Questions about being a religious priest/friar

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There are a few Benedictine colleges and universities around.

Have you spoken with a spiritual director about these issues? Sorting our whether you’re called to the religious life, the priesthood, the lay life, are all things to address with someone who can help you discern where you are being called.

 

[Fauken]

@SuscipeMeDomine is right. Also, a good idea would be to attend a “come and see” retreat with the community. That way you can see their lives up close and personal and get very authoritative answers to your questions. Is there a group of Dominicans that live near you?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I think this bears repeating based on your comments. If you enter the priesthood for any order, you will be a priest first and anything else (physics professor) second only if permitted and it fits with the order’s needs. Is it possible? Sure! But it sounds like you’re more committed to academic life than the life of a priest. You definitely need to address this with a spiritual director and perhaps a vocations director.

 

[BlackFriar]

If you joined the Order of Physicists you would be fairly safe.
However you are joining the Order of Preachers.
So while they may well try to accommodate your academic bent (which is quite acceptable) you cannot make that a condition of membership given it is not their specific mission.

You cannot decide when you go home to see your family when training.
Though normally there is no issue for end of year holidays - except for your Novitiate year or if there is specially planned training or pastoral placements they wish you to engage.
If you live far away you will likely have to pay for your own plane tickets.

When you are ordained you will be required to preach and say Mass/Confessions etc, likely in the parish Church your Priory is located near regardless of your “secular” apostolate. If you work at a Uni you will likely be appointed chaplain and can do your thing in your spare time.

Typically generic apostolates get rotated every 5 years or so. If they are short of men in the Province you choose it is unlikely you will be allowed to specialise.

Obedience is obedience.