Who in here are discerning the priesthood?

[Mannyfit75]

I like to know other than myself is discerning the priesthood.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

yep i am. see signature

 

[Closer]

Visiting SOLT in July

 

[augieboo]

I like to know other than myself is discerning the priesthood.

Yep.

Visited Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS) last month and have two more visits planned this month.

Scheduled to visit Marians of the Immaculate Conception (MIC) in September.

In process of scheduling visits to Assumptionists, Redemptorists, Servants of Charity, and Glenmary Missioners.

Thinking about a few others as well.

So far SSS has a clear lead, because their charism is so perfect – the Eucharist, what could be better? – and the people I’ve met are really cool.

On the other hand, I haven’t met anybody else face-to-face yet…

 

[RevDrNorth]

I am a yes and no. I was Prot and got married to a Catholic and then converted to R Catholicism. I even taught CCD. My Wife would not get an annulment so after a few years I left and we ended up at Protestant churches (better sermons .

Went to grad school/seminary and am an ordained Prot clergyman. Wife wants a divorce. Very amicable (no bad issues such as adultery)…she just does not want to be married anymore.

I have been feeling a call I have to discern since pondering Beckwith’s conversion. Celibacy is not a problem for a couple of reasons. One I am already practicing it and have been since it would not have been ethical to have done othewise. Second, since our divorce does not have the elements for a divorce and remarriage (adultery or unbelieving spouse who leaves) I will be celibate for the rest of my life. God has given me peace in this area and much practice .

However, there are a number of problems. One I would need an annulment, then assuming that was granted and my son was in college I would be in my mid forties. So at that point I would be a 46 year old heading off to seminary again (??). As someone on another thread pointed out a Bishop may look not favorably on a would be Priest with an annulment.

At any rate, I love Christ fervently and am open to what ever He would have for me and so I am open to the discernment process.

Rev North

 

[mommyof4]

No, I’m a married woman. Will definity reconcider monastic life if circumstances ever change, though.

 

[augieboo]

One I would need an annulment, then assuming that was granted and my son was in college I would be in my mid forties. So at that point I would be a 46 year old heading off to seminary again (??).

Don’t forget, there are seminaries that specialize in late vocations, which take four years rather than the normal 7-9 for diocesan or 7-15 for orders. Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Massacheussetts for example.

As someone on another thread pointed out a Bishop may look not favorably on a would be Priest with an annulment.

Some may not. But remember, a single bishop does not have the charism of infallibility – unless he’s the Bishop of Rome. So if one were to turn you down – assuming that’s where you discern you need to go – just try the next one down the way, and the next one, and the next one.

At any rate, I love Christ fervently and am open to what ever He would have for me and so I am open to the discernment process.

Well, you’ve already got a lot more going for you than some priests I know! :yup:

 

[RevDrNorth]

Don’t forget, there are seminaries that specialize in late vocations, which take four years rather than the normal 7-9 for diocesan or 7-15 for orders. Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Massacheussetts for example.

Some may not. But remember, a single bishop does not have the charism of infallibility – unless he’s the Bishop of Rome. So if one were to turn you down – assuming that’s where you discern you need to go – just try the next one down the way, and the next one, and the next one.

Well, you’ve already got a lot more going for you than some priests I know! :yup:

Augieboo, Thank you for your kind and supportive words and the link.

Rev North

 

[pawel15]

I am 99% sure i am going to be a priest, down under in Melbourne, Australia. The hardest part however, is revealing it to others, should i tell my friends and family or should i wait until i see a priest or spiritual director? I am 19 years of age.

In prayer that it is where i feel the biggest urge to be a priest, but wants i step back into the world, the distractions in life such as T.V, media, internet or people such as non-christians (even catholics), can really be a setback if you allow it to control your life. But praying is vital, and those who don’t prayer will most likely ignore the call and not be open to that vocation.

Please pray for me, this is a huge decision and sometimes i feel all alone, but i know their are others out their who also need our prayers. In the archdiocese of Melbourne their is a shortage of priests, 90-95% of catholic students do not practise their faith wants they leave college, and catholic are donating less and less each week. So we need more priests, good priests, to counter this trend.
Pray to our Mother for her help and intercession,

God Bless

 

[C_Bautista]

I have certainly felt called to the priesthood, but often I’ve also felt called to fatherhood.

A [sneaky ] priest friend suggested that perhaps priesthood, as a fatherly role in the Church, would share many of the same necessary characteristics as fatherhood, and that he who made a good priest should also have been a good father, potentially.

So I’m not “formally” discerning a vocation (not in the seminary or anything) but I’m seriously considering it as part of my future.

 

[orgel_maestro]

I am 99% sure i am going to be a priest, down under in Melbourne, Australia. The hardest part however, is revealing it to others, should i tell my friends and family or should i wait until i see a priest or spiritual director? I am 19 years of age.

In prayer that it is where i feel the biggest urge to be a priest, but wants i step back into the world, the distractions in life such as T.V, media, internet or people such as non-christians (even catholics), can really be a setback if you allow it to control your life. But praying is vital, and those who don’t prayer will most likely ignore the call and not be open to that vocation.

Please pray for me, this is a huge decision and sometimes i feel all alone, but i know their are others out their who also need our prayers. In the archdiocese of Melbourne their is a shortage of priests, 90-95% of catholic students do not practise their faith wants they leave college, and catholic are donating less and less each week. So we need more priests, good priests, to counter this trend.
Pray to our Mother for her help and intercession,

God Bless

judging from ure screen name and your signature, ure Polish =) Cześć! Im going to Lublin to study for a month. My polish is bad, I’m not polish, I have no affiliation with Poles, I dont know why I studied a year of it, but i feel I should go on and finish what I started. I visited Poland last year briefly, n went to see the Black Madonna, it has had two after effects 1) I started studying języka polskiego and 2) It made me think more about the priesthood and now im 99.99% sure I’ll be entering seminary. There were so many priests in Kraków! I happen to be there on the day they were ordaining their priests, but I’d never seen so many clergy in my life, brothers n sisters, n priests in cassocks, I felt like I was in the Vatican. But, ya…

 

[lak611]

I am a yes and no. I was Prot and got married to a Catholic and then converted to R Catholicism. I even taught CCD. My Wife would not get an annulment so after a few years I left and we ended up at Protestant churches (better sermons .

Went to grad school/seminary and am an ordained Prot clergyman. Wife wants a divorce. Very amicable (no bad issues such as adultery)…she just does not want to be married anymore.

I have been feeling a call I have to discern since pondering Beckwith’s conversion. Celibacy is not a problem for a couple of reasons. One I am already practicing it and have been since it would not have been ethical to have done othewise. Second, since our divorce does not have the elements for a divorce and remarriage (adultery or unbelieving spouse who leaves) I will be celibate for the rest of my life. God has given me peace in this area and much practice .

However, there are a number of problems. One I would need an annulment, then assuming that was granted and my son was in college I would be in my mid forties. So at that point I would be a 46 year old heading off to seminary again (??). As someone on another thread pointed out a Bishop may look not favorably on a would be Priest with an annulment.

At any rate, I love Christ fervently and am open to what ever He would have for me and so I am open to the discernment process.

Rev North

There is a priest in my diocese who had both an annulment and was a widower. He was married, got a civil divorce and then an annulment. He has two children from that annulled marriage. Then he was validly married to another woman, but his wife died. After the death of his wife, he entered the seminary. He has been a priest for about 3 years now. He spoke at my parish when he was still a seminarian. He also has grandchildren. His grandchildren said they didn’t know if they should call him “Father Grandpa”. He is in his fifties now. You are not necessarily banned from being a priest. This fellow was not. God bless you in whatever He is calling you to do.

 

[mcpguy]

I’m one of the oddballs who feels the call to be a Brother.

 

[vince2paul]

Well, I’m thinking about dominican order and diocesan priesthood, but I think now it’s more towards diocesan priesthood. I’m not sure whether the chance of me being accepted as I had a sinful and chaotic past.

I believe with God nothing is impossible, so I’m just open to anything He wants me to do.

 

[pawel15]

judging from ure screen name and your signature, ure Polish =) Cześć! Im going to Lublin to study for a month. My polish is bad, I’m not polish, I have no affiliation with Poles, I dont know why I studied a year of it, but i feel I should go on and finish what I started. I visited Poland last year briefly, n went to see the Black Madonna, it has had two after effects 1) I started studying języka polskiego and 2) It made me think more about the priesthood and now im 99.99% sure I’ll be entering seminary. There were so many priests in Kraków! I happen to be there on the day they were ordaining their priests, but I’d never seen so many clergy in my life, brothers n sisters, n priests in cassocks, I felt like I was in the Vatican. But, ya…

Czesc, jezyk Polski nie jest latwy, i tez mam problemy uczymac to, co uczylem w polskim szkole. Mow jak najwiecej po polsku.

I really want to go to Czestochowa, Jasna Gora, to see the Black Maddona. I have heard how many people who see it become really close to God that they even become priests. Poland is a place of deep faith and i so wish i could be their. Their are quite a few Poles in Melbourne that i can affiliate with, however many of the younger generation have fallen away from the chuch, which really makes me sad.

I will pray for you to the black maddona, that she may give you the strength to endure your trials and to “Not be afraid”, as John Paul 2 always said.

 

[church_child]

I’m entering collge seminary in the fall. I’m so excited! I can’t wait to go! It’s a long haul (eight years of study) but I’m ready for it and I know God will help me through it if I’m to become a priest.

 

[CHCatholic]

I’m still discerning, I go through many phases, one day I want to, the next day I don’t, etc.
The real thing I’m discerning is where I ought to be a priest. I feel called to be a priest in Europe, it is in far greater need then Canada, in my humble opinion. But I will do whatever God wills.
In a year I’m moving to Rome to study at the Angelicum as a layperson, then we’ll see where I go from there.

 

[jwedgie09]

I am still in high school but I am discerning a possibly call to the priesthood. I have talked to my priest and he is very excited for me. He has recently signed me up for a Vocations camp my archdiocese is having next week!

 

[pawel15]

The question still remains, ‘how do you know you are being called to the priesthood?’. Everyone has their own way of knowing, sometimes their is a sign, or you just know it in your heart.

The thought about being a priest came to me and when i actually said it in my mind, (“i want to be a priest”) a great joy came over me that i’ve never experienced in my life. I had tears coming out and i knew from that experience that I was being called.

The short film ‘Fishers of Men’, is a great clip to give you the courage and inspiration to to take action when you hear the call.
One of the priests hit the mark when he said, “It’s not natural to be a priest, it’s super-natural.”

 

[jfallaw]

Yeah, I’m taking a priestly vacation! Seriously, I have always felt called to serve God as a minister, but lately am really feeling called to marriage to my wonderful girlfriend. If I were protestant- no problem. Maybe the diaconate? I don’t know, I’m an uneducated Catholic. But How do married men serve as ministers in the Church?