Paying for Seminary

[RevDrNorth]

Who generally pays for seminary for diocesan priests and order priests these days. With low clergy salaries could paying back student loans be problematic for a diocesan priest?

I remember that was one of the things I was warned about by a seminary President (he told me a parish Priest did not make much and a large debt load would be problematic). Gracias a Dios for the Army! It paid for grad school and seminary.

Rev North

 

[Caesar]

It depends on the seminary and/or religious order.

Generally though, Diocesan seminaries and those run by secular priestly societies and institutes, cost the same as the average university. Most seminaries are leery of taking on men who aleady have debts. It is hoped that if the seminarian is young, then the parents will pay. Otherwise, there are many Catholic organizations who are willing to fund, or partly fund, seminarians.

Now a note about low salaries for clergy. A Diocesan priest might make a low salary, but he does not have to pay for much either. He doesnt have a family (in normal circumstances); his house and often his food are taken care of; sometimes the priest gets a car; and other things like that.

 

[catholichivalry]

Who generally pays for seminary for diocesan priests and order priests these days. With low clergy salaries could paying back student loans be problematic for a diocesan priest?

I remember that was one of the things I was warned about by a seminary President (he told me a parish Priest did not make much and a large debt load would be problematic). Gracias a Dios for the Army! It paid for grad school and seminary.

Rev North

Hello Father North
I believe that is decided by the Bishop of a diocese (at least for diocesan priestly vocations). But I’m pretty sure in my diocese, the seminarian is liable to pay for the first four years of seminary - incase he should decide to discontinue - but the four years of Major Seminary are paid for by the diocese. Also, if the seminarian should be ordained to the priesthood, (in this diocese) the diocese “picks up the tab” if you will, on whatever was still due on tuition debt from the whole eight years.
This takes off a bit of the stress involved when one considers that “debt load” you mentioned.
I really don’t know about religious orders though.
God Bless,
Gabriel

 

[RevDrNorth]

Hello Father North
I believe that is decided by the Bishop of a diocese (at least for diocesan priestly vocations). But I’m pretty sure in my diocese, the seminarian is liable to pay for the first four years of seminary - incase he should decide to discontinue - but the four years of Major Seminary are paid for by the diocese. Also, if the seminarian should be ordained to the priesthood, (in this diocese) the diocese “picks up the tab” if you will, on whatever was still due on tuition debt from the whole eight years.
This takes off a bit of the stress involved when one considers that “debt load” you mentioned.
I really don’t know about religious orders though.
God Bless,
Gabriel

Thank you for the answers. I need to make you aware of a caveat…I am not a Roman Catholic Priest (though obvioulsy I am pretty in tune theologically). I was going to become an Anglican Priest in Canada and hence the advice of the Seminary President. That and he said that as a kid fresh out of college I needed to push a broom for a while. He said the everage age of seminarians was late 20’s to early 30’s and I knew too little about life going from HS to college to seminary. So I joined the army. I met another priest later who thought the push a broom stuff was nonsense and said “Now wonder we don’t get young Priests with that kind of nonsense” I later went to seminary and am ordained in another mainline denomination here in the US (I am liturgical).
{Just did not want to misrepresent myself}

I am excited about all of the vocations evident here. Serving Christ in ordained ministry is a great gift. For a number of reasons I too am celibate and so I know the prayerful struggle and discipline it involves but I am motivated by the desire to live a Christ honoring life. So it is summer and I pray a lot… Seriously, I find my relationships with women has entered a new and purer form (one fellow human being to another rather than the sexual attraction issue). It takes daily discpline, prayer and growth but there is a wonderful aspect to it.

Rev North

 

[RevDrNorth]

Thank you for the answers. I need to make you aware of a caveat…I am not a Roman Catholic Priest (though obvioulsy I am pretty in tune theologically). I was going to become an Anglican Priest in Canada and hence the advice of the Seminary President. That and he said that as a kid fresh out of college I needed to push a broom for a while. He said the everage age of seminarians was late 20’s to early 30’s and I knew too little about life going from HS to college to seminary. So I joined the army. I met another priest later who thought the push a broom stuff was nonsense and said “Now wonder we don’t get young Priests with that kind of nonsense” I later went to seminary and am ordained in another mainline denomination here in the US (I am liturgical).
{Just did not want to misrepresent myself}

I am excited about all of the vocations evident here. Serving Christ in ordained ministry is a great gift. For a number of reasons I too am celibate and so I know the prayerful struggle and discipline it involves but I am motivated by the desire to live a Christ honoring life. So it is summer and I pray a lot… Seriously, I find my relationships with women has entered a new and purer form (one fellow human being to another rather than the sexual attraction issue). It takes daily discpline, prayer and growth but there is a wonderful aspect to it.

Rev North

I might add…I am trying to discern whether to become a Catholic Priest in the future. Dr. Beckwith’s conversion among other issues has me prayerfully thinking.

North+

 

[Hellisreal]

I might add…I am trying to discern whether to become a Catholic Priest in the future. Dr. Beckwith’s conversion among other issues has me prayerfully thinking.

North+

Absolutely you should be a Catholic Priest! But why wait until later? No time like now.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Absolutely you should be a Catholic Priest! But why wait until later? No time like now.

Not quite that easy. As the saying goes…“I got issues”. I will be divorced and I have a child (going into High School). The divorce is probably not too problematic in terms of an annullment/ligamen. She was a divorced Catholic (not anulled) and I was a Protestant and we were married in a Prot Church. I later become Catholic…she never got her previous marriage annulled…we left the church. I went to grad school/seminary and became an ordained Prot clergyman. I will be 42 shortly.

Celibacy issue is not a problem. Not that it is a breeze but I have a strong desire to live up to my high calling as a representitive of Christ. I have also been prayerfully and with discpline practicing that for some time. It has not been an issue. My divorce is VERY amicable and there are no hard feeling so that is not an issue in terms of baggage.

So…you see it is not quite as easy as all that. I really do appreciate the thought though.

Rev North

 

[catholichivalry]

I might add…I am trying to discern whether to become a Catholic Priest in the future. Dr. Beckwith’s conversion among other issues has me prayerfully thinking.

North+

Thank you for clarifying your position. I thought it was a little odd that a Catholic priest wasn’t sure about the seminary details.
You are considering converting, and becoming a Catholic Priest, that’s wonderful to hear!! I’ll keep you in my prayers! I don’t know too much about the process involved with Rev. Ministers (please forgive me if I’ve used the wrong title) who convert and enter the Catholic Priesthood, but I know there have been some!

 

[RevDrNorth]

Thank you for clarifying your position. I thought it was a little odd that a Catholic priest wasn’t sure about the seminary details.
You are considering converting, and becoming a Catholic Priest, that’s wonderful to hear!! I’ll keep you in my prayers! I don’t know too much about the process involved with Rev. Ministers (please forgive me if I’ve used the wrong title) who convert and enter the Catholic Priesthood, but I know there have been some!

I answer to many things. In my denomination…Reverend or …Dr…or Padre…and we are called Father as well but I did not use the term here on purpose so I did not cause any confusion/mislead anyone.

Rev North

 

[bilop]

Not quite that easy. As the saying goes…“I got issues”. I will be divorced and I have a child (going into High School). The divorce is probably not too problematic in terms of an annullment/ligamen. She was a divorced Catholic (not anulled) and I was a Protestant and we were married in a Prot Church. I later become Catholic…she never got her previous marriage annulled…we left the church. I went to grad school/seminary and became an ordained Prot clergyman. I will be 42 shortly.

Celibacy issue is not a problem. Not that it is a breeze but I have a strong desire to live up to my high calling as a representitive of Christ. I have also been prayerfully and with discpline practicing that for some time. It has not been an issue. My divorce is VERY amicable and there are no hard feeling so that is not an issue in terms of baggage.

So…you see it is not quite as easy as all that. I really do appreciate the thought though.

Rev North

Rev North,

You should talk to your Bishop. It seems pretty clear cut that your marriage was not valid in the Church. I’m not sure how your diocese views the ordination of men with annulments, but the declaration of nullity should be a brief process. My sister recently married a man who had been civilly married previously. Since he was Catholic, all he had to do was produce his baptismal certificate and proof that the marriage was not in Church or dispensed. It was done very quickly.

God Bless. Sounds like you’d be a good Priest.

 

[RobNY]

Who generally pays for seminary for diocesan priests and order priests these days.With low clergy salaries could paying back student loans be problematic for a diocesan priest?

Now, I’m not sure exactly, but see what the Dominicans of the St. Joseph (Eastern) Province say about loans:

1. No personal debt upon entrance nor student loans over $30,000. (While the ceiling is set at $30,000, this amount may be less depending on how many novices need loan assistance.)

The Carmelites say:

Be free of outstanding debts and obligations except student loans

So, student loans seem to be the only acceptable form of debt for those entering the seminary.

It’s always been my impression that any seminary costs themselves are paid for by the diocese, or order. But if you drop out, you gotta pay.

-Rob