So is there much educational opportunity for priests?

[Larowyn]

Aside from the required courseload for being a priest, that is. If I became a priest, would I be able to earn degrees in different fields? I feel called to the priesthood but I also don’t really want to leave academia–I’ll always be a student at heart.

 

[SisterSnowflake]

Become a Jesuit!
They are priests, Brothers, and top-notch scholars!

 

[NPC]

As far as I can tell there is quite a lot of opportunity for priests to engage in further education… I suspect, though, that it probably depends on the bishop and the diocese and whether they can afford - time-wise - to undertake formal studies. Many priests who are identified as ‘high-fliers’ at the seminary will be given the opportunity to undertake further study after ordination - to complete a Doctorate, for example - this may give the opportunity to travel too, as many doctorate students go to Rome to study. Priests themselves can enrol in courses - I know a priest who is taking a diploma course at university at the moment & he is already talking about what course he is going to do next! Another priest in my diocese was granted a years’ leave from the diocese to study music. I think if the study you wish to undertake requires you to take leave from the diocese, the decision will probably be made by the bishop based on the number of priests at his disposal in the diocese - if your absense is going to cause too much strain, it may not be possible. There may be financial concerns for you too - most priests don’t have a very high salary, and college courses are not cheap; although, if the study is directly related to your ministry, the diocese may be willing to provide funding.

 

[puzzleannie]

a priest with permission of his bishop or religious superior can pursue any higher education that meets the needs of his vocation or the needs of the diocese or the order. There are priests who are physicians, psychologists, lawyers, accountants, engineers, professors, astronomers, scientiests in all fields, virtually any profession you can name. What you cannot do once you are a priest and under obedience is do your own thing. Be a Jesuit, most of them have higher education even beyond the 12 years preparation for their vocation.

 

[SeekerJen]

The anatomy and histology professor from my undergrad uni (small Jesuit school) was a priest with bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in biology.

 

[marchoi]

Or… depending on what your academic interests are… the Dominicans kick some major butt with regards to their studies. But that would be geared mainly towards philosophy and theology. So if that’s what you’re interested in…

But I think the general rule (for diocesans at least) is that, if you are ordained and want to pursue further studies, you’d have to get permission from the bishop. Who knows, he may then assign you to teach at a Catholic school in the diocese!

Remember this though: if you are called to the priesthood, you are called to serve. Yes, you may end up as a teacher, a canon lawyer, a secretary (to the bishop), etc. But above all, you are a priest, obedient to the needs and desires of the Church and the bishop. So if you are asked (well, ‘ordered’ really) by the bishop to leave your studies and serve in some other ministry, that is your canonical obligation.

 

[Pious_Mat]

There are actually many opportunities for priests to get a higher education. Even if you were a Diocesan priest, I’ve never heard of an intelligent one being denied education if it contributes to his ministry. Even with many priests being overworked and in need of help in the parish, most Bishops believe so strongly in constant formation that they’re willing to sacrifice priests for a few years to be further formed.

Also, it’s not every priest who wants to go on to further education. After a minimum of seven years of seminary, most are tired of school, at least for a while. If you are an real student at heart, you have a good chance of continuing your studies, even immediately after ordination.

This is what I’m planning on doing as well. I too love education, and have always wanted a PhD.

 

[marchoi]

There are actually many opportunities for priests to get a higher education. Even if you were a Diocesan priest, I’ve never heard of an intelligent one being denied education if it contributes to his ministry. Even with many priests being overworked and in need of help in the parish, most Bishops believe so strongly in constant formation that they’re willing to sacrifice priests for a few years to be further formed.

True that.

Also, it’s not every priest who wants to go on to further education. After a minimum of seven years of seminary, most are tired of school, at least for a while. If you are an real student at heart, you have a good chance of continuing your studies, even immediately after ordination.

Double true!

 

[Larowyn]

There are actually many opportunities for priests to get a higher education. Even if you were a Diocesan priest, I’ve never heard of an intelligent one being denied education if it contributes to his ministry. Even with many priests being overworked and in need of help in the parish, most Bishops believe so strongly in constant formation that they’re willing to sacrifice priests for a few years to be further formed.

Also, it’s not every priest who wants to go on to further education. After a minimum of seven years of seminary, most are tired of school, at least for a while. If you are an real student at heart, you have a good chance of continuing your studies, even immediately after ordination.

This is what I’m planning on doing as well. I too love education, and have always wanted a PhD.

I’m not so sure that I’m tired of school. I’ve spent five consecutive years in college which immediately followed my primary education; I’ve been in school continuously since preschool. Usually two or three weeks off is enough for me to be ready to go back to school.

 

[zjl56]

The opportunity will all depend on strictly where you go. If you go secular, then you are pretty much on your own since you will have a large amount of responsibilities to already follow. If your in a cloister, you would have many self-guided opportunities to learn and research, and which has lead to some of greatest discoveries (Mendel). A non cloistered order would allow you a much greater chance to pursue your education. The Dominicans will allow, and you will almost naturally flow into, studying philosophy throughout your life. As a Jesuit, your career will be devoted to being a priest formost, but many are heavily involved in a dazzling array of other activities that take place in their select universities. So if you are looking to study philosophy, your opportunities are almost unlimited. But, to study anything else, you would be hard pressed unless you were in an order hard entrenched in a university system like the Jesuits.

 

[Joannm]

If you become a diocesan priests so much depends on the bishop. Is your further education going to help the diocese? Now if your diocese has a seminary, you may be called to teach there. Our diocese has several Cathoic colleges, but very few of our diocesan priests, if any at all, teach in them full time. We do have one or two priests who teach full time outside of the diocese at universities but no new ones in recent years have been given that assignment by the bishop. Right now we have 5 priests in our diocese going on for further education. Three will work in our seminary when they finish, one in the Tribunal and the others will be running diocesan offices. Also, we have many priests with doctorates who are now pastors and not getting an opportunity to teach except maybe a course now and then. It is all up to the whim of the bishop.

If higher education and teaching is your goal you would be better off seeking to enter an order that focuses on education and run universities, like the Jesuits or Vincentians or Dominicans. Almost all Jesuits now go on for doctoral work and end up teaching.