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

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Tim_Kirchoff said:
It’s just an idea that’s been floating around in my head:shrug: and you know that there’s plenty of space up there;)
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Religious life is cool. I actually thought pretty seriously about it myself. (Those Dominicans must be rubbing off on you or something.) Just, please, don’t do the Jesuit. I’d consider you a traitor, then. 😛
 
chicago said:
Religious life is cool. I actually thought pretty seriously about it myself. (Those Dominicans must be rubbing off on you or something.) Just, please, don’t do the Jesuit. I’d consider you a traitor, then. 😛
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So would I:D
 
JesuitLoyola said:
How did your meeting go?
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It went really well. We had a good talk, he answered some questions and concerns I had, reinforced some stuff that I was feeling and that I heard from others. I’m glad I went. I still need to sit down again with my pastor, and with my director at the order before I make any decisions.

It’s funny… I’ve been feeling pretty uneasy for a few weeks now. After pointing in one direction for so long, and feeling confident I was moving in the right direction… To suddenly think I wasn’t going in the right direction, and to consider making such a sharp turn made me a little uneasy. But I’m feeling much better now about the choices ahead of me.

Thank you for asking.
 
Does anyone know if you get to pick your seminary? I really want to go to North American College in Rome.
Also, after you get your masters in sacred theology, can you choice to go and finish your phd?
Besides that, discernment is going good. The world seems to be trying to stop me though. People at school ask me what I want to be when I’m older and I say I’m discerning a call to the priesthood. I’m then looked at like I’m crazy and asked if I’m really never going to have sex my whole life.
I usually say that’s being superficial and that is celibacy is not my top concern (obediance is).
 
Johndigger said:
I would absolutely love to join the Jesuits if they weren’t so liberal. Their spirituality really appeals to me and with 10-12 years of formation, they could really form the most formidable intellects with that amount of education.

However, there is no point wishing about the glory days of the Jesuits, they are falling apart.

My focus is on Priesthood at a diocesan level. However, I’ve been trying to contact our vocations director for MONTHS and he still hasn’t gotten back to me. My spiritual director (parish priest) is a bit annoyed and the lack of communication is hardly encouraging…

We have 3 seminarians in our diocese at the moment - now I know why.

JD
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You sound like a possible candidate for the Legionaries of Christ www.legionariesofchrist.org
I loved the Jesuits back in their “glory days” and received a great Jesuit education. Presently, I am attending the monthly evenings of recollection put on at the new university in Sacramento run by the Legionaries of Christ. I am very impressed with their level of education and their conservativism! I also attend the Regnum Christi annual retreats put on by Legionaries of Christ priests. These silent retreats are similar to the Jesuit retreats of the past. (Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola Retreats) Starting at 6:00pm Saturday evening was a 12 hour Eucharistic Adoration and I had to get up in the middle of the night to take my turn. Whenever the priest would enter or leave the retreat lecture room we all would stand. As I mentioned above, the order is very orthodox (conservative) but the level of teaching and education is comparable to that of the Jesuits.
 
Whats with all the dislike of Jesuits did I miss something, from what I’ve heard they are a great religious order who follow doctrine and the Pope. In fact they make an additional vow to follow the direct orders of the Pope. Just a thought…
 
JesuitLoyola said:
Whats with all the dislike of Jesuits did I miss something, from what I’ve heard they are a great religious order who follow doctrine and the Pope. In fact they make an additional vow to follow the direct orders of the Pope. Just a thought…
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JesuitLoyola,

I love the Jesuits! They just happen to teach at universities that are becoming liberal. A book recently came out naming only 20 colleges that are following all the teachings of the church. None of them were Jesuit.
I am hoping and praying that you follow your dream to become a Jesuit. By the time you are a priest the Jesuit colleges may again be like they were back in the “glory days”…and that was wonderful!
 
JesuitLoyola said:
Whats with all the dislike of Jesuits did I miss something, from what I’ve heard they are a great religious order who follow doctrine and the Pope. In fact they make an additional vow to follow the direct orders of the Pope. Just a thought…
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Yea. What people fail to realize is that only a minscule amount actually reject church teaching. Jesuits tend to be understanding, but sometimes they can freak people out on both wings. They are the largest sect out there, I do believe. That’s probably because they are so awesome.👍
 
My interest used to also be in the Jesuits, but they are much to liberal nowadays. I believe they are also one of the fastest shrinking orders.
Also, arn’t some of their schools teaching liberation theology now?
 
I obviously already have my own opinions on the Jesuits as you can tell from the earlier posts in this thread, and I can see many of you do as well. Instead of concentrating on differences in opinion concerning a few in the Jesuit order lets continue to focus on the discernment and formation of good and humble priests who will give their allegiance to the teachings of the church in their fullness regardless of what path they take in the priesthood.
 
JesuitLoyola said:
Whats with all the dislike of Jesuits did I miss something, from what I’ve heard they are a great religious order who follow doctrine and the Pope. In fact they make an additional vow to follow the direct orders of the Pope. Just a thought…
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In the case of Tim and I it is a school rivalry thing. We both attended Quigley Seminary which has an historic standing as the pride of the Archdiocese of Chicago in its status of Archdiocesan minor seminary. In the “good 'ol days” the other top school which was understood as elite in Chicago was St. Ignatius (then also all boys.) “Iggy’s” still maintains that status as the highest standing Jesuit school in the area. And, though Quigley closed last year, those of us who are alumni (or were students) still maintain the pride and sense of rivalry (one which was revived, especially, a bit in the last couple decades due to the evolvement of Quigley’s chess team out of a top transfer student from St. Ignatius.) The ultimate idea, then, is one of the “Archdiocesan” boys versus the “Jesuit” camp, and who’s really the best or of the most ideal demeanor. In that sense, it’s also very much a personality/charism type of thing. Not unlike the jokes you sometimes hear about the friendly rivalries between different notable religious orders. So, while I have a lot of respect for and appreciation of many Jesuits, they’re still the enemy! 😉

In my case, the fact that I’m a DePaul Blue Demons fan also plays a part. Vincentians (DePaul, St. Johns, Niagra) = Good - well, St. John’s is actually not good (since they are also a rival), but not half bad (because they are Vincentian); Jesuits (Loyola, Georgetown, Marquette, et al) = Evil. I’m not a Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan, for similar reasons, either. Anytime they get beat, I cheer. But I went to another high school for a year that their order operated, so the Holy Cross Fathers are fine with me as an order, anyway, despite the villianous university.

Anyway, the point is that a Quigley man who crosses over to affiliate with the Jesuits would be almost as abhorrent as an apostate. No, worse, even!
 
LtPaint said:
Does anyone know if you get to pick your seminary? I really want to go to North American College in Rome.
Also, after you get your masters in sacred theology, can you choice to go and finish your phd?
Besides that, discernment is going good. The world seems to be trying to stop me though. People at school ask me what I want to be when I’m older and I say I’m discerning a call to the priesthood. I’m then looked at like I’m crazy and asked if I’m really never going to have sex my whole life.
I usually say that’s being superficial and that is celibacy is not my top concern (obediance is).
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Seminary studies isn’t the same as being on a professional “career track” for which one might choose the typical program of university study.

While you certainly would have the opportunity to work with your superiors (in the diocese or religious life) to discern what would be the best particular path for you, ultimately the decision is theirs. Some orders and dioceses have their own seminaries and send most students there. Others choose from a certain set of options. As far as advanced studies, again that is dependent upon where the superiors decide you would be best suited. You can express your interest and they might take you up on it, fostering such a thing. Or they might say, “Sorry, this is where you are needed and to be assigned.” Ultimately, when discerning the priesthood, you have a certain say and a decision as to whether you will follow or go your own way. But your life is not entirely in your own hands.
 
chicago said:
In the case of Tim and I it is a school rivalry thing. We both attended Quigley Seminary which has an historic standing as the pride of the Archdiocese of Chicago in its status of Archdiocesan minor seminary. In the “good 'ol days” the other top school which was understood as elite in Chicago was St. Ignatius (then also all boys.) “Iggy’s” still maintains that status as the highest standing Jesuit school in the area. And, though Quigley closed last year, those of us who are alumni (or were students) still maintain the pride and sense of rivalry (one which was revived, especially, a bit in the last couple decades due to the evolvement of Quigley’s chess team out of a top transfer student from St. Ignatius.) The ultimate idea, then, is one of the “Archdiocesan” boys versus the “Jesuit” camp, and who’s really the best or of the most ideal demeanor. In that sense, it’s also very much a personality/charism type of thing. Not unlike the jokes you sometimes hear about the friendly rivalries between different notable religious orders. So, while I have a lot of respect for and appreciation of many Jesuits, they’re still the enemy! 😉

In my case, the fact that I’m a DePaul Blue Demons fan also plays a part. Vincentians (DePaul, St. Johns, Niagra) = Good - well, St. John’s is actually not good (since they are also a rival), but not half bad (because they are Vincentian); Jesuits (Loyola, Georgetown, Marquette, et al) = Evil. I’m not a Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan, for similar reasons, either. Anytime they get beat, I cheer. But I went to another high school for a year that their order operated, so the Holy Cross Fathers are fine with me as an order, anyway, despite the villianous university.

Anyway, the point is that a Quigley man who crosses over to affiliate with the Jesuits would be almost as abhorrent as an apostate. No, worse, even!
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As Hannibal to Rome, so I to SICP:p
 
Filius99993 said:
Then shouldn’t you be using flying trains or something or other, rather that elephants? Hmm… I sense a conspiracy…
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To clear things up:

When Hannibal was about nine years old, his father Hamilcar had him swear eternal hatred to Rome. As Hannibal owed eternal emnity to Rome, I shall always view SICP as my rival. No elephants involved.

However, don’t be suprised if you hear on the news taht SICP has been attacked by a spartan and norseman riding a phoenix:p
 
Tim_Kirchoff said:
Seriously, though. SICP (St. Ignatius College Prep) looks like Hogwarts or something.
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Yeah, but (ever since going co-ed) they always have had nice, good looking women. Without the girls, St. Ignatius would be NOTHING.

Speaking of feminae, you do know about the Quigley in Pennsylvania which is co-ed, don’t you? What’s up with THAT???
However, don’t be suprised if you hear on the news taht SICP has been attacked by a spartan and norseman riding a phoenix:p
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One day, we shall take over the building on Roosevelt Rd. and turn it into the reincarnation of Chicago’s minor seminary for eternal conquer!
 
Ok. Now that that is over…can we go back to talking about discernment? 😃
 
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