How does one become a priest?

[Rebecca_Fleming]

My son feels the call. Does a young man pursue seminary right after high school or after college? And how does he go about this?

 

[gerardsvd]

Tell your son to, first of all, go and have a chat with your parish priest…it will go from there

 

[puzzleannie]

My son feels the call. Does a young man pursue seminary right after high school or after college? And how does he go about this?

he meets first with his pastor and asks to meet the vocations director of the diocese, who will lay out what this preparation and vocation entail, visits seminaries, and along the way will be assigned to a spiritual director for ongoing support in discerning his vocation.

good son, good parents, we will be praying.

he will usually participate in an undergraduate program at a Catholic college for those who will eventually enter major seminary, and may live, pray and work together with other young men in formation. figure at least 8-9 years post high school education, more for Jesuits or some other religious orders. the vocations director, college and seminary rector can also discuss financial aid with you.

 

[Young_Thinker]

If he harbors any ambitions for high office in the Church, I would suggest that he seek a doctorate of some sort(probably in Canon Law or Sacred Theology). As Br. David(Byz. Catholic) usually advices, he needs a spiritual director.

 

[onetruechurch]

I would recommend listening to the Catholic Answers Live radio show this Wednesday at 4:00 Pacific. Check the schedule on the homepage for more information. The scheduled subject is “How to Discern a Vocation” with Bishop Robert Finn as the guest. If you don’t have Catholic radio in your area you can listen directly on the Catholic Answers website by pressing the radio button. :compcoff:

 

[Cowfold]

My son feels the call. Does a young man pursue seminary right after high school or after college? And how does he go about this?

My recommendation is that he does nothing until he is 21.
By that age he will have discovered whether he has a true calling.

 

[lizaanne]

My recommendation is that he does nothing until he is 21.
By that age he will have discovered whether he has a true calling.

Someone under 21 can’t know if they have a true calling or not? That’s what the discernment process is for. I would not worry about it and let the process run its course, and if Father and the vocations director feel he is ready then go from there.

Rebecca - you are so blessed!!! How wonderful to be able to give back to God what He has given you. I can’t have children, but if I ever had only one I would so gratefully do the same.

God bless your son, and your family!

~Liza

 

[Lepanto]

If he harbors any ambitions for high office in the Church, I would suggest that he seek a doctorate of some sort(probably in Canon Law or Sacred Theology). As Br. David(Byz. Catholic) usually advices, he needs a spiritual director.

Anyone who “harbors any ambitions for high office in the Church” should never enter the seminary. That’s not the kind of person the Church needs.

Go to business school instead.

 

[JesuitLoyola]

It depends on whether your son will become a religious or diocesan priest as well. For example, many diocese will not accept men into their formation without a degree. This is true for the diocese of Orange in California as well as San Bernardino (the ones I know best). While I’ve heard this is common across America, several religious orders will accept guys right out of high school. So before asking whether he should pursue college or not, its necessary to determine what kind of priest he would like to be. Or in the case of religious life, what charism he finds attractive as there is no guarantee of ordination.
I personally support college before applying with the diocese as it gives the man a chance to discern while experiencing his first taste of independence. This allows us to determine what it is that we willingly chose to give our effort towards rather than what others would have us do. If he still feels called in college, where most do not focus on giving their time and energy towards progression in a relationship with God, its a good indicator that he is in fact called. Besides, if he gets partially through seminary and realizes that he is not called to the priesthood at least he will have a degree to his name, which will never lose value or be a waste of time in our current culture.

 

[Young_Thinker]

My recommendation is that he does nothing until he is 21.
By that age he will have discovered whether he has a true calling.

I disagree, what if he wanted to be a Jesuit, for instance(a fairly long and complex process). In any case, he should try to learn Latin, Greek, and perhaps Hebrew. His college years will be rather important.

 

[Young_Thinker]

Anyone who “harbors any ambitions for high office in the Church” should never enter the seminary. That’s not the kind of person the Church needs.

Go to business school instead.

I personally feel that making money as a career is absolutely senseless. There is nothing wrong with some ambition while also having a desire to serve God(as children, many American men wanted to President of the U.S., what is wrong with a boy daydreaming about the papacy?). As a 14-year old, Sainte The’r`ese de Lisieux told her parents that she wanted be a saint(as according to The Big Book of Women Saints)!

 

[Young_Thinker]

Anyway, I read that bishops normally have doctorates.

 

[Lepanto]

I personally feel that making money as a career is absolutely senseless. There is nothing wrong with some ambition while also having a desire to serve God(as children, many American men wanted to President of the U.S., what is wrong with a boy daydreaming about the papacy?). As a 14-year old, Sainte The’r`ese de Lisieux told her parents that she wanted be a saint(as according to The Big Book of Women Saints)!

Yes, the Church needs saints. Not ladder climbers.

 

[Lepanto]

Anyway, I read that bishops normally have doctorates.

Yes, many bishops have doctorates. But being academically accomplished does not necessarily mean that one has ambitions to high Church office. It should mean that one is well educated to better serve the Church, not to get “promoted” within the Church.

Also, note that many (most?) bishops have a D.D. degree (Doctor of Divinity). It is honorific.

 

[Young_Thinker]

Yes, many bishops have doctorates. But being academically accomplished does not necessarily mean that one has ambitions to high Church office. It should mean that one is well educated to better serve the Church, not to get “promoted” within the Church…

Obviously.

 

[Young_Thinker]

Yes, the Church needs saints. Not ladder climbers.

Thank you, but I am sure that there have been a lot of people who were both. The fire of ambition comes in different ways and can do great services.

 

[Young_Thinker]

Not to discuss their theories, Freud(who want to be a great scientist rather than a physician, so much) and Adler were both very ambitious, yet still did not prevent them from generally being good practioners.

 

[bilop]

A priest does not get to choose whether or not to persue education beyond the major seminary.

Once ordained, his bishop or ordinary will decide his ministry, and future education if any.

So, a priest can’t really choose to get a doctorate.

God Bless

 

[Young_Thinker]

A priest does not get to choose whether or not to persue education beyond the major seminary.

Once ordained, his bishop or ordinary will decide his ministry, and future education if any.

So, a priest can’t really choose to get a doctorate.

God Bless

All right, but if he joins a teaching-order or receives his bishop’s permission, I am sure that he would be able to continue his studies if he wishes.

 

[Cowfold]

anyone who “harbors any ambitions for high office in the church” should never enter the seminary. That’s not the kind of person the church needs.

Go to business school instead.

exactly!!!