Experiences of Seminary Life

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Please share your experiences of Seminary life.

I want to know what it’s like. Is it good? Is it bad? Did it confirm your desire to be a priest, or did you lose your vocation?

Don’t just answer the above questions. I want to know about your experiences, thoughts, feelings etc
 
Dempsey1919 said:
Please share your experiences of Seminary life.

I want to know what it’s like. Is it good? Is it bad? Did it confirm your desire to be a priest, or did you lose your vocation?

Don’t just answer the above questions. I want to know about your experiences, thoughts, feelings etc
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I’m interested as well. Always have been.🙂
 
I’m bumping this thread as it could be insightful and worthwhile should men choose to share.
 
I’m subscribing and will think about what to say. Expand on what you are really looking for. I may be able to circumvent some of the most difficult parts.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
Please share your experiences of Seminary life.

I want to know what it’s like. Is it good? Is it bad? Did it confirm your desire to be a priest, or did you lose your vocation?

Don’t just answer the above questions. I want to know about your experiences, thoughts, feelings etc
Click to expand...
Three words for me: Goodbye, Good Men.
 
I’m subscribing and will think about what to say. Expand on what you are really looking for. I may be able to circumvent some of the most difficult parts.
Click to expand...
Just share your thoughts and opinions of your time in the Seminary. I’m not looking for anything in particular. Just wanted to know what it’s like, both good and bad.
Three words for me: Goodbye, Good Men.
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What do you mean???
 
Well, having gone to the seminary in the late 70’s and early 80’s…I had a very difficult time. In fact, what attracted me initially to Catholicism in the first place was the TLM. I always thought that it was a shame that the ancient TLM was set aside. I understand, but I was drawn to it. There were lots of illicit things back then everywhere. I see it at a local Catholic University but let it go. I’m not the mass police.

We wore normal clothes. Mostly t-shirts, shorts and sandles. It really was way too relaxed in my opinion. The experience itself was awesome. The monks were really cool to talk to. But there were obvious problems back then that recent changes have attempted to correct. But I don’t know which seminaries are orthodox these days. I went to a Benedictine run Seminary in Louisiana. I just passed by there last month for the first time since I left. It’s changed some. But I suspect it’s Katrina outfall. We went to daily prayers LOTH and daily mass. We also took turns as altar servers every day. Sunday was the big event of course and was require as part of our formation. We also were supposed to volonteer with various ministries in the area like visiting the folks in nursing homes and hospitals.

We were young men. Typical of that age. Classes were very small and allowed us to learn with more attention from the professor, usually Benedictine Monks…priests. There were also lay professors in areas the Monks didn’t have covered. In the evening I worked in an on campus pub like atmosphere “snack bar” where the monks and the seminarians would gather to talk philosophy and theology…showing off the stuff we’d learned. It was really a neat experience. I loved it there. I should have become a monk and a priest. It still pricks my heart that I didn’t finsish.
 
mozier said:
Three words for me: Goodbye, Good Men.
Click to expand...
This is a book that was published around the time of the Church’s sex scandal several years ago. I was interested in reading it but never got around to it. I am going to read the reviews about it on amazon.com.
 
I look forward to further posts…

There is a book that tells personal stories from a lay persons view of how their lives have been affected by priests, and the many good priests that there are out there.

[This does not answer the question per se of experiences in the seminary although there are a few stories from priests included in the book]

101 INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF THE PRIESTHOOD - Sr. Patricia Proctor, O.S.C.

PUBLISHER’S PRICE - $12.95
ST. FRANCIS ONLINE PRICE - $11.66

From the editor and compiler of 101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary and 201 Inspirational Stories of the Eucharist comes this exciting look at the role of the Catholic priest in guiding ordinary Christians to leading dynamic Christian lives.

“The overwhelming majority of Catholic priests are good, kind, wise men who do their best and rarely get the thanks they deserve. This collection of wonderful true stories about real, everyday priests is good nourishment for the heart and soul.” - Mitch and Kathy Finley, authors, respectively, of Whispers of God’s Love: Touching the Lives of Loved Ones After Death and The Liturgy of Motherhood: Moments of Grace

“During these last few years we have been so oppressed with negative reports about our priests - I felt it was time to stand up for the great good our priests are doing.” - Sr. Patricia Proctor, O.S.C.
 
There is also a wonderful book called “The Collar”. The author spent a year at Sacred Heart Seminary in Wisconsin which is a “second career” seminary.
 
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