with the Associate Director of Vocations for the Diocese for several months now. He believes I would make a good diocesan priest, and hopes that I apply to the seminary in London. I am going to visit the Trinitarians, because then I’ll never know what a religious order is like if I don’t go.

Thanks for all the advice. The Come and See weekend was awesome! It gave me a better look at life at St. Peter’s Seminary here in London, ON. I have an application, just a matter of putting pen to paper, and getting the appropriate documents and recommendations.

SK John P. Noonan, MI
 
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