Seminary Tuition

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VENETI3 said:
But if anyone out there has more intimate knowledge of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest or the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, I would love to hear your (name removed by moderator)ut.

God Bless
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I think I’ll use my first post in these fora to speak to this. I spent a year at the Fraternity seminary in Denton, Nebraska. At the time, each seminarian was asked to contribute $6,000 per year toward their upkeep. The rector explained that this was about a third of the cost of room, board, and education, and the other 2/3 of the cost was borne by donors. This was several years ago; I cannot imagine but that the cost has increased significantly since then.

They also make it very clear that it’s a simple request. The seminarian is under no legal, nor even a moral obligation, to pay that money. They will not accept seminarians who are in significant debt, but neither do they turn potential seminarians away based on lack of financial resources. The seminarian is there for several years with no real opportunity to make an income; they understand and make accomodations for this.

I was motivated to pay the money because I had the ability to pay and did not want to impose upon the generosity of the Fraternity’s donors. At the time, I felt I got a lot for my money. I still do; that year of my life was an amazing experience, and has helped me to become a better husband, which is my true vocation that I discerned while studying there.
 
TradAvenger said:
I think I’ll use my first post in these fora to speak to this. I spent a year at the Fraternity seminary in Denton, Nebraska. At the time, each seminarian was asked to contribute $6,000 per year toward their upkeep. The rector explained that this was about a third of the cost of room, board, and education, and the other 2/3 of the cost was borne by donors. This was several years ago; I cannot imagine but that the cost has increased significantly since then.

They also make it very clear that it’s a simple request. The seminarian is under no legal, nor even a moral obligation, to pay that money. They will not accept seminarians who are in significant debt, but neither do they turn potential seminarians away based on lack of financial resources. The seminarian is there for several years with no real opportunity to make an income; they understand and make accomodations for this.

I was motivated to pay the money because I had the ability to pay and did not want to impose upon the generosity of the Fraternity’s donors. At the time, I felt I got a lot for my money. I still do; that year of my life was an amazing experience, and has helped me to become a better husband, which is my true vocation that I discerned while studying there.
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A couple of us have also been trying to find whether or not an fssp priest makes a salary, or has any oppertunity to see there families ever, do you know for sure?
 
VENETI3 said:
A couple of us have also been trying to find whether or not an fssp priest makes a salary, or has any oppertunity to see there families ever, do you know for sure?
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They do make a salary. It is extremely modest. I don’t recall what the numbers were, but it seemed quite a bit below the poverty line. However, balance that against the fact that they have very little in the way of expense – the rectory is paid for, gasoline for travel for pastoral reasons is reimbursed, and they don’t have wives or kids to take care of, and it seems like they make all they need. The rector told us that the idea is that some diocesan priests own boats, vacation homes, etc, and they didn’t want that to happen to Fraternity priests.

As far as ability to see their families, I’m not quite as certain. When I was in seminary, I had a week for Christmas, a week after Easter, and six weeks after my summer apostolate was complete. I don’t know how much time off the priests get, though I’m pretty sure that Canon Law requires them to be afforded reasonable time for recreation, retreats, etc. If they weren’t given vacation, they’d have a huge problem with priest burnout, and that doesn’t seem to be the case with them.
 
Thank you for sharing, the only thing i was really worried about was the salary. You see im an only child of a single mother, and if anything ever happens i need to know that i would be able to finacally contribute in some way.

So thx again. God Bless.
 
TradAvenger said:
the rectory is paid for,
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Yes, but in the USA we are required to include in our personal income taxes the “fair rental value” of our rectories.
I don’t know how much time off the priests get, though I’m pretty sure that Canon Law requires them to be afforded reasonable time for recreation, retreats, etc. If they weren’t given vacation, they’d have a huge problem with priest burnout, and that doesn’t seem to be the case with them.
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Canon Law allows a month’s vacation plus a week retreat per year. However, I’m not exactly sure how that works in a Society.
 
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