Seminarians

[Brain]

I know that to become a priest one must have background in philosophy and theology. but do the men enter the semenary before they finish college? My pastor today was talking about how he worked at a catholic center throughout college because he was a seminarian. i thought one had to graduate first? im confused. I might have a vocation, i dont know, and just want to be aware of how one goes about fufilling it.

 

[JCPhoenix]

I went to a university that had a seminary, and freshman year, the seminarians just entering college indeed went directly into the seminary.

They lived in a community, had to meet a certain dress code that did not apply to anyone else, and studied theology, core classes, philosophy, etc. If during that time period they decided not to become priests, they simple left the seminary building and moved to the dorm. Those who are in the seminary are discerning their call to the priesthood, but they have not taken any vows.

It is a long process.

I had friends in the sem who later dropped out of it, but stayed in college and lived in the dorms or elsewhere while fininishing college.

So yes, you CAN enter the sem before graduation. One would actuallly START there if that is your intention and you are accepted to the community.

You should speak with the vocations director of your archdiocese.

 

[Kielbasi]

There are different institutions called “seminaries”, you have your theological seminaries which require a baccalaureate degree and are the final prep for ordination.

But then there are also collegiate seminaries, for pre-theological studies, as well as high school seminaries, for high school kids planning and studying for eventual ordination.

 

[Brain]

does anyone know if there is such a pre-sem program for students at the U of Wa? i know its a public school but does the archdioses have anything nearby?

 

[Kevin_Walker]

Brain:

I know that to become a priest one must have background in philosophy and theology. but do the men enter the semenary before they finish college? My pastor today was talking about how he worked at a catholic center throughout college because he was a seminarian. i thought one had to graduate first? im confused. I might have a vocation, i dont know, and just want to be aware of how one goes about fufilling it.

From what I’ve researched for myself, potential Priests are usually required to have a heavy liberal arts background, including a study of languages preferably either Greek or Latin. That usually means English, History, Philosopy, or Theology.

You don’t need college if you plan on becoming a monk or friar. But you do need a four year degree if you plan on being ordained.

I myself have looked into the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor.

 

[JCPhoenix]

You won’t find a seminary in connection with a public school. (If you do, you should research it well then run far far away!).

Do a web search for Catholic Colleges and Universities, and likely you’ll find something in WA. But don’t let the location alone make your decision because you have to be sure the program you are entering teaches the right things; ie it’s not teaching things contrary or dissenting doctrines. You’ll also want to look into the number of actual vocations being produced by that seminary.

Being female, I’ve never been to the seminary, however, if I were choosing a religious community I would not choose it based on state, but upon what they represent.

 

[Brain]

well, my first choice is Carroll in Helena, Mt. it is run by the dicoses and has a repuation for having a great pre-sem program. UW is my second choice.

Currently i am considering becoming diocesian, but the SJ intriuges me (its the charism for teaching/scholarship).

 

[ddimitro]

I hope to go to the seminary within the next year, but I will already have my bachelor’s degree. I, too, am not ruling out going to a completely new state or area. Everyone has been advising me to check out the seminary thoroughly before making a decision, in light of the types of abominations that still might be occuring.

It will take alot of prayer for this one…

 

[Kielbasi]

Everyone has been advising me to check out the seminary thoroughly before making a decision, in light of the types of abominations that still might be occuring.

Of course you should check it out, but the seminary you attend is based on the diocese (or order) that you are in. Most dioceses don’t send their seminarians to many different institutions.

 

[Fortiterinre]

There are still college seminaries in the U.S., not as many as there once were. Many college seminaries also conduct what are known as pre-theology programs, basically one or two year programs where men with bachelor’s degrees in other subjects complete the equivalent of a B.A. in philosophy. Many pre-theo programs are attached to major seminaries, so that the seminarian stays at the same seminary for a total of 5-6 years until completing the Master of Divinity degree and being ordained.

I agree that a great deal of thought and prayer should go into the selection of what I think of as a “vocation path for discernment.” I learned the hard way at age 17 when I sort of stumbled into the seminary system, and now much later I have been discerning a vocation much more consciously.

As this is a liturgy thread, the first thing I would advise is trying to attend a few liturgies at your prospective seminary. For me the biggest shock of my life was going to the seminary full of devotion and then being forced to stand during the Eucharistic prayer, deal with crumbling Eucharistic particles in the carpet, etc.

Having said that, know that most dioceses and religious orders have a narrow range of seminaries they use, and that religious orders tend to use theological unions or houses of studies attached to universities for academic formation while spiritual formation is held within the order. Once you are decided on a given diocese or order, you most likely will not have a lot of choice about what seminary you attend, especially if you discern a vocation to an order.

Most college seminaries these days are a mix of college-age men and thirtysomethings doing the pre-theology program. The emphasis is on discerning no matter what your age more than on preparation or certitude that you are called to be a priest. Make a thoughtful, prayerful choice so that you can take your philosophy studies in a good spirit and (God willing) go on to become a good priest.

 

[ddimitro]

Yes, I’m looking forward to a discernment weekend or some other type of visit I make. I just fear that, as has been alluded to above, the seminaries aren’t going to be as “holy” as I would like. I’m very traditional, and so the quiet, monastic type of seminary is really what I would be most interested in, though I think that atmosphere is more of a stereotype than anything.

 

[Fortiterinre]

Actually, I think a lot depends on what you mean by “holy.” I thought it took a lot of holiness and humility for thirtysomething pre-theologians with law degrees and PhD’s to follow a highly scheduled “prep school” type of existence that was not of their own design. Most college seminaries intentionally avoid the monastic model, especially for college-aged men. Mt. St. Mary’s in Emmittsberg, MD and St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia are very traditional and campus-based. Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, CT is also, and I think it is still the only seminary that accepts seminarians “without affiliation or endorsement,” meaning you do not have to be committed to a particular diocese or religious order to enroll. If you are looking at Autumn 2005 to enroll anywhere, then begin preparation now, because the application process to a diocese or order is separate from the seminary application and can take a good amount of time.

 

[ddimitro]

Fortiterinre,

Seeing that you are from Suburban Chicago, are you looking to possibly be ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago? I only ask because I’m originally from Northwest Indiana, and so I likely will be seeking sponsorship from the Diocese of Gary. I assume that this Diocese chooses Chicago seminaries, like Mundelein Seminary, for preparation.