Discerning Which Seminary to Enter! Advice?

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Mikelangelo

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Allow me to explain a concise bit about my vocation story thus far:
In mid December, I hinted at and later opened up to my family about my theological interests on a college level as a stepping stone toward the priesthood. To my surprise it went smoother than imaged and already within my immediate family, close family-friends, mentors, and my parish priest, there has been a very accepting response toward my vocation. They have all agreed that it seems befitting of me. Though after prayerful examination & speaking with my parish priest, the diocese director of vocations, and a handful of seminarians, I have decided to enter seminary rather than attend a college/university first.

However, which seminary do I enter?
  • I reside in the Diocese of Camden and would naturally be sent to their college seminary & major seminary upstate. Out of obedience and charity to my Bishop and home, I would go. Though I know deep down my family wants to leave the state, and I wouldn’t mind it either, but they’ve emphatically stated that they’d want to live near wherever I am stationed. So logically, that would still be within one of the NJ dioceses. The seminarians have spoken well of the formation and environment within the diocese & the seminary does have historical and accredited acclaim though so we will see. I am scheduled to visit the lay college and that surrounding area this month.
  • I have also looked into serving and studying with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as I do love that city and have spent quite sometime in the providence as well. Originally, I dreamed of attending college and later living & working in Philadelphia, so I suppose there is some level of attachment and affection still there toward the “city of brotherly love.” And in regards to what I have gathered about their seminary and archdiocese it seems like a fruitful and faithful environment.
  • Finally, I have heavily considered studying and joining up with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter at their Nebraska seminary. In fact, before thoroughly researching the immediate diocesan priesthood, I looked into the FSSP itself. However I have not explained my traditional charism and aspirations to my family or anyone else so far, besides Our Blessed Lord; it certainly has been eating at me but I have been lacking the time & ability to tell them. In addition, I suspect that the distance, details, orthodoxy, and foreignness may dishearten them & bar me from the traditional order. * (Details concerning electronic communications being limited and that they typically do not admit direct high school graduates would be the preeminent ones) * (Foreignness considering that my parents have only ever known the Ordinary Form and raised my siblings & I up in the Ordinary Form as well) * (Orthodoxy considering my family tends to be more liberal leaning in political, philosophical, and ethical matters)
I am truly caught at a crossroads here. I want to be the most well prepared and equipped shepherd that I can be for the faithful - and by God’s Grace perhaps I will be so till then I’ll continue to pray over this.
God bless you all and thank you for your time & consideration!
 
I live in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, so I’m going to answer like this.
  1. call both the vocations director in Philadelphia and Camden (if you haven’t)
  2. you really need to decide if you have a vocation to a Religious order or to be a Diocesan priest. So you should contact and speak with the FSSP vocations director.
  3. You could also check out the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius (https://www.canons-regular.org/). They celebrate BOTH the Latin Mass and the Ordinary Form. They charism is liturgical beauty.
  4. Finally, you need to talk with your parents. There really should be no reason why they should object to your liturgical preference. However, they might object to the FSSP because you could be assigned anywhere in the United States or Canada, but they really shouldn’t object to the type of liturgy you want to do.
As far as Philly vs Camden, I think they both have their pros and cons. However, if you have a love for the Latin Mass, Philly MIGHT be a better fit.

HOWEVER, Camden will eventually need a replacement pastor for their Latin Mass parish when the priest retires (unless they invite the FSSP or another religious order to take it over).

Again… talk to vocations directors in Philly, Camden, the FSSP and other religious orders. You obviously need more discernment and speaking with the directors is the best way to go.

Personally, if I was you, I would contact the FSSP and other religious orders first to determine whether the call was to be a religious or diocesan priest.

BTW - the FSSP is in Philly (Conshohocken, PA), so I’m sure you could always go their one day and speak with one of the priests too, face to face.

God Bless & Godspeed
 
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You will go to whatever seminary your (arch)bishop determines to send you to. It is not your choice. Also, you will need to be accepted into the ordination process by a diocese first.

I’m concerned by one statement in your original posting: “Out of obedience and charity to my Bishop and home, I would go.” Obedience, yes–charity, no. Again, this is not up to you! Part of becoming a priest is obedience to one’s superiors (bishop if secular). Following his direction as to where you go to seminary is an early example of what you would be doing for the rest of your life.

If it is important to remain close (geographically) to your family, you probably don’t want to become a member of a religious society or order, as then you can be assigned–and moved—anywhere. The only exception might be a Benedictine monastery with a vow of stability.

YOU don’t get to decide these things unilaterally, except to discern this vocation.
 
Mikelangelo said:
(Foreignness considering that my parents have only ever known the Ordinary Form and raised my siblings & I up in the Ordinary Form as well) * (Orthodoxy considering my family tends to be more liberal leaning in political, philosophical, and ethical matters)
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What on earth does the Mass your parents attend and their political inclinations have to do with your vocation? I doubt the FSSP will care unless those are your views. You would be the one entering seminary, not your parents. Have you contacted Our Lady of Guadalupe seminary?
 
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I think you need to go back to your diocesan director of vocations and speak to him.

You seem to think that you have choices you do not have.

You cannot simply apply to study for the priesthood in the same way as, say, for medicine. First, a bishop must accept you as a candidate for the priesthood. This he will not do unless satisfied you have a vocation, have no impediments for the sacrament of Holy Orders, and satisfy any requirements that bishop has. If a bishop accepts you, and it may not be the bishop of the diocese in which you now live, he will decide to which seminary you go.

I shall pray for you, we need more priests, but would urge you to go back to the diocesan vocations director and find out what is required.
 
The FSSP, as a general rule, does not accept seminarians straight out of high school. They prefer that a candidate has lived on his own and still maintains discipline. However, this would be a good time to begin contact with them if you are drawn to them.
 
FSSP is excellent and cheap, but the downside is that the program is 7 years.
 
All programs are at least 7 years, unless one enters with a BA in philosophy. If one’s BA is in something else, there are still a year or two of philosophy and other courses to take before entering theologate, which is 4 years. And some dioceses (mine) require a service year after 2 or 3 years of theology. This is for secular priesthood.

If one is entering a religious society or order, one must add additional years of novitiate and other training in religious life.
 
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Really what your asking isn’t “which seminary to enter” but rather which diocese / society. FSSP aside, if you don’;t apply to Camden (given that’s where you live) the vocations director for Philly is going to ask the obvious question “why not Camden?” That’s not to say that it’s a deal breaker but it is a question you need to consider. Liking their seminary (here’s hoping you’ve actually been there) or saying “it seems like a fruitful and faithful environment” doesn’t really take you very far. A priest’s commitment to his diocese isn’t just about the things he likes but also about the things he doesn’t. Likewise saying (for example) Philly is more Orthodox won’t impress any vocations director. It may well be (I honestly wouldn’t know) but it may not be in the future but again, commitment to a diocese is a lifelong thing.

With the FSSP remember that discerning a Society of Apostolic life is very different to discerning a diocese and it’s important that you understand not just the liturgical aspects of FSSP but all other aspects too - for example, their way of life, where you might minister (geographically as well as the type of work).

The final thing I’d say is be patient. In all honestly, I’d advise anyone in the final year at high school not to enter the seminary but to take time for further study word / whatever. Granted, that’s just my opinion and there are many excellent priests out there who did the opposite. That said, no time is wasted and all experience is valuable; any vocation is as much about when as it is what (and where).
 
Seminary studies and formation do typically last 7 - 8 years. At around 7000$ a year, I believe, the FSSP seminary still comes to around the price of a regular undergrad program - wouldn’t say that’s cheap but yes certainly affordable. And I agree the formation does sound excellent.
 
Thank you for the advice & response. I will contact them soon 👍
 
I still need the consent of my family to travel & study there. I am more concerned that they’ll discourage me from the order before I have the chance to properly discern it.
I’ll talk to them soon about this and then contact the order.
Thank you for your response & reminder.
 
I will be meeting with the director this weekend, and I will inquire about what our diocese requires & take the next steps.
I know that it is standard protocol to attend one’s home diocesan seminary, however I have also heard that there are protocols for serving a diocese one feels an affinity for.
Thank you for your consideration and prayers! 🙏
 
This is absolutely critical. The priesthood is a calling. There is no responding to the call without listening to God in prayer and seeing what direction he is leading you.

You have also received much practical advice about contacting vocations directors and religious communities. That is all necessary, too. It gives you information to take to prayer, and it will help make clear the path to take.

Ultimately, you look to take the next step God has for you. I have a priest friend who originally went to seminary for one diocese. While there, he befriended many seminarians from another diocese 1000 miles away from where he grew up. But after a lot of prayer and discernment, he felt the call to switch dioceses, and (after speaking with both bishops) he was allowed to make the change. After he was ordained, his family all moved near him. 🙂
 
Thank you, Fr.
I appreciate your advice & perspective. I hadn’t thought much about the “why not?” or the other implications mentioned. I will pray & do more research.
I agree that no time is wasted in seminary or in the discernment process - that is why I think, ultimately, I will enter some time after my high school graduation.
Patience and prayer 🙏 Most definitely!
 
Thank you very much for all the advice.
I will take the time to contact the directors and do some research into the various orders to discern properly.
And I will pray over the possibilities mentioned to see where I am called.
God bless you!
 
Mikelangelo said:
I will be meeting with the director this weekend, and I will inquire about what our diocese requires & take the next steps.
I know that it is standard protocol to attend one’s home diocesan seminary, however I have also heard that there are protocols for serving a diocese one feels an affinity for.
Thank you for your consideration and prayers! 🙏
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If you have an affinity and loyalty to Philadelphia, you can speak to their director too. You would attend the seminary of not you “home diocese” but for the diocese you are becoming a priest for.

NOW, remember, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is more than just the City. It also includes the 4 surrounding suburban counties in PA: Bucks County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Chester County.

But as Father @InThePew stated, you will need to have a response as to why Philly and why not Camden.

NOTE: the answer doesn’t really have to be against Camden. It can be about your affinity to the City of Philadelphia. But you will need to remember about the suburbs. Some priests are suburban bound, so you would need to be able to answer why you would prefer the PA suburbs to the NJ suburbs. Also, because the Cathedrals for Philadelphia and Camden are only 4 miles apart, you will need to be able to answer why you feel one state is a better fit for you vs the other since Camden is part of the Philly Suburbs.

God Bless
 
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I know about the vows of obedience and loyalty. And the importance of being obedient to the magisterium; lay or religious. I did say I would submit to the bishop’s decision.

What I’ve been discerning regarding seminaries are not illicit or in disobedience. There are instances of changing dioceses and or seminaries.

And I wouldn’t mind a new setting and or travelling. That wasn’t a concern either.

Finally, I am aware that I do not have a predominant decision and I never sought to do anything unilaterally.
I will continue to meet and contact those necessary in furthering my vocation & take their guidance.

Nevertheless thank you for your time and consideration.
 
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