Priesthood

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cantrell

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Hi, I’m new to these parts, and as I’m reaching legal age of adulthood, I’ve prayed intently to our Lord on some kind of guidance, some kind of answer on where I should head with my life, what I should do.

It started of as a tiny feeling in the depths of my heart and is now burning feverently. Priesthood has erupted within me, and I need some kind of help and guidance on exactly how to go about furthering this quest.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.🙂
 
Very first thing that can be done is to talk to your parish priest about it. I think he can point you in that direction. Talk to him about it.
 
In addition to talking to your parish priest, try to get a Spiritual Director. They can help in your discernent process.

Also, I do not know which Diocese your are in, but contact the Diocesean Vocation Office. They can also help you with finding a Spiritual Director and explain your Diocese process in becomming a priest. In addition, many diocese have vocation retreats (usually on a weekend).

You will have at least eight years of education ahead of you (4 college and 4 seminary) so plan ahead. Even if you do not go to college specifically for the priesthood, many seminaries require about 24 credits of Philosophy, 12 credits of Theology, and probably 6 credits of Latin (also maybe 6 credits of Greek).

I hope this information helps.
PF
 
You could also call the vocations director for your diocese. Call the chancery office and they can direct you appropriately.
 
Thank you all for your responses.

On the college issue, what kind of college is preferred?
 
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cantrell:
Thank you all for your responses.

On the college issue, what kind of college is preferred?
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There are two types of colleges I would look at:

  1. *]Catholic College. There, if you were concentrating on only the priesthood, I would say major in Philosophy with a minor in Theology. Examples would be Franciscan University in Steubanville.
    *]Seminary College. Many seminaries (i.e. St Charles in Philadelphia) have a college specifically to get an undergradualte degree specifically tailored for preparation for the Seminary.

    You do not say where you are, but your diocese web site may tell you where their candidates are sent. In the case of my hometown diocese, most are sent to St Vincent College/Seminary.

    I hope this helps.

    PF
 
Definatly talk to your vocations director. If you feel that this is what you are truly called to do, then you should at least pursue it. the best thing I have done was join a College Seminary, my Diocese send people my age to St. Andrews College Seminary. I will be starting my second year of college when I go to the Seminary this Fall. My prayers will be with you!
 
Hey, all good advice so far. I would say contact your pastor and ask if your name could be put on the homebound prayer list if your parish has one to pray for your discernment. Second as I have seen a Spiritual Director mentioned, you should talk to the Vocations Director for your Diocese and the Spiritual Director of the Seminary of the Diocese. The Spiritual Director may even serve in his role for you if you intend to enter the Seminary soon. Last, I would recommend going to a Seminary for College and Graduate work before looking into a Catholic University. I say this from experience of not too long ago that the support and the flow will be easier should you enter 8 years at the very beginning. Also, should you discern or your superiors that you are not called to the Priesthood (literally where the “black ball” idea came from), you will still have a 4 year degree in Philosophy or whatever you decide to major in (I was told I could major in Engineering as long as I took the appropriate Philosophy and Theology courses). Last but most important, pray and frequent the Sacraments. May God watch over you in Grace through your journey. Thank you for exploring the Call and God Bless.

P.S. After the Bible and Catechsim, I would strongly recommend four books, Fulton Sheen’s “Calvary and the Mass”, “A Priest Forever” (edited by Fr. Grouschel), now Archbishop Dolan’s "Priest for the Third Millenium and “The Fifth Week” (wriiten by Fr. William J. O’Malley, S.J.). Hope this helps. Thanks and God Bless.
 
can one be accepted at a seminary if they went to public college? I tried a catholic college, but didnt get enough financial aid and did not want to go into much debt considering the meager (or no pay if you’re in an order) pay that priests recieve.
 
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Brain:
can one be accepted at a seminary if they went to public college? I tried a catholic college, but didnt get enough financial aid and did not want to go into much debt considering the meager (or no pay if you’re in an order) pay that priests recieve.
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Yes.

You can be accepted, but you will proabaly have to go through a Pre-Theology program (usually 2 years) to get the pre-requisites for the Seminary.

Here is the Pre-Theology information for St Vincent Seminary:
Pre-Theology Program
PF
 
Thanks for your prayers. Is it normal to feel unworthy of these feelings and callings?
 
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Brain:
can one be accepted at a seminary if they went to public college? I tried a catholic college, but didnt get enough financial aid and did not want to go into much debt considering the meager (or no pay if you’re in an order) pay that priests recieve.
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Talk to the vocations director in your parish. Very often the diocese funds the education of priests, including college.
 
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cantrell:
Thanks for your prayers. Is it normal to feel unworthy of these feelings and callings?
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Absolutely! Our most recently ordained priest delayed his ordination for that very reason. Until his brother priests explained that they all felt the same way. Follow your heart and your own discernment and trust in the discernment of your vocations director and bishop.
 
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cantrell:
Thanks for your prayers. Is it normal to feel unworthy of these feelings and callings?
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It would be unnormal it you didn’t. Just remember to pray, receive the sacraments regularly, and speak often to your vocations director. You’re not perfect, and you never will be. Once you accept this fact, your discernment will become much easier. I went through the same problems that you are right now. Feel free to private message me if you need any advice about discernment. I would be glad to help.
Pax!
 
Everyone has given you some wonderful suggestions. Now here’s my advice, take it for what it’s worth.

While you are discerning your vocation, I would avoid telling anyone in your immediate family or your circle of friends. There will be “well meaning” people who will do everything in their power to discourage you from becoming a priest. They don’t want to see you “waste your life,” as if serving God in His Church is a “waste.”

So, keep it between you and your spiritual director/parish priest until the discernment has been made. Then, obviously, you’ll have to tell family and friends. At that point, some will still try to dissuade you, but with prayer and frequenting the sacraments they hopefully won’t be able to sift you as wheat.

And if you think you do have the calling, don’t become discouraged and try to run away from it. You will never be truly happy if you do, no matter how successful you become in another field.
God bless you on your journey. :blessyou:
 
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cantrell:
Thank you all for your responses.

On the college issue, what kind of college is preferred?
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Just my two cents here- I heard about this on a local Catholic radio station and thought it was a great idea.

There’s a fairly new orthodox Catholic university in Florida, Ave Maria University, that has a Pre-Theologate program for young men who are discerning a call to the priesthood. As far as I can tell, it fills all of the philosophy and theology requirements for seminary, and you are also enrolled in a regular degree program. If you discern that you don’t have a vocation, you just move into regular housing and continue your degree, no time lost. If you do have a vocation, you’re ready for seminary.

Good luck to you and may God bless you always.

naples.avemaria.edu/pre-theologate/
 
Dr. Bombay:
Everyone has given you some wonderful suggestions. Now here’s my advice, take it for what it’s worth.

While you are discerning your vocation, I would avoid telling anyone in your immediate family or your circle of friends. There will be “well meaning” people who will do everything in their power to discourage you from becoming a priest. They don’t want to see you “waste your life,” as if serving God in His Church is a “waste.”

So, keep it between you and your spiritual director/parish priest until the discernment has been made. Then, obviously, you’ll have to tell family and friends. At that point, some will still try to dissuade you, but with prayer and frequenting the sacraments they hopefully won’t be able to sift you as wheat.
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I’m going to take a bit of a different angle on this matter with regard to pressures. It may well be that, in addition to or instead of discouragement and questioning, some around you will actually get their hopes so high that they will nag and push and procliam how you are “going to be a priest” without offering the necessary room for discernment. If, then, for some reason he does not eventually make it to ordination, there will be a major let down on their part, and in the interim there will be pressure to get ordained.
 
Thanks again for all the suggestions. I can definately see why it’d be a great idea for me to not inform my family/friends before I’ve made a decision for myself.
 
I got my mother mad the other day because I wont tell her why I switched from the cathlolic college to the sate college. (see above post. It is because I feel that I might have a vocation, and don’t want to have much debt.) Becaus ei dont want her to be exited about a vocation that i still may or may not have.
 
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