Eastern Catholic Priestly Formation

[smad0142]

How do the EC outside of their traditional territories train men for the priesthood? Seminaries are often hundreds of miles away, and then there is the complication of having a married seminarian. What are some of the ways people here have heard of men being trained for ordinaiton?

For my part, I know of one Deacon who apparently came back from a retreat one weekend and was ordained.

 

[yawsep1569]

I know two fine young men in our diocese (Mar Thoma Diocese of Chicago) attend a Latin seminary in Chicago. I am also aware that Chaldean seminarians in Michigan do the same, they attend Sacred Heart in Detroit. However, there is a Chaldean seminary in southern California! Fr. Andrew Younan is the rector and he is amazing. He is also a professor of philosophy at JPII the Great. God bless him and his work.

marabba.org/
The site doesn’t give much current details, but it’s still pretty cool. If I ever “hear the call”, I would seriously consider going there over a Latin seminary.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

There is Sts. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary. I know there are more than just Ruthenian seminarians there. There’s at least one Melkite, and possibly some Romanians. Also, I’ve heard that some folks choose to go to places like St. Vladimir’s or St. Tikhon’s Orthodox seminaries. I would imagine too that some simply end up in Latin seminaries.

There are also those who simply receive their training at their local parish, supplemented by retreats and other formation opportunities. I know one of the deacons in my parish who is on his way to the priesthood is pursuing this route. That being said, however, he already holds an M.A. in theology and runs a local Catholic ministry company.

So the short but perhaps more complicated answer is that there is really no one way that Eastern Catholics are formed for the priesthood.

Oh, the Maronites have a seminary attached to Catholic University here in D.C. on the East Coast. I don’t know about the Maronites on the West Coast.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I forgot to mention that in the Byzantine tradition the traditional formation was not seminary formation, but formation in the parish. The candidate was then tested by the bishop (chosen from the ranks of the more educated monastics) to make sure that he would be a good priest. If the candidate answered satisfactorily the bishop would ordain him.

 

[malphono]

Oh, the Maronites have a seminary attached to Catholic University here in D.C. on the East Coast. I don’t know about the Maronites on the West Coast.

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in DC is national, meaning that it belongs to, and trains priests for, both dioceses in the US.

 

[malphono]

I know two fine young men in our diocese (Mar Thoma Diocese of Chicago) attend a Latin seminary in Chicago. I am also aware that Chaldean seminarians in Michigan do the same, they attend Sacred Heart in Detroit. However, there is a Chaldean seminary in southern California! Fr. Andrew Younan is the rector and he is amazing. He is also a professor of philosophy at JPII the Great. God bless him and his work.

I’m not personally familiar with Mar Abba Seminary, but considering that it was formed under the auspices of Mar Sarhad Yowsip Jammo, (whom I greatly admire), I would imagine that it’s quite good. And yes, from what I understand, Fr Andrew is a gem.

marabba.org/
The site doesn’t give much current details, but it’s still pretty cool. If I ever “hear the call”, I would seriously consider going there over a Latin seminary.

Assuming, of course, that your bishop would allow, or even consider, it. Notice that the Chaldean Diocese in Detroit doesn’t make use of it (which is not particularly surprising but I’m not going there).

 

[malphono]

There is Sts. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary. I know there are more than just Ruthenian seminarians there. There’s at least one Melkite, and possibly some Romanians. Also, I’ve heard that some folks choose to go to places like St. Vladimir’s or St. Tikhon’s Orthodox seminaries. I would imagine too that some simply end up in Latin seminaries.

I believe the UGCC still has St Josaphat’s in DC (also “attached” as it were, to CU), although I’ve been told that not all UGCC candidates attend there.

 

[yawsep1569]

Assuming, of course, that your bishop would allow, or even consider, it. Notice that the Chaldean Diocese in Detroit doesn’t make use of it (which is not particularly surprising but I’m not going there).

Well yes, obviously. It is not likely to be possible, so I would probably go back to India. But you make a curious comment about Detroit, which I don’t know too much about. Is Bishop Ibrahim not supportive of a recovery of the authentic Chaldean heritage? That would be quite interesting since he ordained Fr. Andy, but would make sense since Fr. Andy moved to the other eparchy.

 

[smad0142]

I forgot to mention that in the Byzantine tradition the traditional formation was not seminary formation, but formation in the parish. The candidate was then tested by the bishop (chosen from the ranks of the more educated monastics) to make sure that he would be a good priest. If the candidate answered satisfactorily the bishop would ordain him.

Is this type of parish formation ever done anymore? This is the first I have heard of it and find it quite suprising.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Is this type of parish formation ever done anymore? This is the first I have heard of it and find it quite suprising.

There is a deacon in my parish who is being formed this way, although admittedly he already has his M.A. degree in theology. But yes, this type of parish formation is still done from time to time. It’s probably more common in the Middle East and possibly the rural Slavic lands than it is here in the U.S., but it still happens.

Incidentally, I believe this was originally how the Latin clergy were also formed, until it was realized that they needed a better education to deal with attacks on the Church.

 

[jothi]

I am new to this forums…