Do I have to go in college to get my Masters in Divinity or go directly to the seminary?

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Thecatholicguy

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I really want to be a priest when I grow up but I am afraid about my college tuition. I am doing really good at my high school, but something inside tells me “what happens if this happens or that happens?” Know that I am writing this down I am both worried about my financial difficulties I will have and about my future life…
 
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I think it depends on whether or not you want to be a diocesan priest or in a religious order. Are you in contact with the Vocations Director of your diocese? He would likely know better than most of us.
 
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Usually, a four-year degree is required to enter the seminary. There may be some exceptions, but that is the norm, especially for diocesan priests. History and philosophy are good courses to take at the undergrad level. Speak to your diocese’s vocations director. Don’t be nervous.
 
What you want and what God is calling you to are not necessarily the same thing. You need to contact your vocations director first, then worry about college and/or seminary.
 
Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit offers degrees to both seminary candidates and to anyone who wishes to pursue the study.
 
Do you have to get your Masters? No, not at all, that what the seminary is for. In fact you would most likely have to repeat much and possibly all of the course work anyhow.
 
@Thecatholicguy

Keep praying about your vocation, discernment to the priesthood is a long way to go,they would be innumerable obstacles, even till the last moment ,its a good sign ,this will help you take the right decisions and strengthen your will and resolve.

Keep saying yes not matter what obstacles comes your way, surrender everything in the hands of Jesus and ask the powerful intercession of Mother Mary, as at the wedding at cana she will help to take the right decision, at the right time, as said in Luke 1:38 let the will of god prevail. god bless

Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord,and he will sustain you;he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7 But the Lord said to me,“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’;for you shall go to all to whom I send you,and you shall speak whatever I command you.8 Do not be afraid of them,for I am with you to deliver you,says the Lord.”9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,“Now I have put my words in your mouth.10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,to pluck up and to pull down,to destroy and to overthrow,to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah 29:11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
 
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You don’t need an MDiv before entering seminary. Depending on the diocese there are a couple routes to seminary. These are some of the most common.
  • Enter into minor seminary without a degree - total 8 years of seminary
  • Get a bachelors in XYZ before entering seminary and then take 2 years of Philosophy (aka pre-theology) before entering major seminary - total 6 years of seminary
  • Get a bachelors of Philosophy before entering seminary and enter directly into major seminary (maybe with some extra formation) - total 4-5 years
The first two are most common in my area. The 8 year route is fairly common for our younger seminarians who are coming straight out of high school or who might have skipped going to college. The second route is fairly common for many of our other seminarians who went to college to get things like engineering degrees and then felt a calling to the priesthood either toward the end of college or after they entered the workforce. I only know one person who entered directly into major seminary since they already had a BA in history and philosophy. They had an extra year more focused on spiritual formation before they started the academic work.

What route one takes depends on the diocese and also you. If you are in high school and feel a strong calling to the priesthood then you need to make time to talk to the vocations director. My diocese has 4 or 5 seminarians that are 19 - 22 that went straight into minor seminary after high school. As a result they entered with zero debt.

On the other hand if pursuing a vocation takes a back seat to other things right now, then you should focus on discernment and gearing your life to not make large financial commitments.
 
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