Places to consider for priestly vocation? Traditional, 40s, work among poor

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My bilingual (Spanish/English) friend is in his mid 40s and discerning a priestly vocation. He’s currently attending a novus ordo parish but he also has attended an extraordinary form parish and he greatly respects the solemnity of the Mass. He would be considered a traditionalist. He reads Arbp. Fulton Sheen for fun. 🙂 He’s long been involved in parish life and catechesis and, other than his age, does not have any known impediments to the priestly life, including debt.

He feels called to working among the people, particularly among the poor, and to being in the priestly ministry. He has a great amount of patience and charity but he’s quite firm on the fundamentals of the faith and the call in each of us to sanctification. The basic response he’s gotten from most people he’s told about his discernment was, “It’s about time you realized it!” 😛

While the faith is his driving passion and underlies all he does, he has other interests and hobbies, friends and activities. He’s a well-rounded guy who will bless the Church no matter which way God leads.

He knows about the FSSP and diocesan options, but I said I would try to help him find out what other avenues are available to him. Are there religious orders that he might be interested in looking into? Other fraternities? Seminaries? I don’t know what questions to ask, so please don’t hesitate to volunteer ideas. I’ll pass on whatever I find out. Thanks!
 
Palmetto said:
My bilingual (Spanish/English) friend is in his mid 40s and discerning a priestly vocation. He’s currently attending a novus ordo parish but he also has attended an extraordinary form parish and he greatly respects the solemnity of the Mass. He would be considered a traditionalist. He reads Arbp. Fulton Sheen for fun. 🙂 He’s long been involved in parish life and catechesis and, other than his age, does not have any known impediments to the priestly life, including debt.

He feels called to working among the people, particularly among the poor, and to being in the priestly ministry. He has a great amount of patience and charity but he’s quite firm on the fundamentals of the faith and the call in each of us to sanctification. The basic response he’s gotten from most people he’s told about his discernment was, “It’s about time you realized it!” 😛

While the faith is his driving passion and underlies all he does, he has other interests and hobbies, friends and activities. He’s a well-rounded guy who will bless the Church no matter which way God leads.

He knows about the FSSP and diocesan options, but I said I would try to help him find out what other avenues are available to him. Are there religious orders that he might be interested in looking into? Other fraternities? Seminaries? I don’t know what questions to ask, so please don’t hesitate to volunteer ideas. I’ll pass on whatever I find out. Thanks!
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The Franciscans Friars of the Renewal (Fr. Groeschel’s order) are wonderful, but not too into the Traditional Rite. They are completely orthodox, and as Franciscan’s work with the poor, but seem a little “crunchy” in their music/style. I think you will find this to be true among most Fransiscans.

If he wants to be able to say the TLM regularly, his best bet is diocesan priesthood, or the FSSP or ICRSS. However, those are all going to be parish based, and not specifically focused on the poor.

What diocese is he from? Any major urban diocese will have poor areas. With his bilingual skills, I’m sure he could get assigned to parishes serving poor immigrant communities, if he expressed that preference.

God Bless
 
Thank you!

He is in a major urban diocese but it isn’t known for being very orthodox.

He doesn’t care if it is the novus ordo or the TLM. His only concern is that it be done according to the rubrics and with great reverence.
 
How about the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate? They are very much an orthodox order and have great devotion to the Latin Rite of the Mass. They are also in union with Rome (like the FSSP and Institute of Christ the King). Plus, Franciscans are exclusively dedicated to the service of the poor. Sounds like a great fit for him!

marymediatrix.com/
 
It’s tough to find orders that are interested in men in their mid-40’s. The reasons for the age limit are very understandable but are also a bit of a barrier and burden for many older candidates nonetheless.

My prayers for your friend and his discernment.
 
basenji said:
It’s tough to find orders that are interested in men in their mid-40’s. The reasons for the age limit are very understandable but are also a bit of a barrier and burden for many older candidates nonetheless.

My prayers for your friend and his discernment.
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This is true. Dioceses tend to be more accepting of older vocations. Probably b/c there is less of a lifestyle adjustment to living as a parish priest, vs. living under a religious rule.

To OP: I know NY definitely accepts vocations over 40, and is quite orthodox. If your friend is interested he should inquire there.

God Bless
 
Thank you!

He clarified with me that his desire to work among the poor is more of working among the spiritually poor than the physically poor. He would like to be a catechist or missionary to the spiritually impoverished, helping people to grow in, regain, or convert to the faith.

I’ve sent him a link here so he should be seeing all the responses so please keep them coming!
 
Palmetto said:
Thank you!

He clarified with me that his desire to work among the poor is more of working among the spiritually poor than the physically poor. He would like to be a catechist or missionary to the spiritually impoverished, helping people to grow in, regain, or convert to the faith.

I’ve sent him a link here so he should be seeing all the responses so please keep them coming!
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Well, that’s any priest really.

The best way forward for him is probably to scan the press for the announcements of ordinations for the various dioceses. By looking for men over 40 who are ordained, he could find dioceses that are friendly to older vocations, and then do some research on their orthodoxy.

God Bless
 
blessedjohnxxiii.edu/

Here’s a seminary that specializes in late vocations. You can look at the list of seminarians and see what dioceses they come from.

I also know NY, Bridgeport, and Arlington, VA take late vocations.

NY has ordained a couple of men over 60. There is currently a seminarian who has returned after a 20+ year absence who is in his 50s or 60s.

latevocationsrc.blogspot.com/

Here’s a blog that might help.

God Bless
 
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