Thread for all discerning priesthood and for those already studying for priests

[LtPaint]

Junior, but we’ll be close enough. Although I would like to get my B.A. before I enter the seminary just to get the college experience under my belt.

I’m looking into that right now. I plan on talking to a vocations director about it. Jesuits have one of the longest training for becoming a priest, I think it is around 14 years. I want to see what kind of education I would be getting if I went right in. I know that the dioscese and Jesuits will virtually pay for everything even if I go to collage first, but I still want to see. What do you plan on specilizing(spl) in?

 

[LtPaint]

O.k. I lost my call to the Jesuits as soon as the vocation director told me that they don’t get to see their families often. I am a big family person :grouphug: I now feel a call to the normal parish life. I love to work with kids, so I would get to help with the Catacism (Spelling?) and hold children’s masses.

Diocese might be for you if you can’t go without seeing your family long. It’s a sacrifice I am willing to make, but it’s different from person to person. Also, If you really like children and would like to make a huge sacrifice, you could join an order that does missionary work in a developing country. You would have to sacrifice time with your family, but you would be able to spend huge amounts of time helping children survive and learn the faith.

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

specilizing(spl)

specializing

Catacism (Spelling?)

Catechism


And btw, I’m not even the “Grammar Nazi” in my family

Anyway, the Legionnaires of Christ have already tried to recruit me… but I still don’t know what kind of priest I’m called to be. There are things about the diocesan life that I think I’d like, but like I said, I don’t know what God’s calling me to do.

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

O.k. I lost my call to the Jesuits as soon as the vocation director told me that they don’t get to see their families often. I am a big family person :grouphug: I now feel a call to the normal parish life. I love to work with kids, so I would get to help with the Catacism (Spelling?) and hold children’s masses.

Have you heard of the Salesians? They’re the order founded by St. John Bosco. A few years back I had a parish priest who was making the transition to diocesan. He was very popular with everyone at my school. Once a week he’d visit every classroom and tell stories. And when I was in 5th grade, he brought in materials and taught us how to make rosaries:thumbsup: Wow, that was five years ago

But I digress. I don’t know much about the order, but you might look into it.

 

[Seminarian_Tim]

Hello all. My name is Tim, and I’m a first year college seminarian studying for the diocesan priesthood. I just had a couple questions for those of you who were interested in the Jesuits:

1. Their formation appears to be quite lengthy. Honestly, I would get impatient with 10+ years of formation. Do you have any thoughts on that and the advantages/disadvantages of that kind of formation?
2. The Jesuits sometimes get a bad rap as far as being militaristic. Where/how did this come about, and is any of it based in truth?
3. What exactly do the Jesuits do? Are they devoted to specific ministries, or do they serve in a certain part of the world?

This is just a curious seminarian trying to broaden his knowledge of a religious order, and any/all information is greatly appreciated.

Yours in Christ,

Seminarian Tim

 

[Joannm]

Hello all. My name is Tim, and I’m a first year college seminarian studying for the diocesan priesthood. I just had a couple questions for those of you who were interested in the Jesuits:

1. Their formation appears to be quite lengthy. Honestly, I would get impatient with 10+ years of formation. Do you have any thoughts on that and the advantages/disadvantages of that kind of formation?
2. The Jesuits sometimes get a bad rap as far as being militaristic. Where/how did this come about, and is any of it based in truth?
3. What exactly do the Jesuits do? Are they devoted to specific ministries, or do they serve in a certain part of the world?

This is just a curious seminarian trying to broaden his knowledge of a religious order, and any/all information is greatly appreciated.

Yours in Christ,

Seminarian Tim

1. Jesuit formation is long becuase it involves a lot. Aside from schooling (many Jesuits get a PhD.) they do overseas mission work, learn to do spiritual direction, teach in universities, all before they are ordained. You actually become an SJ, join the order as a brother, before you are ordained a priest.
2. Ignatius was a soldier so he patterned his spiritual exercises and his order after the military which he was so familiar with.
3. I think right now, education is the main thrust of the work of the Jesuits. They have more universities and high schools than any other order and quality education is high on their list of prioroties. Also spiritual direction and retreats are also a big part of their ministry as is missionary work, but I don’t think that part is known as much. Jesuits are known for the 30 day retreat or the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. All Jesuits are required to make this retreat I believe at least two times in their lifetime and many are trained to lead others in the retreat. Some Jesuits run parishes. We have a Jesuit parish in our diocese.

We have a Jesuit retreat house a mile from our parish that I often go to. It is a very beautiful old mansion and runs lots of programs.

 

[LtPaint]

I really don’t want this thread to die, so I’m going to keep it alive!

I talked to my spirtual director and he told me that he will try to get in contact with the vocations director. He said he was also going to try to get into contact with some Jesuits.

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

I really don’t want this thread to die, so I’m going to keep it alive!

I talked to my spirtual director and he told me that he will try to get in contact with the vocations director. He said he was also going to try to get into contact with some Jesuits.

I had another meeting at the college seminary, this time the topic was liturgy. We prayed the liturgy of the hours, and then discussed the liturgical year. Three of the seminarians there led the prayer and discussion.

Here comes the punch line: At one point, the leaders mentioned Gaudete Sunday, the third sunday in Advent. Well, there’s a similar Sunday in Lent, and we were asked what the Latin name of this particular Sunday was. The answer we gave? Tacite Sunday! The three or four of us who knew Latin laughed hysterically, while everyone else just stared. Now those who know Latin can laugh, and those who don’t can just stare at their computer screens…

No, I wouldn’t do that… “Tacite” means, more or less, “Shut up!”

But now I can’t remeber the real name of that Sunday:shrug:

 

[Andy_K]

I had another meeting at the college seminary, this time the topic was liturgy. We prayed the liturgy of the hours, and then discussed the liturgical year. Three of the seminarians there led the prayer and discussion.

Here comes the punch line: At one point, the leaders mentioned Gaudete Sunday, the third sunday in Advent. Well, there’s a similar Sunday in Lent, and we were asked what the Latin name of this particular Sunday was. The answer we gave? Tacite Sunday! The three or four of us who knew Latin laughed hysterically, while everyone else just stared. Now those who know Latin can laugh, and those who don’t can just stare at their computer screens…

No, I wouldn’t do that… “Tacite” means, more or less, “Shut up!”

But now I can’t remeber the real name of that Sunday:shrug:

Tacite Sunday!

Do you mean Laetare Sunday? newadvent.org/cathen/08737c.htm

 

[1234]

Re the Salesians;

There’s a terrific blog by a Salesian female candidate “Into The Deep” who describes a lot of the Salesian way. They work with kids and like her, their best candidates would appear to be very outgoing and want to work with kids. She is very intelligent and articulate.

You can subscribe to her blog and receive notices when she updates it, which is regularly.

The Jesuits don’t say the divine office, I believe. They teach at the high school and university level, tolerate and support higher education and intellectual achievement in themselves and their students. Their founder dropped the office so that they would have more opportunities to evangelize. They tend to be more ‘worldly’ than Carmelites, live comfortably, socialize and drink, and try to evangelize the world by working and mixing in it. They don’t wear a habit or a rosary. Virtually all of their universities are named after the location, with a few names after their saints, using the last names: Loyola, Gonzaga. NOT “St. Ignatius, University of Mary, Ave Maria” for example. They are urban, most of their schools being located in cities, often large cities (Fordham in NYC, Boston College). They would foster talents and abilities and appear to tolerate a wide variety of personalities.

I don’t think that they are ‘militaristic’–Legionnaires, Miles Jesu (which means soldiers for Jesus), maybe, but not the Jesuits.

If I had a vocation, it would be to the Jesuits.

And hats off to Tim, I’m another grammar Nazi!

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Tacite Sunday!

Do you mean Laetare Sunday? newadvent.org/cathen/08737c.htm

Finally remember your password?

Yeah, I think that’s it. But that’s little Heinrich for you!

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Hello-oo… Anybody home?

 

[chicago]

Hello-oo… Anybody home?

Definitely not here.

Tim, can you tell us a little more about these meetings at the college seminary, please?

How often are they? How many people come? What ages are they? Boys only, I suppose? How did they all come to find out about the group and get involved? What kind of backgrounds and level of interest do they have?

How long do the meetings, themselves, last? Who leads them? What kinds of topics are discussed? What do they do for you and others to help you along in discernment?

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Definitely not here.

Tim, can you tell us a little more about these meetings at the college seminary, please?

How often are they? How many people come? What ages are they? Boys only, I suppose? How did they all come to find out about the group and get involved? What kind of backgrounds and level of interest do they have?

How long do the meetings, themselves, last? Who leads them? What kinds of topics are discussed? What do they do for you and others to help you along in discernment?

No

They’re once a month, and I’d say about 14 young men show up each time. Let’s see… I’d say half of them are freshmen, and then there’s one more junior who wasn’t at Quigley. The rest of us were at Quigley last year. From what I understand, the freshmen would have gone to Quigley if it hadn’t closed. That, I guess, is how most of them found out about this program.

The meetings start with Mass, then dinner, which together take about an hour and a half. After dinner we have one hour of formation, led by, at any one meeting, three of the college seminarians. There have been several topics so far, and besides Liturgy, there was prayer, Advent, and a few others I can’t remember. So far, I haven’t talked much with anyone there about discernment, but I think it’s partly solidarity- you know there are others out there besides you.

 

[buckr02]

Hey everyone!

I’m pretty new to these boards… at least in posting. I’ve been here before but only started coming back consistently about a week ago.

Anyway, on Monday I’m going to have my first meeting with the vocations director at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. I’m pretty nervous.

My situation is a little different than normal though. For awhile I had been fighting these thoughts in my head as to “What if I’m supposed to be a priest?” So for awhile, I completely drove it from my head and was angry all the time that I had been thinking it.

But then a few months ago, I was in Rome. I went to the Vatican and spent some time praying there and at one point, I just said to God, “You win. If you want me to be a priest, that’s what I’ll do, I trust you.”

It was at this point, though, that I actually started to finally feel comfortable with a call to marriage. After I said that to God, I didn’t really think anymore that I was really supposed to be a priest. I’m still not sure though, and so that’s why I’m going to see the vocations director. I know that if I explore that option, I’ll either find out I was initially incorrect or I’ll strengthen my previous thoughts even more.

So I hope you can all pray for me as I begin this journey. I know it’ll be a long time until I’m really sure of what God is calling me to do.

 

[chicago]

No

Ah, I should have known not to expect any better out of a guy named Tim who went to Quigley of all places!

They’re once a month, and I’d say about 14 young men show up each time. Let’s see… I’d say half of them are freshmen, and then there’s one more junior who wasn’t at Quigley. The rest of us were at Quigley last year. From what I understand, the freshmen would have gone to Quigley if it hadn’t closed. That, I guess, is how most of them found out about this program.

Interesting. Should be even more interesting to see how many will enter next year considering that there would have otherwise been no recruitment to the old high school seminary.

The meetings start with Mass, then dinner, which together take about an hour and a half. After dinner we have one hour of formation, led by, at any one meeting, three of the college seminarians. There have been several topics so far, and besides Liturgy, there was prayer, Advent, and a few others I can’t remember. So far, I haven’t talked much with anyone there about discernment, but I think it’s partly solidarity- you know there are others out there besides you.

Very noteworthy about the “solidarity” aspect.

Considering the fact that it seems so connected to the old Quigley in much of its participants, how would you say that the “formational” aspect compares to what was offered and available at the old institution? I guess I am thinking about the fact that this is once a month versus, what, once a week previously? But also the quality or intensity of discussion topics and all? I also suppose that previous formation groups at the high school were broken up by grade level whereas it sounds like this has everyone all together. How well or not so hot does that play out? What else, beyond the monthly meetings, does the program do to foster support of the boys, their spiritual direction, and discernment?

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Ah, I should have known not to expect any better out of a guy named Tim who went to Quigley of all places!

Interesting. Should be even more interesting to see how many will enter next year considering that there would have otherwise been no recruitment to the old high school seminary.

Very noteworthy about the “solidarity” aspect.

Considering the fact that it seems so connected to the old Quigley in much of its participants, how would you say that the “formational” aspect compares to what was offered and available at the old institution? I guess I am thinking about the fact that this is once a month versus, what, once a week previously? But also the quality or intensity of discussion topics and all? I also suppose that previous formation groups at the high school were broken up by grade level whereas it sounds like this has everyone all together. How well or not so hot does that play out? What else, beyond the monthly meetings, does the program do to foster support of the boys, their spiritual direction, and discernment?

The formations aspect is definitely different. It usually ends up that three or four of us know the answers, while the rest don’t. Most of the formation is actually just instruction by the seminarians, who occasionally ask questions and allow (name removed by moderator)ut. It works alright, overall, I suppose. We all have basic catechesis, so the formation tends to go a bit deeper than at Quigley. Besides the monthly meetings, we’re supposed to meet with our priest sponsor every so often. But like I said, the community/solidarity aspect is very important, and something that wasn’t even at Quigley. Sure, everyone got the same “going to a priest school” stigma, but you never really knew whther any of your clasmates were discerning.

As for recruitment for next year, I’ve mentioned the program to several priests I know, and my brother has brought home a few pamphlets to spread around.The only thing the program needs to do in terms of recruitment is to raise awareness. There are a number of people out there pushing hard for vocations, and if they caught wind of this program, they would spread the word even better than we could alone. The prospect of scholarship money might not hurt, either

 

[chicago]

The formations aspect is definitely different. It usually ends up that three or four of us know the answers, while the rest don’t. Most of the formation is actually just instruction by the seminarians, who occasionally ask questions and allow (name removed by moderator)ut. It works alright, overall, I suppose. We all have basic catechesis, so the formation tends to go a bit deeper than at Quigley. Besides the monthly meetings, we’re supposed to meet with our priest sponsor every so often. But like I said, the community/solidarity aspect is very important, and something that wasn’t even at Quigley. Sure, everyone got the same “going to a priest school” stigma, but you never really knew whther any of your clasmates were discerning.

Quite insightful and elucidating. Thanks!

As for recruitment for next year, I’ve mentioned the program to several priests I know, and my brother has brought home a few pamphlets to spread around.The only thing the program needs to do in terms of recruitment is to raise awareness. There are a number of people out there pushing hard for vocations, and if they caught wind of this program, they would spread the word even better than we could alone. The prospect of scholarship money might not hurt, either

So, allow me to ask, what can those of us in the Chicago area do to spread the word and raise awareness? And where can I get my hands on some of those pamphlets?

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Quite insightful and elucidating. Thanks!

So, allow me to ask, what can those of us in the Chicago area do to spread the word and raise awareness? And where can I get my hands on some of those pamphlets?

Talk to your parish priest about it, I suppose. If you know any families with sons that altar serve, mention it to them. I’m not exactly a PR agent. I suppose you might drop by the college seminary and just ask around there:shrug:

 

[Jart]

I went to a vocations retreat last weekend. I got a phone call from the Archbishop asking me to “help” drive to another town to do mass. I have no idea what he meant by help but I accepted. I assume other people will be in my car. The next day I got a letter inviting me to apply for seminary.

I am kind of confused and am seeking one more confirmation from God before I make a decision.