Requirements For Priesthood

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willy

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What requirements both educational and community oriented ( voluntering persay) would you need to become a priest?? I’m deciding whether or not to become a priest or not, it’s confusing because 6 months ago i said that if it seemed as though i would not be getting married and i wasnt too old i would become a priest , now i feel more that regardless of the possibility of marriage i want/should become a priest but im not sure how and what is required of a priest. Anyones knowledge would be appreciated 🙂
 
Call your parish office and ask for some information. I support you with my prayers, but as for info. Im not sure. 👍
 
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tdandh26:
Call your parish office and ask for some information. I support you with my prayers, but as for info. Im not sure. 👍
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Thanx , iunno im somewhat nervous about calling them , im figured it try n ask people before i talk to a priest about it
 
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willy:
What requirements both educational and community oriented ( voluntering persay) would you need to become a priest?? I’m deciding whether or not to become a priest or not, it’s confusing because 6 months ago i said that if it seemed as though i would not be getting married and i wasnt too old i would become a priest , now i feel more that regardless of the possibility of marriage i want/should become a priest but im not sure how and what is required of a priest. Anyones knowledge would be appreciated 🙂
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I am currently in the discernment process, I thought I was accepted into formation but due to some things I had to postpone my entry a couple of months and now they wish to “re-do” the interviews. I leave for this tomorrow evening. So I am happy to share my experencies and what I have learned.

I am not sure what you mean by community oriented.

Are you looking to the diocesean or religious order? As there are some differences or can be some.

You should be active in your praish, you should have a spiritual director.

As for educational, you need a bachelors degree with 24 credit hours of philosphy and 12 credit hours in religious studies. Then you will go off to the seminary, which is chosen by the diocese or religious order.
 
Offer your nervousness up to christ and call em 🙂 . We need more warriors for Christ do it man.
 
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ByzCath:
I am currently in the discernment process, I thought I was accepted into formation but due to some things I had to postpone my entry a couple of months and now they wish to “re-do” the interviews. I leave for this tomorrow evening. So I am happy to share my experencies and what I have learned.

I am not sure what you mean by community oriented.

Are you looking to the diocesean or religious order? As there are some differences or can be some.

You should be active in your praish, you should have a spiritual director.

As for educational, you need a bachelors degree with 24 credit hours of philosphy and 12 credit hours in religious studies. Then you will go off to the seminary, which is chosen by the diocese or religious order.
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Im not 100% sure that i know the difference between the diocesean or religious order , i know the religious order you become a priest and the diocesean a deacon but what are the differences between the two?? Would I not get accepted if i wasnt active in my parish and what things would you suggest i do to become more active in my parish?? Dont get me wrong I am extremely religious( and conservative) although i still have alot to learn but I am somewhat on the shy side when it comes to people especially large groups. How many years in the seminary must you serve. And when you say 24 credit hours of philosophy does that basically mean 24 credits for philosophy??? Do these requirements differ depending on area becuase i live in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
 
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willy:
Im not 100% sure that i know the difference between the diocesean or religious order , i know the religious order you become a priest and the diocesean a deacon but what are the differences between the two??
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Basicly you join a religious order, become a brother by taking vows and start your studies. It ends with ordination to the diaconate and then priesthood.

In a diocese you finish your studies with ordaination to the diaconate and then the priesthood. You make promises instead of vows and you are responsible for yourself.

In a religious order you live in community (most of the time). In the diocese you are most likely going to be a parish priest. Religious order have many different ministries (one of which may be a parish).
Would I not get accepted if i wasnt active in my parish and what things would you suggest i do to become more active in my parish?? Dont get me wrong I am extremely religious( and conservative) although i still have alot to learn but I am somewhat on the shy side when it comes to people especially large groups.
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This is something I struggled with also but a priest is active in the community so it is something that must be done. If you can not do it then maybe you aren’t called to be a priest.

What I did was volunteer to be a sacristian. That is help set up for one of the Sunday Masses. This was th easiest for me to do becuase it is in the background. I then moved on from there.
How many years in the seminary must you serve. And when you say 24 credit hours of philosophy does that basically mean 24 credits for philosophy??? Do these requirements differ depending on area becuase i live in the Archdiocese of Toronto.
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The 24 credit hours of philosophy is what the Vatican requires. Most college classes are 3 credit hours so that would work out to 8 classes. With 4 years to get a bachelors degree, and 2 semesters a year, that works out to one philosophy class a semester. It sounds like a lot but when you look at it, it really isn’t.

I see in your profile that you are 16 years old. You have got time. Talk to your parish priest. If you are nervous about telling him that you are interested in the priesthood, then just talk to him about volunteering. Server at the altar and/or be a sacristian. Work your way up to reading at the Mass.

See how things go.

Good to start thinking about it now though. I didn’t even know about this. Couldn’t put words to the feelings you are having because I was not raised in the faith. Now I am 38 years old and trying to do this and I still need two (or more) years of college and all the philosophy to do.
 
Thanx , i kinda understand more now the difference between the two and the requirements. I believe i can volunteer once i get used to it. I can talk to a group of people that i know and i speak well. In fact i find myself teaching about the Church ( the catechism etc) and some philisophy ( the little that i know , ive only begun with Plato ) to other and i also find myself so often defending Her against atheists and those who feel the Church is “nothing”. May I ask what other courses in university you chose? You said it would work out to 1 philosophy course a semester, what non-religious/philosophy courses did you choose? And I’ve begun to learn latin on my own , I know Italian, French, and i know a little of German, can understand Spanish if spoken slowly and a few sentences in Polish. If i wished to further expand my languages and build on the ones i have would i have to persue it in University or does the seminary persay teach us latin??? Thanks for all your help it is most appreciated.
 
For now ive gotta go to bed , im tired from having to adjust from Christmas vacations sleeping hours to school sleeping hours. I will look at your response in the morning. I don’t know if you have msn messenger my any chance but if you do or i could simply email you but im still quite curiuos about alot of things. My apologies if im asking alot i realize that you do have things to do but your the first person that ive come across that knows the anwsers to my questions.
 
I am not expert in this in any way. I am just shareing my experiences and what I have learned though my discernment process.

I suggest you go to www.vocation.com, this is a great resource. It is full of answers to questions. You can also send in your questions and subscribe to an email newsletter.

Just so you know, this website is run by the Legion of Christ but is not just for their order.

It helped me out.
 
Thanx , im not sure if im less or more confused now lol :confused: 🙂 but im sure i will figure it out. Thanx for all your help
 
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tdandh26:
Offer your nervousness up to christ and call em 🙂 . We need more warriors for Christ do it man.
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I did today , i went to my parish and talked to my priest and he has agreed to be my spiritual director , i am going to go see him again next week and habitually every two weeks. He will guide me through my journey. Thank you guys for you advice. 🙂
 
Willy, here’s my advice. Take it for what it’s worth.

If you really do have the Calling, it’s best to discern it while you’re young. Don’t run from it. You can make a thousand excuses why you shouldn’t. Ultimately, there’s only one reason why you should. Because He’s calling you.

And if you ignore that call, you will be miserable. You can’t hide from the Hound of Heaven.

I’ll say a prayer for you. :blessyou:
 
Dr. Bombay:
Willy, here’s my advice. Take it for what it’s worth.

If you really do have the Calling, it’s best to discern it while you’re young. Don’t run from it. You can make a thousand excuses why you shouldn’t. Ultimately, there’s only one reason why you should. Because He’s calling you.

And if you ignore that call, you will be miserable. You can’t hide from the Hound of Heaven.

I’ll say a prayer for you. :blessyou:
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Thank you Bombay, Thats how it was at the beginning , I had thought that if there was the possiblity of marriage i was dismiss ordination but it kept popping back into my head and into my life. I only hope that this decision of discerning now and to begin the path of becoming a priest is in accordance with His will. 🙂
 
like Samuel who heard the Lord calling…
respond: Yes, Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

Pray on it!
 
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