graduate school

[liltike99]

Hi,
I’m a 15 year old boy who is hoping to one day serve the Church as a priest(secular). I really want to pursue graduate studies in theology after being ordained. I was just wondering about the freedom a new priest would have in pursuing graduate studies. Can he make the decision to pursue graduate studies himself or is it more up to his bishop?

God Bless,
Luke

 

[mikeeh]

Think it’s more your decision. Most diocesan priests need something equivalent to a Master of Divinity. And I’m sure any bishop will encourage you to seek out more advance education in theology.

 

[liltike99]

Thank you for the response! So it would be possible to pursue graduate studies immediately after ordination? That would be awesome

 

[Gorgias]

I was just wondering about the freedom a new priest would have in pursuing graduate studies. Can he make the decision to pursue graduate studies himself or is it more up to his bishop?

It depends on what you mean. If you mean “a new priest gets his assignment from his bishop, and while serving in that capacity, he also takes a class or two”, then yes, perhaps this is possible. Of course, one would still want to get the permission of the bishop, so that it doesn’t seem like he is trying to go behind his bishop’s back.

If, on the other hand, you mean, “following ordination, a new priest tells his bishop that he is going to pursue graduate study full-time”, then no, that isn’t possible. Once the promise of obedience is made, a priest is expected to listen to what his bishop tells him to do, not tell the bishop what he is going to do.

So… which one do you mean?

 

[liltike99]

I was hoping to pursue graduate studies full-time

 

[aemcpa]

I was hoping to pursue graduate studies full-time

A priest in the United States is required to receive a master’s degree in theology before he is ordained. Whether you are able to pursue further studies toward a licentiate or a doctorate would be up to your bishop. He could either assign you to those studies or allow you to pursue them at your own expense, or he could forbid you from doing so.

 

[marty1818]

Totally up to the Bishop.

 

[liltike99]

How common is it for priests to get graduate education? How does the bishop decide who gets to?

 

[aemcpa]

How common is it for priests to get graduate education? How does the bishop decide who gets to?

Like I said, every priest has at least a master’s degree and many have two. We typically have two or three guys at a time studying in Rome or DC for licentiate in theology or canon law. I guess the bishop identifies the guys that he thinks are capable of making it through the programs, but I don’t know specifically how they’re selected.

 

[Gorgias]

How common is it for priests to get graduate education? How does the bishop decide who gets to?

Like others have said, every priest will have a graduate degree in theology (m.Div. or S.T.B. or M.A.). Those who study theology at Rome generally also get an S.T.L., too.

As far as other degrees go, it’s not just a matter of personal ability, but also, the needs of the diocese. If the bishop feels he needs priests with advanced degrees, he’ll send priests to school. Remember, though, that the primary role of a diocesan priest is in the parish…!

 

[andy92]

How common is it for priests to get graduate education? How does the bishop decide who gets to?

An advanced degree either doctoral or licenture is required to be a Bishop in the U.S. Most priests who pursue an advanced degree, by authorization or recommendation of the bishop, usually end up working with the diocese directly. My pastor works as the assistant director of the Office of Divine Worship at the diocese and there are several priests who are going back after two or three years to obtain a degree. After that most work in a school as a chaplin, or lead the larger parishes. All diocese have canon layers and other law degrees for annulments and such.

Like other have said it can be pretty common in larger diocese. I would talk with your vocations director about this and discuss the possibilities.

 

[InThePew]

I’d add two things to what’s been said so far: first, the vocation of a diocesan priest is to parish ministry. While there are many excellent priests who have post-graduate degrees and who work in teaching or administrative roles (such as Canon Law Tribunals) diocesan priesthood is, at it’s heart, about parish ministry.

Second, intellectual formation is only one of the four areas of formation - the others being human, pastoral and spiritual. Each is important in its own way and no one is more important than any (or all) of the others. Obviously different people have different strengths in different areas and there are some areas in which some seminarians strive and others in which they might struggle and it’s those areas of struggle which need the most attention. Of course priests need to have a good grounding in theology, etc but they also need to have a good prayer life, good pastoral skills and the ability to relate to people from all walks of life.