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strugglingalong
Guest
Anyone here a little more along in life and discerning a vocation? It’d be interesting to hear from you if you are. I’m 30 and discerning.
Pax Christi tecum.
Pax Christi tecum.
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JohnnyReb
Guest
27 and discerning. I am just beginning to do a little research myself, whether it is to an order to the diocesian (spelling???) priesthood
Cloisters
Well-known member
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nicolep
Guest
Ah, crud…I’m “older” now!!! 
I’m 27 and discerning religious life also.
I’m 27 and discerning religious life also.
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strugglingalong
Guest
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strugglingalong
Guest
Yep, I guess you’re older tooAh, crud…I’m “older” now!!!
I’m 27 and discerning religious life also.
I’m going on 31 so I am really older…Do you find your age an issue at all? Have you visited any orders? How did it go? Any in particular you’re considering?
Pax Christi tecum.
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strugglingalong
Guest
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nicolep
Guest
Age hasn’t been an issue so far. The orders I’ve visited seem to like someone who has been to college and has a few working years under their belt. From what I’ve seen, 40 seems to be the max (with some exceptions being made) or maybe 45. My former pastor wasn’t ordained until he was 40 (he’s a diocesan priest). Personally, I’ve been drawn mostly to Benedictines. I haven’t visited anywhere else yet.Yep, I guess you’re older too
Do you find your age an issue at all? Have you visited any orders? How did it go? Any in particular you’re considering?
Pax Christi tecum.
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JohnnyReb
Guest
Not yet. My diocese accepts candidates who will be ready for ordaination by age 45. I suppose time is on my side.
As far as religious orders are concerned, my issue is $tudent/$chool loan debt.
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cyberwolf001
Guest
I agree with this. One thing I feel is hurting vocations in the RCC at least in my area is anyone wishing to be a priest must have an undergraduate degree. Which is usually something you gotta have a lot of money to get, or VERY good in classes.
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strugglingalong
Guest
Yeah student loan debt is a huge issue for me too
I think my diocese caps off at 45 too. It seems like 40 is the ceiling but some religious orders I’ve talked to set the maximum age at 35. I’ve just found it difficult to be discerning at such a late age with student loan debts to pay off…it’s as if time is running out, but with God all things are possible!
Pax Christi tecum.
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bilop
Guest
Do they not have a college seminary option?
In our diocese, a man w/o a college degree can attend the college seminary where he lives at the main seminary but attends classes at one of the nearby Catholic Universities. The Universities give a substantial tuition discount to these men.
God Bless
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SisterSnowflake
Guest
Many (possibly most?) of the seminarians in the Diocese of Lansing (Michigan) are studying as undergrads at St. John Vianney College Seminary. In fact, one of our senior priests is now serving as a spiritual director there.
Maybe check it out…other dioceses are probably similar.
God bless!
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cyberwolf001
Guest
No such luck your on your own till you get the undergraduate degree and finish seminary. THEN you get a bit of a reimbursement for paying bills.
But I’m am still not sure what I am meant to be. W will see what God has planned.
But I’m am still not sure what I am meant to be. W will see what God has planned.
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SisterSnowflake
Guest
Hey, guys…
I just posted some information in the vocation thread entitled “Stuck.any advice?” that may be encouraging to those of you with questions about age and/or college degrees…check it out!
God bless!
I just posted some information in the vocation thread entitled “Stuck.any advice?” that may be encouraging to those of you with questions about age and/or college degrees…check it out!
God bless!
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bilop
Guest
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cyberwolf001
Guest
True reason I am looking at groups like FSSP, ICKSP and The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. Groups that don’t require college.
I told two of my best Catholic friends and one of them got on me (Fraternally) about not leaving our Diocese because we are so hard up for Priests.
They both have gotten college degrees and so see no reason why it should be so hard to get an undergraduate degree no matter poor or far from it one is.
There hearts are in the right place. Just they don’t understand how hard it can be for some folks to get into college.
They have an attitude of if God wants you to be a Priest no force can stop you. Reason the Diocese requirements are so strict I’m told.
Do not get me wrong I love them both as a Brother and Sister dearly and not just because there fellow Catholics. I just wish they had a better understanding and sympathy for those that didn’t get a degree. One even things your less of a Catholic (Today) without one.
I told two of my best Catholic friends and one of them got on me (Fraternally) about not leaving our Diocese because we are so hard up for Priests.
They both have gotten college degrees and so see no reason why it should be so hard to get an undergraduate degree no matter poor or far from it one is.
There hearts are in the right place. Just they don’t understand how hard it can be for some folks to get into college.
They have an attitude of if God wants you to be a Priest no force can stop you. Reason the Diocese requirements are so strict I’m told.
Do not get me wrong I love them both as a Brother and Sister dearly and not just because there fellow Catholics. I just wish they had a better understanding and sympathy for those that didn’t get a degree. One even things your less of a Catholic (Today) without one.
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danjiri
Guest
You might find this interesting and inspirational:
The Class of 2007: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood usccb.org/vocations/ordination/2007/carareport.pdf
“The average age of responding ordinands of the Class of 2007 is 35. Half are age 32 or older.”
“The youngest ordinand in the Class of 2007 is 25 and the oldest is 68 years of age. There is little age difference between diocesan and religious ordinands. The median age of diocesan ordinands is 32, while the median age of religious ordinands is 33. This is a slight reversal of a trend toward older average age at ordination that has been occurring over the last ten years.”
The Class of 2007: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood usccb.org/vocations/ordination/2007/carareport.pdf
“The average age of responding ordinands of the Class of 2007 is 35. Half are age 32 or older.”
“The youngest ordinand in the Class of 2007 is 25 and the oldest is 68 years of age. There is little age difference between diocesan and religious ordinands. The median age of diocesan ordinands is 32, while the median age of religious ordinands is 33. This is a slight reversal of a trend toward older average age at ordination that has been occurring over the last ten years.”
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joamy
Guest
Yep, I guess you’re older too
Do you find your age an issue at all? Have you visited any orders? How did it go? Any in particular you’re considering?
Pax Christi tecum.
I am 43 - you have a ways to go before you are old. There are orders out there that do not have an upper age limit. Also Rosalind Moss is my hero at the moment.
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Timmay
Guest
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I’m 27 and I’m starting college seminary in two weeks. And from what I’m told, I’ll be right around the middle of the group, age-wise.
I didn’t find my age to be an issue at all. Later vocations, or second-career vocations, seem to be the norm, or are quickly becoming the norm. When I was talking with orders and my diocese, my age was never brought up as an issue.
Have you encountered hesitance because of your age, or are you not that far along yet?
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