Where could one go to become a very conservative diocesan priest?

[Usige]

Yes, but someone studying for the diocesan priesthood in a U.S. seminary will be taught to say the ordinary form of the Mass in English. They may also learn it in Latin, but they will be expected to be able to say Mass in the vernacular.

I would agree that they would be taught to offer the Mass in English. My diocese is “importing” seminarians from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other Spanish speaking countries to offer the Mass in Spanish. I know of one priest in the diocese that likely has not offered the Mass in English for 5+ years.

I was simply pointing out that being in the US does not have a strict obligation to be able to offer the mass in English. It might be an expectation to offer the Mass in the vernacular, but not a canonical requirement.

 

[TimothyH]

This. The climate of a diocese changes with its bishop. I would not move simply because I liked the bishop – he may not be there for long.

That’s right. Bishops change. It isn’t really the diocese that is conservative but the Bishop.

By definition, though, a man desiring to be a conservative priest would go wherever his bishop sends him to.

Brendan makes a good point. A diocesan priest goes wherever his Bishop sends him.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

I understand everyone trying to “correct” and “clarify” his question. We do need to learn how to say these things better. But come 'on, we know what he’s meaning. This is in the “traditional” section. These clarifications would be better asked if he had posted in the “vocations” section.

As for the original post, I’ve been dealing with this for a lot of years now. Since at least 2005. Looking back I’ve wasted a lot of years. I kept trying to go to the so called “traditional” orders, ones that just said the EF Mass and ones that said both. But in the back of my head I knew I was called to discern with a certain diocese but I kept refusing it because it’s not as “traditional” as I want it. Now I’m entering seminary for this diocese and I’m finally at peace, a peace I’ve never had because I kept fighting. The priest that keeps helping me, and has all the past years (he is a diocesan priest here), said for me to keep quiet, go where they tell me to, pray at all times, learn what they want me to learn. Then you’ll be a priest and you’ll know what they want you know and can do as you’d like.

This is the best post on the whole thread, and the best post on the many threads the OP has started these past few days.

I will say again to the OP, call the vocations office of your dioceses today. Now. Make the call.

-Tim-

 

[AnnArbor]

I would agree that they would be taught to offer the Mass in English. My diocese is “importing” seminarians from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other Spanish speaking countries to offer the Mass in Spanish. I know of one priest in the diocese that likely has not offered the Mass in English for 5+ years.

I was simply pointing out that being in the US does not have a strict obligation to be able to offer the mass in English. It might be an expectation to offer the Mass in the vernacular, but not a canonical requirement.

Understood. One of the OP’s stipulations was that he wanted to offer the Mass in English. I was just pointing out that he can take that worry off his list – any seminary a U.S. diocese uses for the formation of its priests will include training to offer the Mass in English.

 

[trad_1]

Is St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver conservative?

 

[kozlosap]

Instead of obsessing about which seminary is the most conservative, let Our Lord lead you to the seminary where you will obtain the best education so you will be able to serve your parishioners to the best of your ability! Sometimes what seems important when you are in your twenties seem ridiculous when you are fifty and looking back at the choices you made.

 

[phil19034]

Is St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver conservative?

The priests and Decons coming out of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Archdiocese of Philadelphia) are pretty conservative now a days. Archbishop Chaput is highly involved with them.

Several dioceses send their priests there, including the Diocese of Lincoln.

scs.edu/

Currently the following dioceses & religious orders send all or some of their priests to St. Charles:

• Diocese of Allentown
• Diocese of Arlington
• Diocese of Brooklyn
• Diocese of Harrisburg
• Archdiocese of Hartford
• Diocese of Lincoln
• Diocese of Ogdensburg
• Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• Diocese of Raleigh
• Diocese of Trenton
• Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
• Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy

Finally… If you are going to move… come to Philadelphia. We need more good, orthodox priests to rebuild this great Archidiocese.

God Bless.

 

[christus_vincit]

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia!

There are men studying at St. Charles from dioceses across the country, including a number from the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska.

I am very familiar with the seminary, the faculty, and the facility in general. It is a wonderful place that is loyal to the Magisterium.

 

[TimothyH]

Shopping for a diocese is going to end in disappointment and future regret.

-Tim-

 

[Usige]

Is St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver conservative?

The seminary is fairly orthodox and Archbishop Aquila and his brother bishop to the south, Bishop Sheridan, are both solidly orthodox. The 5 or 6 priest I know that went there also tended towards a more traditional approach to liturgy (e.g. chanting parts of the Mass in both English and Latin, solid homilies drawing on magisterial teachings, etc.) They have been blessed with good bishops. Overall I’d say the clergy tend towards orthodoxy even if their flocks do not.

 

[trad_1]

Shopping for a diocese is going to end in disappointment and future regret.

-Tim-

A am very conservative and know I would be unhappy in a very liberal setting. I know because I was in a liberal seminary once. I don’t want to make the same mistake a second time.

 

[Milo_Mapleton]

I reword the question. Where could one go to become a very conservative diocesan priest?

Please don’t bother. There are enough of them as it is now.

 

[Rin]

I understand everyone trying to “correct” and “clarify” his question. We do need to learn how to say these things better. But come 'on, we know what he’s meaning. This is in the “traditional” section. These clarifications would be better asked if he had posted in the “vocations” section.

While I realize what the OP meant, the misuse of the terms “conservative” and “liberal” is something that should be fought against. Conservatism and liberalism are both ideologies, and as such they are evil. One is not better than the other. As Catholics we should think in terms of orthodoxy and orthopraxis, not in terms of the secular ideologies of conservatism or liberalism.

Our Faith conserves and liberates. As such, as a Catholic, I am both - which in the eyes of conservatives and liberals, who falsely place their faith in only one of them, means I am neither. [Edit:] Or rather, they see me as conservative if they are liberal, and the other way around…

(Okay, that was severely simplified, but I hope I got my point across.)

 

[trad_1]

To me conservative is just like traditional which is the name of this section of the forum. But anyway you know what I mean. I want to serve the Lord at the end of the day.

 

[TimothyH]

A am very conservative and know I would be unhappy in a very liberal setting. I know because I was in a liberal seminary once. I don’t want to make the same mistake a second time.

Yeah, but you promise obedience to a Bishop, not to a diocese.

Bishops change, and you go where they send you. You could get a nice conservative diocese with a nice conservative bishop and then one day he gets sent to another city and they bring in someone else and then what are you going to do?

You could serve under Cardinal Dolan who one day sends you a letter saying that you are going to be the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Social Awareness Parish in Greenwich Village. Then what are you going to do?

You are going to be a conservative priest and then get some whackadoo deacon (no offense to the deacons!) or serve under a Pastor you don’t like. Then what are you going to do?

If you are called to be a priest then you go. You follow Christ.

Look at Paul. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel who is to this day is a towering figure in Rabbinic Judaism. Before his conversion Paul would have never even spoken to a Gentile. But he was called, and he went. He followed Christ and look what he did. He didn’t say, 'I won’t be happy with Gentiles" but instead became all things to all people, and look what he did.

If you want to serve the Lord then you start by saying, “Not my will but thy will be done” and you go serve. If you are called to be a priest then you go. You serve Christ because that’s what gets you to heaven, and you drag as many people as you can with you.

-Tim-

 

[trad_1]

Yeah, but you promise obedience to a Bishop, not to a diocese.

Bishops change, and you go where they send you. You could get a nice conservative diocese with a nice conservative bishop and then one day he gets sent to another city and they bring in someone else and then what are you going to do?

You could serve under Cardinal Dolan who one day sends you a letter saying that you are going to be the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Social Awareness Parish in Greenwich Village. Then what are you going to do?

You are going to be a conservative priest and then get some whackadoo deacon (no offense to the deacons!) or serve under a Pastor you don’t like. Then what are you going to do?

If you are called to be a priest then you go. You follow Christ.

Look at Paul. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel who is to this day is a towering figure in Rabbinic Judaism. Before his conversion Paul would have never even spoken to a Gentile. But he was called, and he went. He followed Christ and look what he did. He didn’t say, 'I won’t be happy with Gentiles" but instead became all things to all people, and look what he did.

If you want to serve the Lord then you start by saying, “Not my will but thy will be done” and you go serve. If you are called to be a priest then you go. You serve Christ because that’s what gets you to heaven, and you drag as many people as you can with you.

-Tim-

I see your point but the way I look at it is your move anyway even if you stay in your home church you move to the seminary. Maybe I can get a few or many good years before things change a lot. Many years in the seminary with others that are conservative is important to me. The way I look at it is a lot to gain and I am not hurting anybody if it does not work out. I go to a conservative church in the town I live but the liberal church is much closer. It is kind of the same thing. I can serve the Lord better that way.

 

[christus_vincit]

Yeah, but you promise obedience to a Bishop, not to a diocese.

Bishops change, and you go where they send you. You could get a nice conservative diocese with a nice conservative bishop and then one day he gets sent to another city and they bring in someone else and then what are you going to do?

You could serve under Cardinal Dolan who one day sends you a letter saying that you are going to be the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Social Awareness Parish in Greenwich Village. Then what are you going to do?

You are going to be a conservative priest and then get some whackadoo deacon (no offense to the deacons!) or serve under a Pastor you don’t like. Then what are you going to do?

If you are called to be a priest then you go. You follow Christ.

Look at Paul. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel who is to this day is a towering figure in Rabbinic Judaism. Before his conversion Paul would have never even spoken to a Gentile. But he was called, and he went. He followed Christ and look what he did. He didn’t say, 'I won’t be happy with Gentiles" but instead became all things to all people, and look what he did.

If you want to serve the Lord then you start by saying, “Not my will but thy will be done” and you go serve. If you are called to be a priest then you go. You serve Christ because that’s what gets you to heaven, and you drag as many people as you can with you.

-Tim-

A very wise post, but I would just say this: If he wants to move to a different diocese based on the reputation of its seminary there is absolutely nothing wrong with that (assuming all prudence was taken in making the decision). If he enters a Seminary that is known for its loyalty to the Magisterium chances are very good that he will receive the priestly formation he - dare I say the Lord - desires. Perhaps, the day after his ordination his diocese gets a new bishop. So be it. He still has those years of solid formation from his years at the seminary. As you pointed out, obedience to the bishop is paramount. If it becomes the case that he finds himself under a progressively minded bishop then all the better that he received a solid priestly formation that will keep him firmly rooted in the truths of the Faith.

 

[robwar]

Yeah, but you promise obedience to a Bishop, not to a diocese.

Bishops change, and you go where they send you. You could get a nice conservative diocese with a nice conservative bishop and then one day he gets sent to another city and they bring in someone else and then what are you going to do?

You could serve under Cardinal Dolan who one day sends you a letter saying that you are going to be the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Social Awareness Parish in Greenwich Village. Then what are you going to do?

You are going to be a conservative priest and then get some whackadoo deacon (no offense to the deacons!) or serve under a Pastor you don’t like. Then what are you going to do?

If you are called to be a priest then you go. You follow Christ.

Look at Paul. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel who is to this day is a towering figure in Rabbinic Judaism. Before his conversion Paul would have never even spoken to a Gentile. But he was called, and he went. He followed Christ and look what he did. He didn’t say, 'I won’t be happy with Gentiles" but instead became all things to all people, and look what he did.

If you want to serve the Lord then you start by saying, “Not my will but thy will be done” and you go serve. If you are called to be a priest then you go. You serve Christ because that’s what gets you to heaven, and you drag as many people as you can with you.

-Tim-

agree

 

[robwar]

While I realize what the OP meant, the misuse of the terms “conservative” and “liberal” is something that should be fought against. Conservatism and liberalism are both ideologies, and as such they are evil. One is not better than the other. As Catholics we should think in terms of orthodoxy and orthopraxis, not in terms of the secular ideologies of conservatism or liberalism.

Our Faith conserves and liberates. As such, as a Catholic, I am both - which in the eyes of conservatives and liberals, who falsely place their faith in only one of them, means I am neither. [Edit:] Or rather, they see me as conservative if they are liberal, and the other way around…

(Okay, that was severely simplified, but I hope I got my point across.)

I agree with this very much and both those terms which are used too often on CAF are political destinations more or less, they are not evil or good. Since OP believes he is called to the priesthood, then he should be willing to serve where ever God leads him or the Bishop sends him. As a diocese priest, he is going to encounter more orthodox Catholics and less orthodox Catholics as well as parishes. Running from perceived “liberalism” or less traditional/orthodoxy might not help him if and when he end up in situations that are “liberals” in the majority. Seminaries across the country are becoming much more orthodox in their instruction. I know Archdiocese of Detroit’s Sacred Heart Seminary has become a leader across the country and others on this thread have recommended their respective seminaries. A parish priest is more than having the most perfect reverent Mass and I hope that OP will look at a broader picture of what a diocese priest is than doing the most perfect Mass.

 

[Rin]

political destinations more or less, they are not evil or good.

Obviously the way people use the terms in daily life, they’re not speaking about the ideologies (which are evil, simply because ideology in itself is evil), but more of common sets of opinions or perhaps a kind of personal disposition. Others again are ideologized, and mistake their ideology for Catholic teaching - this happens on “both” sides, to the same extent.

The reason why I pick on this is however that while the terms are generally used in a morally neutral way, the ideologies behind the terms are evil, and if one focuses on being “conservative”, then such ideology may creep in. Which is why it is so much better to focus on orthodoxy and orthopraxis - those are virtues our Church sorely needs, and has always needed.