ICKSP question - pls help

[proudlycatholic]

Hello all,

God bless you. I am a traditional mid 20s latin-american catholic from the Una Voce group. Ever since I found out about the TLM around 4 years ago I have felt a call to the priesthood (which has gotten stronger during this time… every day). Never before (under the Novus Ordo era) had i felt this… but the TLM has opened my eyes.

It might be worth mentioning that I have a bachellor’s in Linguistics and that I am well-versed in at least the basics of catholic doctrine.

I have been researching the 4 possibilities: SSPX, FSSP, Good Shephard, and ICK.

All of them are good, but the one that I feel more connected to is the ICKSP… i have taken a look at all their websites (because the site changes depending on the language) and I still got many questions which I hope someone can answer…

1- I am from latin america and I know only english and spanish (plus basic church latin). I do not speak french. The USA site says they have a “pre-seminary program” for people in the US where they teach them french and some latin, plus other things… what about people not in the US? do they offer this “pre-seminary program” in the International seminary itself? what are the possibilities?

2- In the US website, in the fees section, they mention a “low fee of $900 per month”… in my case, as it is the case for most people in latin america, we can’t pay such a sum… i know my family could help me with say, $300 or $350 but not more… do you know if they offer some sort of scholarship? what are the options for people who cant afford this?

3- How hard is it to get admitted to the ICKSP? (i have heard that they are very elitist, but that might just be a biased opinion)

4- what kind of traveling visa do non-EU seminarians get when they go to the seminary in Italy?

Any help, hint or advice would be greatly appreciated… thx!!

God bless you.

 

[Megan7]

Hello all,

God bless you. I am a traditional mid 20s latin-american catholic from the Una Voce group. Ever since I found out about the TLM around 4 years ago I have felt a call to the priesthood (which has gotten stronger during this time… every day). Never before (under the Novus Ordo era) had i felt this… but the TLM has opened my eyes.

It might be worth mentioning that I have a bachellor’s in Linguistics and that I am well-versed in at least the basics of catholic doctrine.

I have been researching the 4 possibilities: SSPX, FSSP, Good Shephard, and ICK.

All of them are good, but the one that I feel more connected to is the ICKSP… i have taken a look at all their websites (because the site changes depending on the language) and I still got many questions which I hope someone can answer…

1- I am from latin america and I know only english and spanish (plus basic church latin). I do not speak french. The USA site says they have a “pre-seminary program” for people in the US where they teach them french and some latin, plus other things… what about people not in the US? do they offer this “pre-seminary program” in the International seminary itself? what are the possibilities?

2- In the US website, in the fees section, they mention a “low fee of $900 per month”… in my case, as it is the case for most people in latin america, we can’t pay such a sum… i know my family could help me with say, $300 or $350 but not more… do you know if they offer some sort of scholarship? what are the options for people who cant afford this?

3- How hard is it to get admitted to the ICKSP? (i have heard that they are very elitist, but that might just be a biased opinion)

4- what kind of traveling visa do non-EU seminarians get when they go to the seminary in Italy?

Any help, hint or advice would be greatly appreciated… thx!!

God bless you.

Welcome to the forum “ProudlyCatholic”

Thank you for this post. I will try to chime in later on.
I am familiar with the FSSP & the Institute of Christ the King. I posted a thread talking about the differences in the past. I will try to bring it up again, so you can read it. If you want, you can also look at my screen name, look for: “find posts by Megan”, and it should be there as well. A lot of people contributed to that thread, and I learned a lot.
If I am not mistaken, the group that you end up joining, either the FSSP or the Institute
might offer some sort of scholarship, not sure…
I prefer the FSSP & the Institute. I do not know much about the other two. The FSSP
has a seminary in Nebraska USA. I think its about an hour drive from Omaha.
I have a cousin who is interested in joining one of these 2, so I will ask.

In any case, I will keep you in my prayers.
Take good care,
Best of wishes to you,
God bless you
Pax,

Megan

P.S: The thread I am talking about is from April of this year, with a post on the last page from May, if I bring it up they will probably close it, because it is over 2 months old
I will see if I can link it here for you

 

[YoungTradCath]

1- I am from latin america and I know only english and spanish (plus basic church latin). I do not speak french. The USA site says they have a “pre-seminary program” for people in the US where they teach them french and some latin, plus other things… what about people not in the US? do they offer this “pre-seminary program” in the International seminary itself? what are the possibilities?

2- In the US website, in the fees section, they mention a “low fee of $900 per month”… in my case, as it is the case for most people in latin america, we can’t pay such a sum… i know my family could help me with say, $300 or $350 but not more… do you know if they offer some sort of scholarship? what are the options for people who cant afford this?

3- How hard is it to get admitted to the ICKSP? (i have heard that they are very elitist, but that might just be a biased opinion)

4- what kind of traveling visa do non-EU seminarians get when they go to the seminary in Italy?

Any help, hint or advice would be greatly appreciated… thx!!

God bless you.

1. Call them and speak to someone.
2. I’m sure something can be worked out. Again, call them.
3. I don’t know. I would hesitate to call them elitist, as that seems a bit of a harsh assessment. They value precision in the liturgy, but I can hardly call that elitism; I’d consider that more a baseline. It seems that your source for the elitist comment is biased, yes.
4. I have no idea. I imagine you would have to contact your government officials for this information.

 

[Burdensome1]

For USA seminarians in Italy, the student visa is easy to obtain…your situation I have no idea…

But if you are lumhung the SSPX in with those others, you don’t know what you are deciding. The SSPX I think would agree.

Anyway, no worries, nobody will take you until you figure a few more things out.

 

[proudlycatholic]

But if you are lumhung the SSPX in with those others, you don’t know what you are deciding. The SSPX I think would agree.

Please do not judge. I know the situation of the SSPX and I do not want to start a thread about it. I am just going to say that I personally consider them “just as good” as the other fraternities/institutes, and I see no schism or heressy in that fraternity, but because I have done lots of research over the past year, I have gotten to the conclusion that ICKSP is the one that I feel more attached to.

 

[mgsk]

1. A young man at my parish got accepted to the ICKSP seminary in Italy this past summer - his family doesn’t have much disposable income, so the parish has had to come together with donations and such. I was under the impression that there weren’t many scholarships, because I’m sure this family has been looking.

If you got accepted, would your parish be willing to help in a similar way? Even by just announcing it?

 

[Burdensome1]

It’s not up to me, thank God, but this is a very political field you are playing in, and IMO you don’t have the issues sorted. But, wth, maybe it’s not meant to be.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Call the vocations director for your diocese. Contact the ICKSP directly. No one here can answer your questions.

 

[mgsk]

I don’t think diocesan vocations directors will want to talk about going to an ICKSP seminary - but yes, I’d give someone in the Institute a call for sure.

I went on a vocations retreat with my local diocese. They didn’t want to discuss religious orders or more trad leaning seminaries.

 

[Burdensome1]

. They didn’t want to discuss religious orders or more trad leaning seminaries.

Because they don’t know anything about it and they’re not tasked with finding men for them.

 

[proudlycatholic]

1. A young man at my parish got accepted to the ICKSP seminary in Italy this past summer - his family doesn’t have much disposable income, so the parish has had to come together with donations and such. I was under the impression that there weren’t many scholarships, because I’m sure this family has been looking

If you got accepted, would your parish be willing to help in a similar way? Even by just announcing it?

Sadly, thanks to the bishop’s obstruction efforts, our “parish” is currently limited to around 10-15 people at a distant country-side location… and we can’t even celebrate in a church, but rather in a private home. Out of those 15 most are either students or low-income people, with the exception of an ocassional 1 or 2 guys who are not particularly into sharing… so no many hopes from getting financial help from our ‘‘parish’’. Its been an oddissey to get the roman vestments, 1962 missal, and other liturgical accessories needed for the TLM… its kind of sad but I trust God that something might be worked out.

 

[proudlycatholic]

Call the vocations director for your diocese. Contact the ICKSP directly. No one here can answer your questions.

I contacted the ICKSP via email but I am still waiting… I guess I will call them but I was hoping to mak
e my 1st contact text-wise before calling.

Regarding my diocese… getting help from them regarding the TLM would actually be harder than convincing the Westboro baptist church to help out.

Anyways… maybe someone here might shed some light over my questions… God bless you all. Thx.

 

[mgsk]

Because they don’t know anything about it and they’re not tasked with finding men for them.

That’s why I advised the OP not to contact them.

 

[mymamamary]

Hello all,

God bless you. I am a traditional mid 20s latin-american catholic from the Una Voce group. Ever since I found out about the TLM around 4 years ago I have felt a call to the priesthood (which has gotten stronger during this time… every day). Never before (under the Novus Ordo era) had i felt this… but the TLM has opened my eyes.

It might be worth mentioning that I have a bachellor’s in Linguistics and that I am well-versed in at least the basics of catholic doctrine.

I have been researching the 4 possibilities: SSPX, FSSP, Good Shephard, and ICK.

All of them are good, but the one that I feel more connected to is the ICKSP… i have taken a look at all their websites (because the site changes depending on the language) and I still got many questions which I hope someone can answer…

1- I am from latin america and I know only english and spanish (plus basic church latin). I do not speak french. The USA site says they have a “pre-seminary program” for people in the US where they teach them french and some latin, plus other things… what about people not in the US? do they offer this “pre-seminary program” in the International seminary itself? what are the possibilities?

2- In the US website, in the fees section, they mention a “low fee of $900 per month”… in my case, as it is the case for most people in latin america, we can’t pay such a sum… i know my family could help me with say, $300 or $350 but not more… do you know if they offer some sort of scholarship? what are the options for people who cant afford this?

3- How hard is it to get admitted to the ICKSP? (i have heard that they are very elitist, but that might just be a biased opinion)

4- what kind of traveling visa do non-EU seminarians get when they go to the seminary in Italy?

Any help, hint or advice would be greatly appreciated… thx!!

God bless you.

My dear brother, welcome to the forums. May the SACRED HEART BLESS You and make You a Priest and a Saint for HIS Holy Church. I am also discerning a vocation to the ICKSP, so please pray for me!!

I will let other posters solve this problem…

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Sadly, thanks to the bishop’s obstruction efforts, our “parish” is currently limited to around 10-15 people at a distant country-side location… and we can’t even celebrate in a church, but rather in a private home. Out of those 15 most are either students or low-income people, with the exception of an ocassional 1 or 2 guys who are not particularly into sharing… so no many hopes from getting financial help from our ‘‘parish’’. Its been an oddissey to get the roman vestments, 1962 missal, and other liturgical accessories needed for the TLM… its kind of sad but I trust God that something might be worked out.

This does not sound like a good situation at all. I presume the priest does have permission from the bishop to celebrate this Mass. I highly recommend that you become involved in the life of a more regular parish or perhaps an apostolate like 40 days for life before you go to seminary. Priests do much more than celebrate Mass and you’ll want to have a taste of those types of activities also.

 

[Rich_C]

I will remember your vocation in my rosary intentions today. Perhaps you will be the answer to many people’s prayers for a Latin Mass in your homeland.

Edit: would you PM me your first name so I can better pray for you?

 

[proudlycatholic]

This does not sound like a good situation at all. I presume the priest does have permission from the bishop to celebrate this Mass. I highly recommend that you become involved in the life of a more regular parish or perhaps an apostolate like 40 days for life before you go to seminary. Priests do much more than celebrate Mass and you’ll want to have a taste of those types of activities also.

Hello Mrs Sally, thank you for your reply. It is indeed a bad situation. The church in Latin America in general has suffered the strong effects of communism, freemasonry, “liberation theoly”, a gowing number of protestant churches, etc and of course the wrong interpretation of Vatican 2. Many bishops follow this: “The Pope in Rome, and my diocese for myself”… Summorum Pontificum has been terribly hard to apply…

Now, regarding permissions, priests do not need any permission from their bishops to celebrate mass. The pope has given a universal permission. The problem is that the bishop can obstruct the application of Summorum Pontificum. Say, for example, by sending a priest to a distant location… thereby destroying the local community of traditionalists while at the same time sending a clear message to other priests: “don’t you dare…” and Ecclesia Dei does not have the power to do anything but reminding the bishop of Summorum Pontificum… but that’s it. I know a diocese in another country, over in Cuba, where Eclessia Dei has asked the local bishop like 3 times over the past year to give the local group there a church (they have a trained priest) but the bishop could care less. This is just to show you how hard things can get at least over this region of the world.

Regarding other church activities… yes, I understand that priests do not only celebrate mass. The problem is that getting a grasp here of what a priest should actually do is very hard… why? because 95% of them are doing whatever instead of real catholic things. They are more willing to preach about the next soccer game than about purgatory. Relics? throw them to a thrash can because that is medieval. Babtize? Not needed, God loves them just the same. Indulgences? Why, are we going back to Trent? Transubstantiation? No, its a symbol… and we could go on… this is their way of thinking. There are a couple who do not think this way, and they are the minority I have been close to… its the few who are willing to at least show up in a TLM. But then again getting a grasp of what a priest should really do is kind of hard, because the few good priests are at far away places, totally alienated.

 

[PacoG]

Now, regarding permissions, priests do not need any permission from their bishops to celebrate mass. The pope has given a universal permission. The problem is that the bishop can obstruct the application of Summorum Pontificum. Say, for example, by sending a priest to a distant location… thereby destroying the local community of traditionalists while at the same time sending a clear message to other priests: “don’t you dare…” and Ecclesia Dei does not have the power to do anything but reminding the bishop of Summorum Pontificum… but that’s it. I know a diocese in another country, over in Cuba, where Eclessia Dei has asked the local bishop like 3 times over the past year to give the local group there a church (they have a trained priest) but the bishop could care less. This is just to show you how hard things can get at least over this region of the world.

I don’t know where you get that interpretation, but priests are still required to get faculties from the local bishop to hear confessions, administer the sacraments and say Mass (both forms). Summorum Pontificum did not get rid of that requirement.

Regarding other church activities… yes, I understand that priests do not only celebrate mass. The problem is that getting a grasp here of what a priest should actually do is very hard… why? because 95% of them are doing whatever instead of real catholic things. They are more willing to preach about the next soccer game than about purgatory. Relics? throw them to a thrash can because that is medieval. Babtize? Not needed, God loves them just the same. Indulgences? Why, are we going back to Trent? Transubstantiation? No, its a symbol… and we could go on… this is their way of thinking. There are a couple who do not think this way, and they are the minority I have been close to… its the few who are willing to at least show up in a TLM. But then again getting a grasp of what a priest should really do is kind of hard, because the few good priests are at far away places, totally alienated.

Actually, my experience (and most people’s experience) is that most priests are good, holy, orthodox and orthoprax priests.

Seriously, you need to spend some time discerning and learning.

 

[severus68]

PacoG;10023733]I don’t know where you get that interpretation, but priests are still required to get faculties from the local bishop to hear confessions, administer the sacraments and say Mass (both forms). Summorum Pontificum did not get rid of that requirement.

I think Brother JR explained this clearly.

A

ctually, my experience (and most people’s experience) is that most priests are good, holy, orthodox and orthoprax priests.

Seriously, you need to spend some time discerning and learning.

Its been my experience too.

 

[proudlycatholic]

Priests are given the faculty to say mass,** but not an specific form of the mass**. The priest I am talking about has the faculty to say mass, and that is why he says the TLM. He is not suspended… and like I said: once a priest has the faculty to say mass, he can say both the Novus Ordo or the TLM. A bishop can not deny a priest the right to say the TLM. A bishop can not tell a priest “I am only giving you faculties to say Novus Ordo mass”. However, a bishop who opposes the TLM can send a priest far away… doing that he could keep many others from even considering the TLM. And this is not a “weird” case… this is happening in many many dioceses.

Actually, my experience (and most people’s experience) is that most priests are good, holy, orthodox and orthoprax priests.

Seriously, you need to spend some time discerning and learning.

I have. You apparently live in a perfect world (to the extent that you include most people) where anyone interested in the TLM can just have it (including priests), and where all bishops and clergy are “orthodox followers of the catholic faith”. You should try starting up a TLM where there is none, and chances are you will have a hard time, specially in latin america (just google it…).