Catholic seminary how long

However, a man should have lived in the diocese for two years before applying for the priesthood here. Foreign-born men are welcome to apply, but they should have lived for at least three years in the United States, two of those years in the Camden area. This is to give them time to pass through the initial phase of adapting to a new country and culture and, often, a new language.

Age: A young man may apply for the seminary for this diocese as he prepares to complete high school. The upper age limit is normally forty years because of the length of time required for seminary training and the reality that illnesses often increase and energy decreases with age, although men over the age of forty will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The older a man is, the more rooted he should be in the diocese. Candidates in their twenties and thirties are common. Our various discernment events are listed here. Is God Calling Me? What is a vocation? How do I decide upon a spiritual director? Take the "discernment test" Am I ready for the seminary? How will I know I am called? Next Steps Becoming a Priest What is a seminarian? What are the requirements to become a seminarian? What does a seminarian study?

What is life like as a seminarian? We share with them our understanding, encouragement and support. We rejoice, cry, and feel with them. Because we have chosen a way of life, which says by its very nature that God is most important, prayer has a central role in our lives. Prayer is communication with the Lord whom we love and is as necessary for us as communication is for any two persons who expect their relationship to continue.

Can you imagine having a best friend or husband or wife to whom you never spoke? Since prayer is so important, most priests and religious spend approximately two hours a day in prayer; part of that time with others, at Mass and in common oral prayer; part alone, in reading and quiet attentiveness. The main benefit of prayer is that it makes us more sensitive to God's activity in the people, events and circumstances of daily life.

Definitely not! There are lots of times when we don't feel like doing other things that are basically important to us; for example, the athlete doesn't always feel like practicing, a student doesn't always feel like studying, the wage earner doesn't always feel like working, etc. However, in all the cases mentioned, because the activity in which we participate is important, we act on motives deeper than feelings, and do what we know needs to be done.

We have approximately the same amount of leisure time as most adults. In this time, we are free to do whatever is legal, moral and reasonable for adults in our situation. Obviously, because priests are unique individuals, we won't all choose the same types of recreation, and none of us chooses the same activity every time.

Some common choices are sports, movies, TV, reading, sharing with friends and enjoying the outdoors. What is the difference between a diocesan priest and a religious priest? A diocesan priest ordinarily serves the Church within a well-defined area a diocese.

He serves the people as a parish priest, but may also be involved in other forms of ministry: teaching, chaplain in a hospital or prison, campus ministry, etc.

A religious priest, on the other hand, is a member of a community, which goes beyond the geographical limits of any diocese. A religious priest seeks to live a vowed life within a community of men for mutual support and accomplishment of some work. There is an emphasis in the community on shared ideals, prayer and commitment to Christ. Religious priests work in a wide variety of ministries. It usually takes four years after college or eight years after high school, the same as for many professions.

There is no certain age to start preparing for the priesthood. Some people go to high school seminaries. Others enter the seminary after high school, after college, or after they have been working for years. Diocesan priests make no vows. For ordination, they freely make promises of celibacy, prayer, and obedience to their bishop. God can call a person at any age. Many dioceses and religious communities have age limit requirements, however, and not all sponsors will accept candidates who cannot be ordained by age 40, 50 or One must check in each case.

Nevertheless, many factors besides one's age are considered and many sponsors judge each case on an individual basis. Potential sponsors will address these issues. As with any candidate, younger or older, a desire or sense that one is called is only one of many significant factors in accepting a candidate for the seminary.

The Church has many requirements, e. In many cases, age becomes an important factor, as noted above. One's desire for priesthood must be tested, taking into account these other factors as well as submitting to a process of discernment needed both by the individual and the sponsor. It is important that we provide the best possible priests to serve the needs of the Church. The Catholic Church, in various official documents, has established the full program of preparation for priesthood.