Need of Prudent Advice

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Angus

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I am currently in the process of applying to seminary for my home diocese. I recently started working for a start-up company in the state adjacent to my home diocese. While working here, I have come to realize the amount of work these people do in my job each day, and how important my help is. On top of this, before beginning my application to my home diocese, I began getting spiritual direction from a parish priest who has pushed me to pray about being open to this diocese I work and live in now. The diocese I am currently in has a number of seminarians more than my home diocese due to the population difference. I have come to love the parish that I attend, but there are many parishes that I do not agree with in this diocese. At the same time, I feel as though my home diocese needs more men.

I feel bad for applying for my diocese back home for this fall, because I would have to leave the people I am working with and I don’t know how they would fare with my timing of leaving… I don’t want to screw these guys, because they are great people. At the same time, I don’t want to make Our Lord wait. I want to give myself to Him and His Church, and the feeling grows stronger each day. Further, I feel guilty for pursuing this application when my spiritual director is requesting me to stay in this current diocese. I am not entirely sure what to do, as I do not want to hurt anyone in this process.
 
The Diocese I joined and am now a priest of is not the one I grew up in. That’s not terribly uncommon.

Someone once told me you have to go where your vocation “percolated.” It started to come together for me when I went to college in the Diocese where I now serve. So I realized that this was where I was supposed to be.

Follow the advice of your spiritual director. In time everything will become clear.

-Fr ACEGC
 
You don’t know to what kind of service God is calling you to after ordination. It could be parish priest for a few years and then teach at a seminary, do research or further studies or even be sent to another diocese or abroad.
 
I am open to both diocese, because I feel love to and from both. The diocese I am applying for, they are asking for documentation to be filled out. The diocese I am currently in, has invited me to a retreat next month to their seminary. My spiritual director told me to use this pilgrimage as a part of my discernment. That said, should I just hold off on getting the paperwork filled out, or fill out the preliminary paperwork?
 
So you’re actually in the application process for one Diocese, or is it just preliminary paperwork of some kind?
 
The Office of Vocations is asking me to retrieve my original Baptism and Confirmation certificates as well as my parents Marriage certificate. They also requested me to fill out forms regarding a physician exam, psychology exam, and criminal record. I just began receiving these requests this week.
 
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I don’t think your spiritual director is infallible, so you need to take that into consideration, in my opinion, anyways. If you have not pledged complete obedience to your spiritual director, then you are still free to choose the course of action.

Take it to Eucharistic Adoration. Ask Jesus.
 
So you’ve begun the application process. And you’re still thinking about joining the other Diocese?
 
Father, your question speaks miles to me. I know what you are saying.

Jamal, thank you. I have to drive 30 minutes to the nearest chapel so I will when I can get over to the chapel.
 
You can be face to face with Him in the Tabernacle, too. Don’t forget. He is waiting in every Catholic Church.
 
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