- There is no age limit in becoming a priest--some men decide at a young age and some decide after they have already begun a different career. In order to be a priest, you do have to be Catholic and single. If you are considering priesthood, then the first part of the process is usually to pray daily and attend Mass at least weekly as well as get involved in educational and service activities in your local parish. You also will want to talk to your priest about the career and even participate in vocation awareness retreats. At this stage, it is important to gather as much information as possible. Before applying to a seminary, you first work with a vocation director. This director helps you on your spiritual path. As you come upon certain questions, concerns or issues, the vocation director helps you answer your questions and decide what is right for you. You and your director should have an open and honest relationship and identify any character traits that may be a problem for you if you serve as a priest. This process can take several months to several years, depending on the age of the candidate and any issues, questions or concerns that arise.
- When you and your vocation director are convinced that you are ready to continue your pursuit of a career as a priest, then you should apply through your diocese to become a diocesan priesthood candidate. Dioceses across the United States may have slightly different processes for their potential priesthood candidates, so you will want to make sure you understand the process when you are working with your parish priest and vocation director. Once an application is completed, the bishop reviews your information, and he decides whether you will become a seminarian for the diocese. Once the bishop has accepted you, then you will apply for seminary or a college program of pre-theology/theology. Dioceses have specific schools they wish you to attend, so it is important to talk with priests and bishops and understand your choices.
- After high school, it generally takes eight years of study to become a priest, which includes bachelor's and master's degrees. If the candidate has already completed a bachelor's degree, it should take about four more years to become a priest, depending on how much theology needs to be taken or was taken during the bachelor's degree studies. A master's in divinity does not guarantee priesthood. The ultimate decision of a candidate's fate lies in the hands of the bishop. That is why it is important to contact your parish priest and the bishop of your diocese when you know you want to become a priest and start working with them immediately. In seminary, you will also have advisers to guide you through the process, and a seminary student is free to leave at any time if priesthood does not seem to be a calling once more study has been conducted.
Comments
patmcaudel said
on 9/25/2009 i didn't know the extent of training...thanks for the well written article