Should I finish my degree or enter seminary after this year?

[skookmark]

This is a no brainer. Finish school.

It sounds like you are being tempted away from the plans that you’ve already made. Stick to them. It’s only a few more months anyway.

I wish it could be that easy. I just do not enjoy college culture, and lack of a good support group at my school. I was considering going to a school closer to home, but it’s too late now. I’ll see what the vocations director, pastor, and parents say about this. And you’re right its only 36 more weeks.

 

[skookmark]

I appreciate this comment. I think it would be an amazing blessing to only carry out sacramental duties rather than administrative stuff. Bishop Fulton Sheen discusses this dilemma in The Priest is Not His Own. He would rather the priest be available as a priest rather than an administrator.

 

[CTBcin]

Good point, but what if I graduate with my degree, go into seminary, and decide after 3 years that its not for me? How would I be able to remember and use the skills I lost after all that time.

I mean, that’s a risk you’re going to have to take regardless of whether you leave college now or wait until graduation. But you’ll be setting yourself up much better if you complete college, in my opinion. Lots of people don’t work in their specific fields right after they leave college, so I don’t see it as a huge issue.

I can agree with this, but I do not like the school that I am attending. That would not really matter to me.

All the more reason to push through and finish your degree, so there’s no risk of having to worry about it later on.

That’s a good take. But wouldn’t it depend on the seminary? I’ve taken a significant amount of liberal arts courses and I think they would easily transfer over.

It depends on where your diocese wants to send you. If you have completed college, they will likely send you to a major seminary for Pre-Theology. If you leave college, you’ll end up at a college seminary to complete college studies. Depending on how credits and stuff work, you’ll probably spend several years in college seminary. Just having liberal arts credits probably won’t shave off much time. Most of college seminary is philosophy and you would graduate with a Bachelor’s in philosophy. If you have significant credits in philosophy, that might help you. Other than that, I don’t think your previous college experience will help you much, besides maybe getting a few electives out of the way. (All this being said, I’ve never been to college seminary, so I can only comment based off what I’ve heard and what other people in college seminary have told me).

I get where you’re coming from. I just picked the worst time to consider leaving college.

Yeah, you’re kind of in a difficult place from a discernment standpoint. There’s no obvious clear answer.

I will definitely be more in touch with these people soon! Especially my parents.

Good! That’s the best advice I can give. They know you and can give you more informed direction and advice.

Thank you so much, and God Bless!

You’re very welcome!

 

[PetraG]

I am giving weight to people such as close friends and priests to let me know what I should do. Some say I should finish my degree to make sure I get a business background, some say go right away. I’ve prayed about this a lot, and it seems like I’m getting closer to an answer, but time will only tell.

I think you are on the right road. Only time and prayer will tell exactly where it will lead.
If you’re staying in school in the meantime, concentrate on the sorts of business classes that would be useful in running a parish. I would say that it is generally better not to stick in a course of study when your heart is not in it and it can be easily picked up again later, as college tuition is expensive and you only have so many years in your life. Make your best guess about what you really want to do, and pursue that. The business school will let you back in, if seminary doesn’t work out.

 

[Divine3]

I totally agree we need desperately at mass to gain again, the sacredness of what is happening before our eyes. But if you go onto the seminary, I pray you find one that strives to bring their future priests to an understanding of how to celebrate mass ( with the congregation right with him) in a reverent manner. Sacred silence in the right places at mass, and many other structures which help honor God included.

 

[TomH1]

and was seriously considering leaving after this year to enter into seminary.

It is not that simple. We cannot apply to study for the priesthood in the same way we may apply do a degree in English literature. A bishop has to accept you and put you through seminary. So it is a case of going if a bishop does accept you and you go when he decides.

I have felt that I have the right inclinations to enter the priesthood.

This may be relevant in terms of asking to be accepted for seminary. However, this decision is not made by you.

It seems you are making assumptions. You need facts. To go to seminary requires a bishop to accept you. If a bishop has accepted you and wants you to go now then you go now. Otherwise finish your degree. That demonstrates your commitment and seeking things through to completion.

 

[InThePew]

I am currently entering my third year of undergrad, and was wondering if anyone could offer advice for my discernment.
I am currently a business major at my school and was seriously considering leaving after this year to enter into seminary. I have felt that I have the right inclinations to enter the priesthood. I would like to become a diocesan priest and offer some Traditional Catholic aspects to the Novus Ordo (ex. Altar Rails, Ad Orientem, et al.).

I wise old Franciscan brother said to me when I was planning the same thing, “finish what you started”. Discernment is always a question of when as much as what; no time is ever wasted - what you learn and experience will remain with you regardless of where the Lord calls you. I’d also add that being in a hurry is never a good thing when it comes to discernment - everything takes place in the Lord’s time not ours.