Episcopal seminarian considering converting

[ratzinger_fan]

I’m currently a member of the Episcopal Church, but as a result of the recent divisions have been thinking a lot the past two years about authority in the church. To make a long story short, I’ve become convinced that the Catholic Church’s claims about herself are true. I’ve been regularly attending Mass for about a year and am well aware of the problems in the Church but would nonetheless convert tomorrow if my circumstances were different.

What’s the problem? Well, I’m a seminarian.

I’m quite certain that I have a vocation to the priesthood, it’s just that I was in the wrong church.

My question is how a bishop would deal with me. What’s the ordination process? Would I have to do my seminary education all over again? How long a period would I have to wait after converting to begin the process?

(And yes, I’m willing to make vows of celibacy and obedience.)

Thanks for any pointers; I realize this is a fairly odd question. I can’t talk to anyone at my seminary about it for obvious reasons.

 

[Fieryjades]

Do you live nearby a Catholic Church? If so, a priest there would be more highly qualitifed to answer your questions than I.

Peace be with you,
Erin

 

[chicago]

Well, first thing is that I think you need to be willing to convert just because you know that you need to be Catholic, whether you manage to get ordianed or not.

I suspect that a diocese would desire you to wait a bit following conversion before beginning Catholic seminary. How long woud be up to the local diocese. As far as credits, I imagine that this is also something which would need to be carefully reviewed to see what kind of philosophical stuff, in particular, could transfer and what you would still need to study. Naturally, since vocational discernment is not only about academic study, I am sure that they would want you to spend some time in seminary discerning the call carefully even if you did not necessarily need so much in the way of study.

My recommendation would be to call the Catholic diocese’s vocation director and explain the situation to him, asking what he could do to help.

 

[SouthCoast]

Woohoo! Well, you already know what you need to do… the question is now just of timing. On that end, my parish has a new priest – newly out of seminary… and he’s 48 years old! He decided late in life. May God bless you and guide you as you yourself become one of the shepherds of the flock!

-Michael