catholic seminary

what are the steps for some guy to get into the seminary? a friend of mine wants to know. he believes his being called to the priesthood! and how many yrs does it take?

Every diocese has a 'vocation director', whose full-time job is to speak to interested persons. Check this website: http://www.ncdvd.org/vocation_directors. asp. It tells you who the vocation director of your diocese is, with phone number, email and website. There is a process of application which takes about a year, but if it begins now your friend may be admitted to the seminary in the Fall.

How long does it take? It depends upon the background. Every priest is expected to get the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in philosophy and then a graduate degree in theology. The theology part takes five full years, and nearly everyone does that. The philosophy part is sometimes scaled back depending on background. If your friend has never been to college he'll be sent to a 'college seminary' for four years. If your friend has a college degree, but not in philosophy, he will spend two years in a college seminary or 'pre-theologate'. If he has a philosophy degree, he may be able to skip this entirely. Then, five more years of theology. So normally a total of 7-9 years until ordination as a priest. (Ordination as a deacon comes a year earlier.)

2009-09-20 18:59:47 by Patriarch Rolando

How do you get training to become a priest? What do you do all day at a seminary? Why visit a seminary?

I live in New Jersey and once lived in Rockville, Maryland which belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington.

How much will it cost, and is it true that in other seminaries, they offer the studies for free because of seminarians' shortage?

Please help, and God bless you all!

Seminary costs vary wildly. Yes, some seminarians are subsidized by the diocese -- not necessarily because of a priest shortage. In the Diocese of Lincoln, which has more seminarians per capita than any other U.S. diocese, the seminarians pay what they can and the the people of the diocese pay the rest. There are also other kinds of seminaries that are not diocesan, like the Fraternal Society of Saint Peter.

Your first step should be to contact your local vocations director. You need to begin a time of discernment to determine if you are truly called to the priesthood. This will involve, perhaps, meetings with a spiritual director, prayer, novenas, retreats at various seminaries, etc.

Once you are fairly certain of your vocational calling, there is a refining process. Are you called to be a fraternal priest (Jesuit, FSSP, etc.) or a diocesan priest? If you are called to be a diocesan priest, which dioceses? (It doesn't have to be your home diocese.)

Then you enroll in seminary, where the discernment process continues.

2008-10-21 20:05:10 by c.edward21

Price: $3.22

I want to possibly become a catholic priest.... Im totally broke and have no money... my parents are super poor and the economy is horrible... does that mean i should find another career move?

I thought you could go there for free. Offer to work in one of the missions to pay your way in the seminary. I think maybe you're joking with this question.

2009-04-30 14:49:52 by Peter F

Price: $20.00 $17.10

My parents (both diseased) are not married in civil nor in the Church, and I, in the eyes of the law, am an illegitimate son because of my parent's wedlock.

But I am very sure that it is God's will that I existed even my parent's aren't married.

And I strongly feel his call in my heart to serve him but this is my problem. Please help me.

Thanks and God bless.

Of course.

You are not responsible for the actions of your parents.

Contact your local diocesan office for vocations.

The people there can answer your questions, help you with discerning where God is calling you, and let you know what your choices are.

Here are some online resources: http://www.archdiocese.la/ministry/vocat ions/resources/index.html

God bless.

With love in Christ.

2009-06-06 13:58:09 by c.edward21

Yes hi everyone... i want to apply for a seminary but am very poor.... im 27 my credit sucks..... and come from a poor household...its for a catholic seminary?

62 and soon to begin my final year at Life Bible College in LA. I found the money some how. If you have decided that it's Gods will, try to remember that it's His bill.

2009-04-19 11:20:47 by Peter F