Funding a vocation

[Epistemes]

You’ll have to forgive this post. It’s been a long, tiring day - I’m ready for bed - I’ve had a couple of beers - and so I may not be thinking as clear as one should want.

But a friend of mine who will be leaving to join the Franciscans next year was talking to me about various aspects of his personal vocation. In our discussion, I asked certain questions which concerned me about seeking any sort of vocation with an Order, which I am doing, and questions which I kind’ve felt wouldn’t be answered for quite a while by the vocation director (since the director has specifically told me to wait a couple years). My path would be similar to my friend’s in that I would need to spend a couple of years studying at a seminary. When I asked my friend how this was handled, he said that he would probably be paying for these courses himself - which sort of shocked me. I guess I, for some reason, imagined that once you technically joined a Order, personal money became a non-issue.

I only mention this because I’m not sure I’d be able to do the same. I’m not sure I’d be able to pay for these courses.

In fact, I’m not entirely sure what to expect from novitiate life in an Order anymore. I’ve been putting off buying a new car because I’ve been under the impression that doing such would be kind’ve silly…but for reasons I can’t quite articulate right now since I’m quite befuddled.

I know that if this vocation is for me then God will work out the quirks and little snags, and that I should trust in God, regardless. And I do. Unfortunately, though, I also want answers. I’d like to know what to expect because making a move into an Order requires thought, preparation, and dialogue with one’s parents (who aren’t even Catholic!). Just saying, “I’m joining an Order” without any understanding of what to expect isn’t a big sell…

 

[Timmay]

Hey there,

My path would be similar to my friend’s in that I would need to spend a couple of years studying at a seminary. When I asked my friend how this was handled, he said that he would probably be paying for these courses himself - which sort of shocked me. I guess I, for some reason, imagined that once you technically joined a Order, personal money became a non-issue.

I only mention this because I’m not sure I’d be able to do the same. I’m not sure I’d be able to pay for these courses.

Different orders handle personal financial issues different ways. Overall, yes, once you take vows you must be free from all personal debt. Since you take a vow of poverty, you will no longer have an income to pay off the debt you have an obligation to. So that must be taken care of.

But paying for education and student loans are handled a number of different ways. Some orders make you wait until you’ve joined to send you to school, then pay for everything. Some will pay for your education before you join, but make you sign a document agreeing to repay them if things do not move forward and you do not enter their order. Some make you pay on your own, with the understanding that they will assume your student loans once you’ve entered. And I wouldn’t doubt there are some that expect you to pay for at least some of your education on your own before joining. In many cases, they make a case by case determination for each person depending on where that person is in life (a guy who is in his third year of college may have his loans taken over when he enters, whereas someone entering right from high school may be told to wait a year, then have everything paid by the order).

You really need to talk with the vocation director(s) of the order(s) you’re speaking with to ask how they handle matters of finance and education.

In fact, I’m not entirely sure what to expect from novitiate life in an Order anymore. I’ve been putting off buying a new car because I’ve been under the impression that doing such would be kind’ve silly…but for reasons I can’t quite articulate right now since I’m quite befuddled.

My advice? If you’re looking into joining an order, do everything you can to avoid taking on more debt. Because the more you have, the longer it takes to pay it off and enter an order. If a new car is something you desperately need, get something reliable but cheap. This is the voice of experience, here.

I asked certain questions which concerned me about seeking any sort of vocation with an Order, which I am doing, and questions which I kind’ve felt wouldn’t be answered for quite a while by the vocation director (since the director has specifically told me to wait a couple years).

…snip…

I know that if this vocation is for me then God will work out the quirks and little snags, and that I should trust in God, regardless. And I do. Unfortunately, though, I also want answers. I’d like to know what to expect because making a move into an Order requires thought, preparation, and dialogue with one’s parents (who aren’t even Catholic!). Just saying, “I’m joining an Order” without any understanding of what to expect isn’t a big sell…

I can understand them not getting into specifics if they’re asking you to wait a couple years, because they may not have details for you. Like I said, some orders take things on a case by case basis, and do different things for different novices (such as different schools, etc).

But at the very least, they should be able to give you at least an overview of how things will work. We require so much education… it usually takes x years for formation… All novices spend a year at our house in that country… etc. I’m not sure where your talks with this vocation director are, but the next time you speak with him tell him your concerns about your parents, and wanting a little more information, and see what he says.