Priests with Doctorates

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I’m currently in the process of discerning a monastic vocation. But at the same time, I am very interested in going to grad school in archaeology and doing research in the future. I would look into the Jesuits but I know that order is no longer very orthodox. Besides, I am interested in becoming a Benedictine.

Is it possible to become a religious and at the same time go to grad school in a subject besides theology and do scholarly research and be associated with a University? I guess you could say I want to have my cake and eat it too when it comes to my future.
 
I know of 2 Jesuits who are archeologists, and dozens with doctorates in various subjects. It depends where you get your training how orthodox your order will be. Fr. Mitch Pacwa is a Jesuit, why not ask him for advice. Benedictines also are all over the map, as each foundation is pretty independent in its disciplines. My pastor is a diocesan priest with a couple of doctorates. I know priests and religious sisters with doctorates who practice a number of professions - doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists (Fr. Groeschell comes to mind), professors, historians (the priest who gave our pre-marriage instruction was a noted historian), scientists of all types.
 
Do monks typically leave the abbey and go to seminary to be ordained or do can they get the necessary education in the abbey?
 
sounds like you need to speak to the vocations director of your diocese or of the order you are considering, as that is a pretty basic questions. Ordinarily nowdays a man usually has at least his BA, possible from a school that offers a pre-theologate program such as Franciscan U of Steubenville, and then enters seminary. when I was a kid there were still high school seminary programs, but I don’t believe any orders do that now. If he is pursuing an advanced degree other than his theology, such as in the sciences, he can get that first, or otherwise would have to apply for permission from his superiors and presumably have to show why this degree would be of benefit to him and the order in his vocation. As far as orders, their disciplines differ, you really have to talk to someone.
 
Benedictines are more of a cloistered order but they do run schools. Just take a look at St Vincent Archabbey.
 
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ByzCath:
Benedictines are more of a cloistered order but they do run schools. Just take a look at St Vincent Archabbey.
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I know St. Vincent Archabbey very well since I went to the College (and hopefully will be going to the Seminary) there. Many of the monks do teach in various fields. I believe they will, after some time in the community there, send their monks for additional education. For them, it is probably less expensive in the long run.

PF
 
Your questions are good, and worthy of consideration. Many monastics, once selected by their brothers for consideration as a priest, do leave the monastery and go to a seminary for their education. There are also monastics who pursue advanced degrees outside the monastery.

I’m bi-ritual, and so have the pleasure of knowing many priests from many different Catholic Churches. The priest who is the pastor of the Melkite mission church in San Bernardino, CA is currently studying for his doctorate. There is a Ruthenian monastery in the Mojave Desert and one of the monks there is pursuing his doctorate. Many of the Latin Rite priests in my diocese hold doctorates. There are several deacons in the United States (four or five) that hold doctorates in theology or related sciences, and there are many who hold MDs or related degrees.

However, be aware that as a monastic your choice is not the driving factor! In general, it’s part of the equation, but is not the final word.

Deacon Ed (S.T.D. - Doctor of Sacred Theology)
 
Attached is a link to St. Gregory’s Abbey. I appears you could continue your education and live at the abbey in observer status while discerning your vocation. Click on the link “Vocation Information”. Good Luck

monksok.org/
 
Deacon Ed:
Your questions are good, and worthy of consideration. Many monastics, once selected by their brothers for consideration as a priest, do leave the monastery and go to a seminary for their education. There are also monastics who pursue advanced degrees outside the monastery.

I’m bi-ritual, and so have the pleasure of knowing many priests from many different Catholic Churches. The priest who is the pastor of the Melkite mission church in San Bernardino, CA is currently studying for his doctorate. There is a Ruthenian monastery in the Mojave Desert and one of the monks there is pursuing his doctorate. Many of the Latin Rite priests in my diocese hold doctorates. There are several deacons in the United States (four or five) that hold doctorates in theology or related sciences, and there are many who hold MDs or related degrees.

However, be aware that as a monastic your choice is not the driving factor! In general, it’s part of the equation, but is not the final word.

Deacon Ed (S.T.D. - Doctor of Sacred Theology)
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Fr. John Trigilo Jr. PhD, ThD said there is no such thing as a “bi-ritual” deacon. That any deacon could serve within any Catholic church/rite with the permission of the cognizant bishops. This would be different than a truly b-ritual priest or bishop.

So why you may serve the Church as a deacon in more than one Church/rite, I think it’s quite confusing to suggest that you are “bi-ritual” when compared to a priest or bishop.

You’re more a Latin Rite deacon with permission to serve in one of the Eastern Catholic churches…
 
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mcliffor:
I’m currently in the process of discerning a monastic vocation. But at the same time, I am very interested in going to grad school in archaeology and doing research in the future. I would look into the Jesuits but I know that order is no longer very orthodox. Besides, I am interested in becoming a Benedictine.

Is it possible to become a religious and at the same time go to grad school in a subject besides theology and do scholarly research and be associated with a University? I guess you could say I want to have my cake and eat it too when it comes to my future.
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I think you should look into the Dominicans…

The head astronomer for the Vatican Observatory is a Jesuit priest…
 
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AltarMan:
I think you should look into the Dominicans…

The head astronomer for the Vatican Observatory is a Jesuit priest…
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And I happen to be acquainted with Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., who’s as orthodox as they come.

FYI, all Jesuits are required to get an advanced degree in something besides Theology or Philosophy.

It’s just a matter of finding an orthodox group of Jesuits to work and study with, which I understand is easier said than done.

If you really believe you have a Vocation to the Sacred Priesthood, pursue that first - “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and these things shall be added unto you.”

In Christ, Michael
 
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AltarMan:
Fr. John Trigilo Jr. PhD, ThD said there is no such thing as a “bi-ritual” deacon. That any deacon could serve within any Catholic church/rite with the permission of the cognizant bishops. This would be different than a truly b-ritual priest or bishop.

So why you may serve the Church as a deacon in more than one Church/rite, I think it’s quite confusing to suggest that you are “bi-ritual” when compared to a priest or bishop.

You’re more a Latin Rite deacon with permission to serve in one of the Eastern Catholic churches…
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Explain how that is different than a Latin Rite priest who has permission in one of the Eastern Catholic churches? Which is exactly how it works.

While I believe that a bi-ritual priest needs the ultimate approval of Rome, it will not come with out the explict approval of the Eastern Catholic Bishop whose diocese he is to act in.

So a Deacon, again I believe, does not need Romes approval just that of the Bishops in question.

Father Deacon Ed still has the approval to act as a Deacon in the Latin Catholic Church and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. They are of different rites, one Latin, the other Byzantine, so by definition he is a bi-ritual deacon.

When acting in the Latin Church he wears Latin diaconal vestments, when acting in the Melkite Church he wears Byzantine diaconal vestments.

I have a friend who is a Deacon in the Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian for those of you with ethnic issues) who has served in a couple of functions in the neighboring Latin Church, but as he only did so at the request of the Latin priest there he wore his Byzantine diaconal vestments.

I think bi-ritual does matter for deacons as a Byzantine deacon can not baptize nor preside over marriages, which is very different than a deacon in the Latin rite.
 
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mcliffor:
I’m currently in the process of discerning a monastic vocation. But at the same time, I am very interested in going to grad school in archaeology and doing research in the future. I would look into the Jesuits but I know that order is no longer very orthodox. Besides, I am interested in becoming a Benedictine.

Is it possible to become a religious and at the same time go to grad school in a subject besides theology and do scholarly research and be associated with a University? I guess you could say I want to have my cake and eat it too when it comes to my future.
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Try the Legion of Christ on for size. www.legionofchrist.com
They’re very orthodox and are known as the new jesuits.
 
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ByzCath:
Explain how that is different than a Latin Rite priest who has permission in one of the Eastern Catholic churches? Which is exactly how it works.

While I believe that a bi-ritual priest needs the ultimate approval of Rome, it will not come with out the explict approval of the Eastern Catholic Bishop whose diocese he is to act in.

So a Deacon, again I believe, does not need Romes approval just that of the Bishops in question.

Father Deacon Ed still has the approval to act as a Deacon in the Latin Catholic Church and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. They are of different rites, one Latin, the other Byzantine, so by definition he is a bi-ritual deacon.

When acting in the Latin Church he wears Latin diaconal vestments, when acting in the Melkite Church he wears Byzantine diaconal vestments.

I have a friend who is a Deacon in the Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian for those of you with ethnic issues) who has served in a couple of functions in the neighboring Latin Church, but as he only did so at the request of the Latin priest there he wore his Byzantine diaconal vestments.

I think bi-ritual does matter for deacons as a Byzantine deacon can not baptize nor preside over marriages, which is very different than a deacon in the Latin rite.
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It’s very misleading. Any deacon can become “bi-ritual” with a telephone call or a nod of the Bishop’s head. Far different from that of a priest or bishop. Very misleading indeed.
 
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AltarMan:
It’s very misleading. Any deacon can become “bi-ritual” with a telephone call or a nod of the Bishop’s head. Far different from that of a priest or bishop. Very misleading indeed.
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How is it misleading as a bi-ritual priest can not be with out the “nod” of the bishop’s head either. If the bishops in question agree Rome approves.

You seem to what to belittle this and as far as I know Fr Trigilo is no expert in this issue.

I will continue to call Father Deacon Ed a bi-ritual deacon as he is. He has faculties in two rites of the Catholic Church, just as a bi-ritual priest does.

Seems your a bit hung up on where these approvals come from in the end but they both begin with the approvals of the bishops involved.
 
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ByzCath:
How is it misleading as a bi-ritual priest can not be with out the “nod” of the bishop’s head either. If the bishops in question agree Rome approves.

You seem to what to belittle this and as far as I know Fr Trigilo is no expert in this issue.

I will continue to call Father Deacon Ed a bi-ritual deacon as he is. He has faculties in two rites of the Catholic Church, just as a bi-ritual priest does.

Seems your a bit hung up on where these approvals come from in the end but they both begin with the approvals of the bishops involved.
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It’s still quite misleading no matter how much this upsets you.
 
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AltarMan:
It’s still quite misleading no matter how much this upsets you.
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You keep using that word, “misleading”, yet you refuse to say what is misleading about it.

Both require approvals and both operate in, at least, two different ritual Churches. I could see it as misleading for a Byzantine (Ruthenian for those of you stuck on ethnic usages) Catholic priest who also operates in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church as they are the same rite.

A Latin Deacon can not operate in a Byzantine rite Church without the approval of his bishop and the Byzantine bishop. Same as a priest.

So again I ask, what is misleading. The definition of misleading is giving the wrong idea or impression. So how does calling a deacon, who has the approval of his Latin bishop and the approval of the Melkite bishop, bi-ritual give the wrong idea or impression?

Does he not work in two rites? Or are you somehow trying to say that the actions of a deacon in the Latin rite are identical as in the Byzantine rite? If so then it is you who are being misleading.
 
Good for you to pursue the priesthood and a degree in archeology. I see nothing incompatible,quite the contrary. I think they would compliment each other, as the disciplines intersect in sacred scripture.

There were three priests with doctorates at a parish I belonged to in Illinois. The newest was hung up on whether people should address him as Fr. Dr. or Rev. Dr. But, I digress.
 
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