A vocations director on a Catholic forum? Connect the dots for me here. This carries no weight unless it comes from a: your parish priest, b: your spiritual director, c: your diocesan vocations director or the director of vocations for the community you are interested in joining.
Nevertheless, just to play the hand you have dealt here, take a worst case scenario: not referring to you – just speculating on the worst thing I can think of.
This gal has some knowledge of the candidate who asks that question. He’s completely immature and not ready to be taken seriously by anybody for any reason. Still lives at home. Never held a job. Spent 2 years in rehab for drug abuse. Has a girlfriend. Drives a car he can’t afford. Has credit card debt up the wazoo.
He needs to carry some weight on his shoulders: pay his rent; hold a job; do well enough in school to show that he can handle seminary. Start paying down his debts. But at this point all he’s done is say he feels called to priesthood, and thinks that since there is a shortage, the Church should be thrilled to have him.
So the vocations director (a nun helping discern for priests???), who knows all this, writes and says:
Dear Mr. Wannabe,
*We are unable to accept candidates for major seminary who have not completed their undergraduate education because an undergraduate degree is required for admission to this graduate program. *
We require candidates without the requisite foundation in philosophy to augment their education before they are officially admitted to the M.Div. program. This can be done upon provisional admission to seminary but may require up to two years of pre-seminary work.
*I would advise you to finish college and to take as many of the courses outlined in the attached schema before applying to seminary. *
Please stay in close touch with your parish priest and your spiritual director as they are the best resource for your level of vocational discernment in moving through these processes.
The Vocations Office is always here to answer your questions, and we prayerfully wish you well in your discernment of this holy Vocation.
God bless you,
Sister Eucalypta
In other words: get your act together, and then we can talk.
“Put out that fire” is outrageous.
on her part, she acted disgracefully, and if it was me, I would report her to the Forum Administrator or something like that (not for your sake particularly but so she doesn’t destroy scores of vocations that need nurturing). For your part, find out more from some more reputable sources as listed above.