Questions about Priesthood

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Hello, I’d like to ask some questions about the Priesthood, and what I can do to become a Priest in the Catholic Church. I am not a Catholic yet, I believe I will have to do RCIA first, correct? I plan on doing it as I have been attending a Catholic church for a bit. I have fallen in love with Christianity first of all but also the beauty of the Catholic church in particular and all its teachings, including its Mariology. There are many, many Catholics in my family so I have grown up with many Catholic traditions, also.

So here’s the thing. I turned 18 quite recently, I am in homeschool and still being schooled because I was held back a year. According to WikiHow, it is a good idea to go to college and get a “bachelor degree” in something like philosophy or theology before going to seminary…but I don’t believe this is a requirement to enter seminary. It just will likely make your years in seminary shorter. So, first question, must I have a high school diploma before I can enter a seminary?

Secondly, how intelligent really does one have to be to excel in seminary? I am bad with numbers. It’s possible that if it’s not math-related, I could be good at these things, though.

I must also admit that asexuality has helped with my wanting to be a Priest. I don’t see myself being happy married with someone. It sounds like a good life for lots of people but not for me, I lack the attraction. I would much rather be married to God so to speak.

Lastly, will it be a boring life? I have a discouraging picture in my head that, besides Sundays, the life of a priest is boring. Also, could I just be a Deacon? The difference between Deacon and Presbyter (Priest) seems minimal from what I find. Being a Deacon seems a fine enough job. I’ve also read you don’t even have to go to seminary to be a Deacon…is this true?? Thanks for all the help!
 
I think it’s admirable that you are considering these things though! I think there are a few steps in front of you, but God will lead you on the way, I am sure. Best wishes to you on your search for truth and a possible vocation! BTW may I suggest listening to Catholic radio for a really great understanding of Church teaching?
 
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First step is to contact the local priest or parish office so that you can enter into RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of?/for? Adults) which usually starts in late August or early September. Depending upon the parish and your situation it could either be taught in group classes of individually. Individual meetings with a priest, deacon, brother or sister for spiritual during this time to talk about what is preventing or what you are having a hard time with that needs to be addressed before being received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Not every question is one that can be talked about in a group.

Second is to be and live Catholic for at least three years (most dioceses requires this) before you can enter the seminary or religious life. This is so that you are walking steadily in the faith. As a convert myself I have to agree that it is very good! There is a long process for this as your parish priest and several people who know you will say that you are fit to be admitted to the seminary. Medical examinations etc. Ultimately it is the bishop who says the last “Yes”. Keep on going to spiritual direction.

Every Catholic priest is first ordained as a deacon, and then 6-12 months later they are ordained as priests. Every Catholic bishop is first a deacon, then a priest and then bishop. The seminary and pastoral preparations takes between 5-8 years depending upon diocese and what the seminarian already know or have studied etc. An older seminarian has life experience etc. If the seminarian is in a religious order then it might take longer.
 
I’d not trust “Wiki How” on Sacraments.

First, visit the website of your Diocese. There will be a Vocations Office page. Begin there.
 
The OP is not yet Catholic so the first step would be to contact the local parish and “forget about becoming a priest” until he has been a Catholic for at least 3 years.
 
I think it’s great that you are interested in becoming Catholic and that you think you might like to become a priest. However, as a first step you need to go through RCIA and really learn in depth about the Catholic faith. The stuff you are saying, such as how you don’t think a deacon is much different from a priest, shows that you really don’t have a good grasp of this yet.

Being a priest is a huge commitment - a lifelong commitment. It’s also a hard job. And you will need to teach others about Catholicism. So right now you should just concentrate on learning about Catholicism yourself, becoming Catholic, and properly practicing your faith. Only then can you really discern whether you have a possible future as a priest.

Finally, while not having much interest in sex can be a plus for someone entering the priesthood or religious life, you would need to make sure you are choosing the priesthood for the right reasons - namely that you want to give your whole life to loving and serving other people who will often be ungrateful and hard to get along with, and not because you figure your lack of sexuality will fit in well with the priesthood.

Good luck. I hope you follow through on at least becoming a Catholic and then possibly on the priesthood, but you need to make this important decision with a much stronger knowledge than reading about it on Wikihow.
 
I’ll check it out! I just saw a really cool video about the Eucharist, a lecture by Fr. Mike Schmitz, and I’m feeling really inspired and faithful about Catholicism.
 
You need to go through RCIA first, then think about becoming a priest.

I would strongly recommend that you not seek a philosophy degree from a secular university if you’re looking to become a priest. That’ll just mean that they have to unteach you if you go to seminary.
 
Washing choir robes, altar server and priest albs. Repairing when needed. Taking special items like vestments to dry cleaning.

Organising coffee gathering after Sunday Mass.

Gardening.

Repairing broken items.

Hymnbook repair and putting them back in the pews or where they are stored.

Putting the pews and chairs back in place after Mass if they tend to move around.

Cleaning windows.

Buy wine, candles, hosts, flowers, matches or gas lighters, oil for lamps, presents etc when needed.

If you know how the ventilation/heating/burglar system works and can fix it when needed I am sure this is extra welcome.

Photocopier, computer and all other electronic fixer expert.

Plumbing. It is quite amazing what some people try to rinse down the drains.

Making sure the priest gets out of the confessional in time so that Mass can begin on time.

(name removed by moderator): I just needed to add some 😃
 
…but what if it is my desire exactly to do so (surrender my will completely to God)? God was always there for me when no one else was. I have my reasons for being so in love with God and the Church as I am. I want to repay the favor. For me, that would bring me irreplaceable joy.
 
Think about getting eight years of full time college as a semi-equivalent amount of academics.

A bachelors degree and a very strong masters and a doctorate.

It’s a grueling path.
 
Do this daily in addition to the academics.

Build up a huge library.
 
I’m willing to do whatever it takes. I want to do something with the faith either way. I don’t know what else I could possibly study in college, but theology. I can’t say for certain that the Priesthood is my calling, but I can say that I don’t think I’ll be a happy person unless I devote myself entirely to God in some way.
 
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Study this thread:
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Why Non-Catholic can't receive Communion-Fr. Mike Video Non-Catholic Religions
[Why Non-Catholics Can't Receive Communion]
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You would have to deal with many questions.
 
help1 said:
I can’t say for certain that the Priesthood is my calling, but I can say that I don’t think I’ll be a happy person unless I devote myself entirely to God in some way .
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That’s an excellent disposition. Pray to God that he helps you to persevere on it. but, at the same time, it is important to discern what is that way God wants you to devote yourself to him through. Start by receiving your sacraments in the RCIA itinerary, and then progressively listen to what God tells you. Rushing is not a good idea here.
 
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You will have to do RCIA first.

To get into any college, you will have to have a high school diploma unless a college principal decides to take you in before you finish, which is incredibly rare. I’d count on getting your diploma.

It may not be a “requirement” to get a bachelor’s degree in theology, but it’s a good idea to do so unless you’re short of funds. You’d have to talk to the head of the seminary you’re attending about this.

In my experience of being a Catholic, mathematics does not come up often. Lots of different numbers, such as 1, 3, 7, 12, and 40 have been used numerous times in Scripture, e.g. 40 days of Lent, 12 Apostles, et cetera, so I wouldn’t think you have to be incredibly mathy in order to enter seminary. You would need to know some fundamentals of Catholicism, however; this would include learning about topics such as Mortal vs. Venial Sin, the Seven Sacraments, Origins of the Church, the Ten Commandments, Apologetics (broadly, this is the study of other religions and how their beliefs are similar or contrary to Catholicism), and other topics. I would say that you need to be well educated in these areas, or be willing to learn as much as you can about these areas.

I am not too familiar with being a priest versus being a deacon, but I can give you insight on a couple things.

First, if you become a deacon, you cannot validly marry after your ordination. This applies to priests, bishops, and even the Pope himself.

Second, if you change your mind about marriage, you can marry before you are ordained; however, the two diaconates… permanent and transitional… make a huge difference. You can be married to one woman for the rest of your life if you become a permanent deacon. The deacon at my church is. However, if you are a transitional deacon, meaning you are studying for the priesthood, you are bound by canons on marriage and celibacy; you will not be able to marry if you are studying to become a priest.

You do have to go to seminary to be ordained into the Catholic clergy.

Third, one significant difference between a priest and a deacon is that the deacon can only administer two sacraments, baptism and marriage. A deacon can only officiate a Catholic marriage under approval of a priest.

A priest, however, can administer 5 sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage. He can also administer Confirmation under a bishop’s approval.

I hope this has helped you, sir.
 
Indeed it did, thank you for putting the time into making that post. I can say that I am very excited to learn about all those things you mentioned. I surely hope I can go to college and then excel in theology, and from there onto seminary, perhaps. I certainly want to go to college (quite simply, idk how else to spend these next number of years). Seminary is something that I’d have to pray about more, but as you can probably tell it’s very much on my mind.

I’ve been consulting my parents, and I might try to get some books from the bookstore on college entry testing. It wouldn’t hurt to be prepared I don’t think. I hope I’m smart enough to enter college. I’m actually not too concerned about college itself, I think I’d love to study Theology. I’m more concerned about the skills that are required to actually get in to college…but I’ll pray and just trust that everything will happen for a reason (this isn’t my worldview, it’s just me being positive).
 
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