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

[SacredHeartFan]

So does anyone else notice that the Jesuits seem to catch a lot of the future seminarians? Many of us that are considering the priesthood are considering the life of a jesuit priest Sorry, I was just really happy when I noticed this

its their evil jesuit hypnosis!!!

 

[jesuitinnam]

its their evil jesuit hypnosis!!!

Hehe, yeah. Jesuits rule! But it’s quite tough to get in I must add.

I’m very happy about my decision - more and more so. Had a fantastic meeting with the Regional superior this weekend
Hendrik

 

[SacredHeartFan]

Hehe, yeah. Jesuits rule! But it’s quite tough to get in I must add.

I’m very happy about my decision - more and more so. Had a fantastic meeting with the Regional superior this weekend
Hendrik

That’s good for you! I’ll pray that everything goes well from here on out. I think all of us have thought about being Jesuits at least once. I know I did.

 

[jesuitinnam]

That’s good for you! I’ll pray that everything goes well from here on out. I think all of us have thought about being Jesuits at least once. I know I did.

Thanks a lot. Which order are you / have you entered, or are you studying to be a diocesan priest?

Sorry if I/ being too inquisitive

 

[SacredHeartFan]

Thanks a lot. Which order are you / have you entered, or are you studying to be a diocesan priest?

Sorry if I/ being too inquisitive

That’s ok. My plan is to finish High School and go apply in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

 

[LtPaint]

So does anyone else notice that the Jesuits seem to catch a lot of the future seminarians? Many of us that are considering the priesthood are considering the life of a jesuit priest Sorry, I was just really happy when I noticed this

I think initially many people who are discerning for a longtime, especially teenagers who are discerning, discern a calling to the Jesuits. The Jesuits only appealed to me in an intellectual sense, but not a spirtual one. Thus, the Society of Jesus was not the right order for me.
My spirtual director told me that I should find a part of Jesus that I love the most, such as his mission or passion. Orders are typically built around a part of Christ.
Personally, I think if I do discern that I am called to the Ordained Priesthood, I will probably end up doing missionary work in a third world(or developing, if you wish me to be politically correct ) country.

Pax

 

[jesuitinnam]

I think initially many people who are discerning for a longtime, especially teenagers who are discerning, discern a calling to the Jesuits. The Jesuits only appealed to me in an intellectual sense, but not a spirtual one. Thus, the Society of Jesus was not the right order for me.
My spirtual director told me that I should find a part of Jesus that I love the most, such as his mission or passion. Orders are typically built around a part of Christ.
Personally, I think if I do discern that I am called to the Ordained Priesthood, I will probably end up doing missionary work in a third world(or developing, if you wish me to be politically correct ) country.

Pax

I personally think that the Jesuits have a very deep spirituality - in fact, the Society is very much constructed around Ignatian Spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises and finding God in all things. We proclaim and defend the faith - according to our Constitutions and I think that should qualify as missionary. And in the “developing world” a lot of our work, if not most, is aimed at the poorest and most forgotten sections of society. Just a thought.

 

[LtPaint]

I personally think that the Jesuits have a very deep spirituality - in fact, the Society is very much constructed around Ignatian Spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises and finding God in all things. We proclaim and defend the faith - according to our Constitutions and I think that should qualify as missionary. And in the “developing world” a lot of our work, if not most, is aimed at the poorest and most forgotten sections of society. Just a thought.

It’s not that I don’t see the Jesuits as spirtual. I am well aware of Ignatian Spirtuality. For some reason, though, as much as I prayed on it, I could not hear a calling in a Jesuit direction and I still felt like I was looking for something different.
On a side note, you said you were beginning formation soon. Have you already gone through a pre theologate program at a collage or will you do that during your formation?

 

[jesuitinnam]

It’s not that I don’t see the Jesuits as spirtual. I am well aware of Ignatian Spirtuality. For some reason, though, as much as I prayed on it, I could not hear a calling in a Jesuit direction and I still felt like I was looking for something different.
On a side note, you said you were beginning formation soon. Have you already gone through a pre theologate program at a collage or will you do that during your formation?

Nope no previous theological studies. I’m a business graduate (blush).
Will have to catch up after the novitiate.
Missionary you said. OMI’s are good - I’m in Namibia at the moment and the diocese is basically run by them. There’s also a charming Maryknoll priest here from America.

Sorry if I sounded over sensitive about the spirituality issue. It’s just that Jesuits have been receiving a lot of flack about their Catholicity of late - especially in America, so a bit of a sore point

God bless

Hendrik

 

[SacredHeartFan]

I couldn’t be in an order. It’s just not for me. I plan on the Dioceseian life!

 

[jesuitinnam]

I couldn’t be in an order. It’s just not for me. I plan on the Dioceseian life!

BTW Sacred Heart. I think it’s really awesome that a young lad like yourself is so committed. And I don’t mean that in a patronising way. I’ve read most of your posts and you seem to be a very together guy.

As for diocesan life - - go for it. The world needs more diocesan priests like yourself anyway:thumbsup:

 

[SacredHeartFan]

BTW Sacred Heart. I think it’s really awesome that a young lad like yourself is so committed. And I don’t mean that in a patronising way. I’ve read most of your posts and you seem to be a very together guy.

As for diocesan life - - go for it. The world needs more diocesan priests like yourself anyway:thumbsup:

why thank you!
Jesuits are polite after all!

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

All of you remain in my prayers. We need good priests desperately. From what I have been reading, you will all be among them.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[SacredHeartFan]

A man walked up to a Franciscan and Jesuit and asked, “How many novenas must you say to get a Mercedes Benz?”

The Franciscan asked, “What’s a Mercedes Benz?”

The Jesuit asked, “What’s a novena?”

 

[LtPaint]

Nope no previous theological studies. I’m a business graduate (blush).
Will have to catch up after the novitiate.
Missionary you said. OMI’s are good - I’m in Namibia at the moment and the diocese is basically run by them. There’s also a charming Maryknoll priest here from America.

Sorry if I sounded over sensitive about the spirituality issue. It’s just that Jesuits have been receiving a lot of flack about their Catholicity of late - especially in America, so a bit of a sore point

God bless

Hendrik

I would also love to go into some type of pro-life ministry, if that is possible (I’m sure it is).
I’m pretty sure I’m not called to diocese, though.
Do you think that you will take the fourth vow? I think that would be one of the main reasons I would want to be a Jesuit.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

I would also love to go into some type of pro-life ministry, if that is possible (I’m sure it is).
I’m pretty sure I’m not called to diocese, though.
Do you think that you will take the fourth vow? I think that would be one of the main reasons I would want to be a Jesuit.

I am a BIG pro-life person! It just disgusts me the way that they treat those babies.

How many pro-lifers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
6. One to screw it in and 5 to testify that it was lit since the time they began screwing it.

 

[Patrick60]

Andy, advice is not a cheap thing. I personally will not offer you any advice because I don’t know you and really can’t ask you questions about your vocation in real time. That is why you need to be in communication with a vocations director. Do you want to be a diocesan priest? Or would you rather join a religious order? The bottom line is to contact the vocations director to the place where you feel most compelled to serve God and the church as a priest.
You need guidance. I myself was turned down for a vocation from two archdioceses and three religious orders. It’s a long story, but I can tell you from experience that merely “showing up at the door” is no guarantee they will let you in. I think they are right in being more particular about candidates now because of the recent scandals. I had attempted suicide three times at age 16 and was hospitalized for six months in a psychiatric facility. I was an atheist when I attempted suicide. At age 18 I had a profound conversion experience in context with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and renewed my commitment to the Church. I first contacted a religious order when I was 24. None of the vocations directors has been able to reconcile my past with a vocation. I believe that God has healed, changed, and recreated me, but I will accept their decisions out of humility and obedience. I do not always know firsthand what is best not only for me, but for the church at large. I am 47 now, unmarried with no children. I applied for the priesthood at the Archdiocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania three years ago, and they turned me down because the age limit there is 42.
I will tell you that I would have dearly loved to serve God full time and to lay down my life for the sheep, but having the desire is not necessarily a backstage pass into the Church. Ultimately we submit such things to the authority that God has established in the church. I am a servant, and I will obey, and I will love no matter what.
While I hope that God’s will is fulfilled in your life, I did want to share this with you because in the event that you find yourself in front of an open door, which I did not, you need to recognize the magnitude of the gift that God is giving you in a genuine vocation to serve the Church.
It’s ironic, but being turned down for the priesthood has given me an even greater reverence for priests. They are not perfect, but they follow in the footsteps of the apostles. Those are tough shoes to fill.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

Andy, advice is not a cheap thing. I personally will not offer you any advice because I don’t know you and really can’t ask you questions about your vocation in real time. That is why you need to be in communication with a vocations director. Do you want to be a diocesan priest? Or would you rather join a religious order? The bottom line is to contact the vocations director to the place where you feel most compelled to serve God and the church as a priest.
You need guidance. I myself was turned down for a vocation from two archdioceses and three religious orders. It’s a long story, but I can tell you from experience that merely “showing up at the door” is no guarantee they will let you in. I think they are right in being more particular about candidates now because of the recent scandals. I had attempted suicide three times at age 16 and was hospitalized for six months in a psychiatric facility. I was an atheist when I attempted suicide. I first contacted a religious order when I was 24. None of the vocations directors has been able to reconcile my past with a vocation. I believe that God has healed, changed, and recreated me, but I will accept their decisions out of humility and obedience. I do not always know firsthand what is best not only for me, but for the church at large. I am 47 now, unmarried with no children. I applied for the priesthood at the Archdiocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania three years ago, and they turned me down because the age limit there is 42.
I will tell you that I would have dearly loved to serve God full time and to lay down my life for the sheep, but having the desire is not necessarily a backstage pass into the Church. Ultimately we submit such things to the authority that God has established in the church. I am a servant, and I will obey, and I will love no matter what.
While I hope that God’s will is fulfilled in your life, I did want to share this with you because in the event that you find yourself in front of an open door, which I did not, you need to recognize the magnitude of the gift that God is giving you in a genuine vocation to serve the Church.
It’s ironic, but being turned down for the priesthood has given me an even greater reverence for priests. They are not perfect, but they follow in the footsteps of the apostles. Those are tough shoes to fill.

Have you tried to be involved in an apostolate? They have many out there.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Patrick 60, Thank you for your post. It gives many if not all of us, much food for thought. I will keep you in my prayers that you find some spot of service for God’s people. God Bless you.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[chicago]

I would also love to go into some type of pro-life ministry, if that is possible (I’m sure it is).
I’m pretty sure I’m not called to diocese, though.

Fr. Pavone does have a community which is dedicated to pro-life concerns.