Vocations/money?

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debraran

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I have a son in college (and 2 more coming up) so I realize how much it costs and how even just paying 1/4 of some tuitons can leave a student with 20,000 in loans. This said, I was reading a letter to a priest from a young man that was turned away from orders because he was still paying his loans. He realized in today’s times, they can’t help him but in his discussion, he realized that many young men and women, can’t go into an order for maybe 10 years because of school loans. That in itself might discourage some from persuing it. I don’t believe you should enter after high school (unless your calling is very strong) college and experience help a great deal, but in today’s times with state colleges being close to 20,000 in many areas, loans out of control and the church hurting for money, do you think that is part of the problem also with lack of vocations?
 
I think that owing tens of thousands of dollars when you get out of school is a problem for everyone, not just those who want to pursue the priesthood or religious life. People are mortgaging their futures for four years at the college of their choice.

For those who have vocations, there is an organization that helps them eliminate their debts. The Laboure Society has a web site at labourefoundation.org/
 
I don’t think it’s always “the college of their choice” if you meant they overlooked cheaper schools.My son was a accepted at every college he applied too which was nice, state schools and private. The cheapest for him ended up to be a private which gave us a bit under what our state school was (18,000) My choice of sending our children to Catholic school (1-8th) and working part time or not at all until they were in first grade caused us not to be able to save much for college, but I realize that was our choice. I don’t regret the time spent with them or their early schooling. But, no one today can get a decent education cheap. Even our community college, which is awful, is 450.00 a class.
Providience College which is affilitiated with our church’s order gave my son’ friend 1/2 tuition but at our 35,000 a year, the Dominican college is still a stretch. Even kids who get full tuition but have to pay 8,000 or more a year for R & B, books, computers, have to take out small loans (although I would love that choice) I realize some states have cheaper schools for residents, but moving or having my child take an airplane to school isn’t an option for many reasons, including financial.
I know there are organizations that help, but from the columns and articles I’ve read, it seems many are told to come back when the amount is reasonable (1,000 or so I guess) Some say no debt at all, which is fine, but how do you do that if your parents didn’t have the income to pay for you and they want you to be educated before entering?
 
a PS to your post…I think that link is great, I hope I can support them one day, more than a few dollars.
 
There are no easy answers. Public schools are less expensive than private ones though the private schools may give more financial aid. But there are always trade-offs and exceptions. I feel sorry for the kids who graduate with huge debts because it may limit their futures. You’ve mentioned vocations. There are others who would like to work in areas that are more service oriented but need to make enough money to pay off their loans. And I’m not sure how much an 18-year-old thinks it all through.
 
I myself went to public school and still have an enormous amount of debt… my family wasn’t able to afford to pay for anything because I am one of four children, so I put most of my education on loans. I am fortunate, however, to have graduated with a degree with earns a fair amount of money so I hope to be able to knock out the debt very quickly. I do have friends who are in situations where they have in excess of $40+ thousand dollars in debt (even with instate tuition and a public school!) but were not so fortunate with their job outlooks. I think much of the problem with these programs which try to alleviate some debt for people considering the priesthood is that it is a very long and varying process… so I guess in some way there is ‘no guarantee for return,’ although this is a harsh way of putting it.
Maybe in the future someone will be able to fund a ‘loan deferment’ program where they front the money for the loans with another loan, and defer it indefinitely, until of course the candidate decides whether the priesthood is really for them. If it is not they could be given adequate time to find a job and continue paying the loan off… if it is they destroy the loan as a gift to their order or diocese for their ordination. Problem with this of course is it takes a great deal of funding, and in this current economy something like this would be very difficult. We can just hope for a better solution to present itself, in the mean time pray that those who wish to become a priest seek help and find it.
 
I know the scandals and lack of parishinors at church help lessen the pot, so to speak. I admire the Orthodox Jews in my neighborhood, not just for their devotion to God and sacrifices they make, but their devotion to education. Large families all go to Hebrew grade/high schools and the men go to college, many with help from their “church”. I asked once how they did it with a neighbor and she said the schools help, scholarships help and sometimes family. They realize the rewards from doing it and helping a future rabbi is an honor.
I remember struggling to send my children to a Catholic grade school and asked about a Seton Scholarship I had heard about. I was told that was taken away the year or two before,never to be re-instated by our diocese. Schools are closing for not bringing in enough, some merging…it’s getting worse.
I don’t want to misquote a priest on EWTN, but he said to my memory, as Catholics, “we really dropped the ball” years ago in welcoming and keeping our parish members and the scandals just weakened it more. You can only pray our childrens children will be in a better place.Everything takes time…
 
My family got a flyer from the MFVA’s and they are asking for help to educate 3 seminarians. The tuition is 15,000, R&B comes to about 8,000, and other charges has the total at 26,163. For 3 it is costing them 78,489. They are begging for donations so they can continue their work. (and Fr. Anthony’s hair can stop turning grey) 🙂
Just thought I would pass it along if anyone knew of someone who would like to support them in these trying times.
 
I have heard alot about the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations at
fundforvocations.org/ . They pay off student loans for people vocations.

What is a shame is that there is no such “fund” for older people like myself at 48 who could enter religious life practically immediately but I am waiting for my house to sell!

I myself tried “Laboure Foundation” but they didn’t help me. They are a good foundation but it all depends on who the vocation discerner knows! What they do is have YOU contact people with money, etc. - organizations, companies, etc. - and get them to pay of off your debts themselves with you or donate money in your name and Laboure pays off your debt with this money. But for me, I DON’T KNOW anyone of means or know anyone else who does. I tried what I could but got nothing. And the last time I checked the list of “discerners” Laboure puts out, I was dropped of the list (I was on it for awhile).

This is just me and my story but I know Laboure helps alot but some people just think that by contacting Laboure THEY pay off your debts and you are free as a bird but that is not how it works. I even wrote them thinking with all the business people on the board of directors SOMEONE would have a contact for me to call about buying my house. At least with a house, they person helping you out get’s something of monetary value in return - besides the wonderful spiritual part of helping someone follow their vocation. At least with a house you could re-sell it or rent it out and make an income!

So us oldies who have a house to sell or other debt is not covered by a place like Mater Ecclesiae who only pays student loans off. I’m praying for a tornado to blow my house away and then I’d be free! Kidding, I live in Texas though so it could happen!
 
TeresaBenedicta said:
I have heard alot about the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations at
fundforvocations.org/ . They pay off student loans for people vocations.

What is a shame is that there is no such “fund” for older people like myself at 48 who could enter religious life practically immediately but I am waiting for my house to sell!

I myself tried “Laboure Foundation” but they didn’t help me. They are a good foundation but it all depends on who the vocation discerner knows! What they do is have YOU contact people with money, etc. - organizations, companies, etc. - and get them to pay of off your debts themselves with you or donate money in your name and Laboure pays off your debt with this money. But for me, I DON’T KNOW anyone of means or know anyone else who does. I tried what I could but got nothing. And the last time I checked the list of “discerners” Laboure puts out, I was dropped of the list (I was on it for awhile).

This is just me and my story but I know Laboure helps alot but some people just think that by contacting Laboure THEY pay off your debts and you are free as a bird but that is not how it works. I even wrote them thinking with all the business people on the board of directors SOMEONE would have a contact for me to call about buying my house. At least with a house, they person helping you out get’s something of monetary value in return - besides the wonderful spiritual part of helping someone follow their vocation. At least with a house you could re-sell it or rent it out and make an income!

So us oldies who have a house to sell or other debt is not covered by a place like Mater Ecclesiae who only pays student loans off. I’m praying for a tornado to blow my house away and then I’d be free! Kidding, I live in Texas though so it could happen!
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I’m very curious why you need help selling your house. I also live in Texas and thought the housing market here was doing relatively good.

God Bless
Gordie
 
I was reading on EWTN’s site, a priest saying that this is a very practical problem not many people realize, debt causes repercussions everywhere. In my parents days things were different, but you have to deal with what you have now. To just say to someone, “pay off your debt and come” is fine, but for most with rising costs of EVERYTHING, that could be 10 or more years if they aren’t laid off or have any other problems.

I do see though the other side…you can’t take on thousands and thousands of dollars per seminary student and you have to be careful someone isn’t looking for a way to get out of debt. Some orders I was reading about, if you leave formation or after a certain amount of time, you have to pay them back. Maybe saying “no debt” is easier. Also, that feeling of just wanting to get away from the world, leave the stress of bills, etc. behind is great for some and they might think a vocation is calling them, when it’s just a way to start over.
I pray though that true vocations get realized. I know there are a lot of men and women that can’t even discern for
more than a week in an order because they need to work to pay their bills.
 
debraran said:
I do see though the other side…you can’t take on thousands and thousands of dollars per seminary student and you have to be careful someone isn’t looking for a way to get out of debt. Some orders I was reading about, if you leave formation or after a certain amount of time, you have to pay them back. Maybe saying “no debt” is easier. Also, that feeling of just wanting to get away from the world, leave the stress of bills, etc. behind is great for some and they might think a vocation is calling them, when it’s just a way to start over.
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If someone entering a religious order has debt when they enter, they’re still part-way in the world, aren’t they? They have bills in the world that need to be paid, and the aspirant is be concerned about.
 
I agree, they are still part of “this world” but it is a reality that it is very hard not to be today with prices so high on everything. Loans for college are one thing, but most people need them for cars, sometimes major repairs,etc. It’s very hard to know your true vocation before these things start to pile up, and I do think the reason there seems to be more nuns in formation than men as priests, is that they need less schooling and sometimes live at home longer than young men do and can save a bit more.
 
debraran said:
I do think the reason there seems to be more nuns in formation than men as priests, is that they need less schooling and sometimes live at home longer than young men do and can save a bit more.
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I disagree. If you look at most college campuses, including Catholic colleges, in the vast majority of the cases, it’s about 55 percent women, 45 percent men. It’s been that way for the past 20 years. Many of the women entering religious life have been to college. And they’re not necessarily any smarter with money. I say this as a woman who wasn’t smart. I’ve gotten better and the debt has been paid off.

I don’t why there would be more nuns in formation, except in the history of the Church, it’s typically been that way. Perhaps more women are called, or are willing to follow through with the call. The Lord can let us know after the Second Coming.
 
debraran said:
I . I don’t believe you should enter after high school (unless your calling is very strong) college and experience help a great deal, but in today’s times with state colleges being close to 20,000 in many areas, loans out of control and the church hurting for money, do you think that is part of the problem also with lack of vocations?
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probably so, but somebody has to pay back the student loans, and somebody has to pay the cost of education in the seminary, not to mention room board and incidental costs. Whom do you suggest take on this burden?
 
I don’t think the church should, but I feel the Catholic church could have had more money for scholarships if other things didn’t interfere. I know the scandals were partly taken of by insurance, but not all and the scholarships started drying up when my children were small.
I meant there were more women in general,not that there weren’t more in college (that has been the case for a while) but that certain communities of nuns/sisters will take a high school educated woman where a priest HAS to have a degree and sometimes, as with the Dominicans, an extra year of philosophy.
It also helps if they decide to leave, to have a career or education to fall back on. I felt sad to read that some older priests stayed because “where would they go”? I never really thought about it before, they went in at 18 or 20, it’s all they knew and at 35 or older, it’s hard to get a job with no other experience or diploma.

My original thought was that money/debt is never thought of when vocations are discussed. Father Levis on EWTN said it was something quite serious but not addressed often. (probably because there really isn’t a solution right now)
 
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