You should be speaking with the Vocations Director of your diocese to have these questions answered. In general, Major Seminary is a 4-year program for those who have the requisite credits in Philosophy & Theology, with about a year of Pastoral work after being ordained a deacon and before being ordained as priest, bringing the total to about 5 years.My diocese website says that it take six to eight years to become ordained a deacon and then a priest half a year after that. It didn’t say though how to achieve the six year path. If I go to college and major in philosophy and minor in theology and then join the seminary after college, how many years will I be in the seminary before becoming ordained?
I agree that it would be a good idea for you to talk with your Diocesan Director of Vocations now if you are at all considering the priesthood. He would be able to give you the information that would help you pcik the right courses.My diocese website says that it take six to eight years to become ordained a deacon and then a priest half a year after that. It didn’t say though how to achieve the six year path. If I go to college and major in philosophy and minor in theology and then join the seminary after college, how many years will I be in the seminary before becoming ordained?
Actually, it’s based on having a bachelor’s degree, regardless of the major area of study. If a man enters formation without an undergraduate degree, he’ll work toward a BA in Philosophy; if he enters having already received a bachelor’s, he’ll do two years of ‘pre-theology’ (his academic course of study will be in Philosophy, and may or may not be at the graduate level or lead to a graduate degree).My guess is that 6-8 year estimate is based on guys who don’t have bachelor’s degrees in philosophy or theology before they enter.
Yes, that is my understanding since I didn’t have any college when I went in and talking to the pre-theologians here at schoolSo if you go into the seminary after high school it will just take you eight years but if you go college and then the seminary it takes you a total of ten years?
If you include your undergraduate degree as part of the ten years, then yes that’s possible. It depends on what you study. If you plan ahead, you can take all the right philosophy and theology courses in your undergrad. If you don’t discern a call to the priesthood until later in your college career (or even after), then once you get started, you have to play a little catch up by taking those undergrad level philosophy and theology courses to prepare you for seminary.So if you go into the seminary after high school it will just take you eight years but if you go college and then the seminary it takes you a total of ten years?
You really should talk to your diocesan Vocations Director about this so you don’t have to guess. A lot can depend on exactly what philosophy and theology classes you take and where you are going to school. I know some guys who took a lot of philosophy and religion courses at secular schools, and not much of that credit transferred over because it is obviously coming from a much different vantage point.When I get to college I will be majoring in philosphy and minoring in theology, so if I do that will it take less than ten years? Also how will I know what philosphy and theology clasees to take when at college?
You don’t say if you are in the US or not.When I get to college I will be majoring in philosphy and minoring in theology, so if I do that will it take less than ten years? Also how will I know what philosphy and theology clasees to take when at college?
My friend did the same thing. It took him 9 years until he was ordained a priest.My diocese website says that it take six to eight years to become ordained a deacon and then a priest half a year after that. It didn’t say though how to achieve the six year path. If I go to college and major in philosophy and minor in theology and then join the seminary after college, how many years will I be in the seminary before becoming ordained?