Looking for a good Jesuit semenary

[Son_Of_Rome]

Hi.

After much disernment, I feel that Our Lord is calling me to be a Jesuit priest. I knw that in many places the Jesuits have lusy reputations as far as orthodoxy is concerned. Does anyone know where I can find a good Jesuit semenary that is faithful to the teachings of the Church?

 

[Lancer]

First…God bless you for giving God your “fiat”…your YES!..be it done according to your word…your will Lord God. You are…and will remain in my daily prayers…esp. at Holy Mass

Second, I don’t know which Jesuit seminary would be best…orthodox-wise, but I do have a thought.

How about getting in touch (email/telecon) with Father Mitch Pacwa , S.J.of EWTN…a terrific and holy priest…a terrific Jesuit who is faithful and loyal (to Christ, His Church, the Pope and his spiritual father (Saint) Ignatius of Loyola.)…he is also an incredible bible and Holy Land scholar…especially the Old Testament. His personal Apostolate web is:
Ignatius Productions

ignatiusproductions.org/mm5/merchant.mvc

Also…Father Joesph Fessio, S.J., doctoral student of then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), founder and Editor-in-Chief of ***Ignatius Press ***(1978) and is also currently a Professor of Theology and *theologian-in-residence *at Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida. Father Fessio is also a terrific priest and Jesuit…he has some real “battle scars” from his Jesuit experiences (with his superiors)…but always impressed me by his integrity and but first and foremost by his always being obedient to his superior. I am a retired U.S.Marine…Father Fessio reminds me of a lot of Marine Generals I knew and served under…strong, tough, but with a sacrificial heart…he would die for you in a “heartbeat!”.

Ave Maria University

avemaria.edu/jfessio/

Ignatius Press
ignatius.com/Staff/MeetTheStaff.aspx?SID=1&

Hope these thoughts might be of some help to you. Don’t be shy about going after either or both of these terrific Jesuits…with no introduction…other than you want to become a spiritual son of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Pax Christi

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I think you need to look more into where you would join the Jesuits.

After you become a member you will go where the superior chooses to send you for your priestly education/formation.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Hi.

After much disernment, I feel that Our Lord is calling me to be a Jesuit priest. I knw that in many places the Jesuits have lusy reputations as far as orthodoxy is concerned. Does anyone know where I can find a good Jesuit semenary that is faithful to the teachings of the Church?

If you’re in the US, the two seminaries the Jesuits use are at Boston College and the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. First studies in theology take place at Fordham, St. Louis University, or Loyola of Chicago.

You know, of course, that you don’t simply walk in and tell your superiors what it is you’re going to do.

 

[tuviskazinai]

Hi Son of Rome,

I second what others have said so far. The first thing to do may be to pick a province. You can initiate contact with as many as you like, get a sense of what their various regional apostolates are, and arrange visits. The character of the provinces may vary a little because they were established at different times and with different spirits – from what I’ve been told, for instance, the California Province is more social-justice oriented, and a bit more lively and diverse in terms of liturgical style, whereas the New England Province is more scholarly, with slightly more specific expectations of the formation that a postulant has had. But this is just word of mouth…I may be completely wrong.

Also, one thing I’ve heard about the perceived “heterodox / orthodox” issue is that now that the excitement of Vatican II has died down a little, today’s generation of new priests is slightly more “orthodox / conservative” than the last – and that this applies both to diocesan priests and to religious order priests, including the Jesuits. Again, I have no personal experience of this; I’m just passing on what I’ve heard.

Finally, I too am discerning a call to the Jesuit priesthood. If you would ever like to compare thoughts or notes, feel free to send me a message!

Best of luck in your discernment, and God bless.

Peace,
+AMDG+

 

[Justin75]

Hi.

After much disernment, I feel that Our Lord is calling me to be a Jesuit priest. I knw that in many places the Jesuits have lusy reputations as far as orthodoxy is concerned. Does anyone know where I can find a good Jesuit semenary that is faithful to the teachings of the Church?

Do you have a time-machine? If not, good luck. Actually you might want to try building one. Your chances would be better at that than your current task of finding one today. The Order is a mess and its from the top down.You may want to consider why you want to be a Jesuit. If it is their charism, thay aren’t currently living it. You may want to find an Order that is actually doing what they claiim to be doing or are doing what you feel called to.

God bless

 

[tuviskazinai]

Do you have a time-machine? If not, good luck. Actually you might want to try building one. Your chances would be better at that than your current task of finding one today. The Order is a mess and its from the top down.You may want to consider why you want to be a Jesuit. If it is their charism, thay aren’t currently living it. You may want to find an Order that is actually doing what they claiim to be doing or are doing what you feel called to.

God bless

With respect, I think this is a bit harsh. It’s true that some individual Jesuits have stepped out of line, but to accuse the whole order of failing to live up to its charism is a gross overstatement. Their charism includes, among other things, working for social justice and teaching the Spiritual Exercises; these things they do absolutely beautifully. As for education, one could surely have a lively discussion about the state of Jesuit schools and theology, but it’s not at all as simple as “the Jesuits are a mess.” I for one think they remain a beautiful order with much to teach us.

You are right, though, that if the OP is concerned about the orthodoxy question, he should do his research and get answers to all his questions before making a commitment – this would obviously include talking to real-life Jesuits and visiting actual Jesuit communities, parishes, and apostolates…seeing things first-hand.

Peace,
+AMDG+

 

[Cruikshank_s]

As someone who once thought the Jesuits were perfect for him, then found out otherwise, let me give a bit of advice.

Why do you feel called to the Jesuits?

This is extremely important when discerning a religious vocation. You don’t live with your ideal, you live with their reality. If what you want isn’t what they are, they aren’t what you want.

You say you’re looking for orthodoxy. What else? Social justice is a huge part of being a Jesuit, in fact HH Pope John Paul II reprimanded the society for stressing too much the social concerns and not as efficiently the spiritual concerns. He feared they were becoming more adept social workers than they were priests. What is important to you? For me I wanted to be a priest first and foremost. I wanted to protect and preserve tradition. I wanted to teach the faith and nothing else. I wanted namely what the Jesuits were, not what they are.

I deeply respect the Jesuit tradition and history. Ignatius Loyola remains my favorite saint and a personal hero. But for me, I would not fit in the society today. I just wouldn’t fit in the whole. And this is very important. I love what the Jesuits were, but that is the ideal, not the reality. I just wouldn’t be able to live with the reality, it isn’t my cup of tea.

Remember, you get the whole pie, not your particular piece of the pie when discerning religious orders. What is important to you? Does it match who they are?

Wishing you the best of luck and the grace necessary to find your place in His divine plan!

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

I would like to put in a plug for my thread “What’s Really Going On With Those Kooky Jesuits?” in Catholic Living, Vocations. Son of Rome is asking if you know of a good Jesuit Seminary. I’m asking what’s really going on with the Jesuits. I’d really love to get an ear full. Some of you thread responders here seem to know what you’re talking about. For Jesuit bashing/defending, see my thread please.

Thank you,

 

[tuviskazinai]

I would like to put in a plug for my thread “What’s Really Going On With Those Kooky Jesuits?” in Catholic Living, Vocations. Son of Rome is asking if you know of a good Jesuit Seminary. I’m asking what’s really going on with the Jesuits. I’d really love to get an ear full. Some of you thread responders here seem to know what you’re talking about. For Jesuit bashing/defending, see my thread please.

Thank you,

hehe…I like the title, although I am a little afraid. Sure, I will head over and take a look. Thanks for the invite.

Peace,
+AMDG+

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

Hi.

After much disernment, I feel that Our Lord is calling me to be a Jesuit priest. I knw that in many places the Jesuits have lusy reputations as far as orthodoxy is concerned. Does anyone know where I can find a good Jesuit semenary that is faithful to the teachings of the Church?

To get back to the OP’s question…

First of all, when you say “much discernment” I would ask “how much”? I don’t know if there is ever enough discernment, and sometimes there can be too much. And second, how do you know you are called to be a Jesuit? That’s pretty specific information.

I was once a seminarian. I went to a Catholic University that somewhat rhymes with Crayola. It was a Jesuit University (still is) and some edifying things happened there, and some less than edifying things happened there. It doesn’t matter where you go to college for seminary; someone will rock your faith to the core and you will have to survive it, whether it’s faithful to the teachings of the church or not.

As I do not know how old you are (which is a crucial bit of information for those discerning a vocation) I’m going to assume you are 18ish. If I had it to do over again, I would have gone to college as a student rather than a seminarian, but kept in touch with some kind of spiritual counsellor or faith group. You are still discerning. You are still a man. You may want to date (not wild sex, mind you, but date). Eyebrows are raised when seminarians date, and even though everyone knows that a seminarian isn’t a priest yet, the expectation is still there. I knew many seminarians who dated clandestinely, and it was like watching a James Bond movie. Very distracting. It was especially distracting when the seminarians were dating each other. Oh yes, my brothers and sisters.

The title “seminarian” can be attractive to the young man who is in love with God, but when that young man is still discerning it can be burdensome especially if you still love women. Trust me, you need to work that out.

There are three levels of formation: human, christian and priestly. You need to be fully entrenched within the first two before you can rise to the third. Seminaries, in general, are poor at dealing with the first two, which can be brain damaging to the young man who is looking to them for guidance. Don’t misunderstand me. Be a man first, a Christian man second, and only go to the seminary when you know who you are.

I don’t know you, Son of Rome, but your screen name makes me think that what you are looking for will not be found in a seminary. Be a man, be a man of God, and if you have a vocation to the priesthood, Christ will open the door for you; you won’t have to beat down any doors.

Hope that helps.

So, Son of Rome, if you reply to this, my post on your thread, these are the things I want to know to better help:

1. How much is “much discernment”?
2. Why the Jesuits specifically, as opposed to the Franciscans or a “Front-line” diocesan priest? (the “front-line” bit is Jesuit talk, so you know)
3. When was the last time you kissed a girl (Platonically or otherwise) or held her hand?
4. Have you ever lived in an apartment and managed your own finances?
5. What do your parents/siblings/friends think of your impending seminarianism? Do people say “Son of Rome, you just have to be a priest!” etc.

 

[tuviskazinai]

By the way (and Nom the Wise’s post made me think of this)…one other quite major point just came to mind. In fact, one of my main disappointments with the Jesuits in terms of my own discernment is the fact that they do NOT go to seminary. I’m sure you know this from your research, but the program is to do two years of “experiments” (or mission assignments, chaplaincies, etc.) during the novitiate, then three years of advanced studies (in any subject) at a Jesuit university (Fordham, Loyola Chicago, or St. Louis U), then two years of regency (teaching at a Jesuit institution), then three years of theology studies (at either the Berkeley or the Weston School of Theology). The Jesuits study a lot, six years in total, but it’s in Jesuit universities rather than seminaries.

That said, I don’t know how much of a difference is between the two. There will be non-seminarians in their courses, but they still live together in community and celebrate daily Mass together – if I’m not mistaken. Someone on CAF once told me that they do not have the same courses on celebration of the Sacraments that diocesan seminarians do, which is what would trouble me the most if it were true. But I may be completely mistaken; you’d have to get confirmation of that from someone who would know.

Not sure how important this is to you, but just thought I’d mention it, so long as you mentioned seminaries in your post…

Peace,
+AMDG+

 

[noviceosb]

I can only repeat what others have said. Contact a Jesuit Vocation Director for starters. Also get advice from local Jesiuts in your area. If you don’t have a good spiritual director, get one. I think you’re 50 years too late but rumor has it that the tide may be turning within the Society.

Pax,

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

By the way (and Nom the Wise’s post made me think of this)…one other quite major point just came to mind. In fact, one of my main disappointments with the Jesuits in terms of my own discernment is the fact that they do NOT go to seminary. I’m sure you know this from your research, but the program is to do two years of “experiments” (or mission assignments, chaplaincies, etc.) during the novitiate, then three years of advanced studies (in any subject) at a Jesuit university (Fordham, Loyola Chicago, or St. Louis U), then two years of regency (teaching at a Jesuit institution), then three years of theology studies (at either the Berkeley or the Weston School of Theology). The Jesuits study a lot, six years in total, but it’s in Jesuit universities rather than seminaries.

You’re right! Jesuits don’t have seminaries! Forgive me, but it’s been 10 years since I was in the seminary (as a diocesan seminarian at a Jesuit University). I forgot. I knew that but I forgot. What a travesty!

Sounds like you need to do much, much more discernment, Son of Rome. Also, you need to work on your spelling. “Semenary”? The Jesuits are hard core academics. Your initial post has several spelling errors, but at least you were consistent in spelling “semenary.”

You’re not goofing on us, Son of Rome, are you?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Many religious orders/communities do not use seminaries. Seminaries are rightfully the place for the formation of secular clergy. Religious orders/communities do the formation that a seminarian receives at the seminary in a house of studies.

I attend a theologate, which is what many religious go to for their education for the priesthood. My formation takes place within the house of studies I live in and some classes are done jointly with neighboring houses of studies.

That is why, technically, I am called a theologian, as I attend a theologate.

Some religious do attend seminaries but not all of us do.