I've tried different websites and stuff and I don't know where to look for information even on HOW to start the process.
2007-06-30 19:30:56 · 18 answers · asked by papadego 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm sorry, but if you are anti-Catholic then please do not answer. I am a Catholic who is very strong in his beliefs and I know what the church teaches and not what Protestants think of the Catholic churh.
Thank you to all who have answered on the side of giving me useful help, I'll give someone "Best Answer" and I've already thumbed up most answers that were helpful.
God Bless
2007-06-30 19:53:44 · update #1
Copied and pasted from a web site I found:
The first requirement to become a priest is that one must be male and unmarried. There are actually a few married priests, who were formerly Episcopalian ministers who converted to Catholicism. Because they were previously married, they were not asked to take the vow of chastity. However this is a very rare exception, and normally a married man would not be allowed as a candidate for the priesthood. A married man may become a church deacon and so help the church, but he is often required to promise not to remarry should his wife predecease him.
After determining one might like to become a priest one either joins a seminary after high school, or goes to college. A college degree could be in liberal arts or religious studies. Classes emphasizing public speaking and writing are helpful. One can study at either or secular or a religious college. Attending a Catholic college is encouraged since it is thought the college will give the potential priest more access to other priests and opportunities for service in the church.
If upon finishing college, a man still wants to become a priest he will join a seminary. If the man joins a seminary without college, education to become a priest takes eight years. With a college degree, time in the seminary is usually four years. During the time in the seminary, men are encouraged not to pursue romantic relationships. However establishing friendship with both men and women is encouraged.
Should a man find in a few years that he would prefer a life that involves marriage to a woman, he may leave the seminary. Often men have made this choice prior to entering the seminary, and it is not, as depicted so often in films, the case that priests must make a final choice between romance and priesthood.
The current pope has also declared that the priesthood is open to men who are homosexuals provided that their history of homosexuality is well in the past. A homosexual man who is still sexually active would be asked to leave the seminary and reconsider his life.
The four years in the seminary, or eight for high school graduates, are both instructional and spiritual. One learns all the Catholic law, the history of Catholicism, and the way in which people minister to a parish. The man wishing to become a priest is also asked to continue to reflect on his desire to serve, and as well to seek greater union with God.
After finishing at the seminary, one first becomes a deacon for about a six-month appointment. Should this experience of serving in the church lead the man to feel he should still become a priest, then he may take his vows and enter the priesthood. This is a sacred vow, not lightly broken, so seminary preparation continues to question a person’s desire to make this decision.
2007-06-30 19:38:35 · answer #1 · answered by mattfromasia 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you are a Catholic, there are priests that will get you started. If you are not even a regular attender, I would tell you that the Catholic church has become a lot different than what the church first looked like. Read Acts. It has now become the same as what the Jews became, a religion of the traditions of man. Perhaps you should go to seminary and study the bible and then make a decision from there. You will have a degree as youre making your decision.
2007-07-01 02:38:47 · answer #2 · answered by Ms DeeAnn 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It can be very confusing to try to figure out how to begin. The first step is to decide that you want to look into it. You've already gotten that taken care of. The next thing to do is talk to your local parish priest. Eventually, you will need a letter of recommendation from him. There are a few websites you can go to to get contact information for different orders. Have you ever been to a monastery or an abbey? Really, that's the third step. You start contacting different orders and ask for vocations information about their communities. As you go through the information, and pray about it, if there are any that really grab your attention, the 4th step is to set up a time to go and visit them. A week or so is good to begin with. During this visit, you will meet with the vocations director of the abbey or monastery, along with the other brothers in the order. It will give you an opportunity to get a sneak peak of what life is like in that particular order. As you go to visit different orders, really pay attention to your prayer life. You'll know when you've found the right one for you. When you find that one, it's simply a matter of talking to the vocations director and officially beginning the process of entry. Good luck in your search, and I will be praying for you!
2007-07-01 02:45:28 · answer #3 · answered by Kellye B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk with your Priest, first. I bet there is a way he can help you get in touch with people who are going through the process of entering their vocation. your Priest will also have connections at schools.
If you are not comfortable talking with your Priest, maybe you can talk to another Priest - just call and tell the secretary what you want to talk about and why you want to talk with that Priest.
That's where I would start.
You can also research the different orders and find out about them online. You will have to decide which order you are most led to train with.
2007-07-01 02:38:21 · answer #4 · answered by yarn whore 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Call 1(907) 235-5321 and talk to Rev. Nikolai P. Yakunin....You should become a priest in the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church...
2007-07-01 02:39:41 · answer #5 · answered by Jacob Dahlen 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Are you even Catholic?? If not, that would be a good place to start! Try joining a Catholic Church and talking to a Priest.
2007-07-01 02:35:56 · answer #6 · answered by Native Spirit 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Talk to your Priest, would be the first thing I'd do.
Then talk to more Priests. To be fair, you should talk to EX priests, to see why they left. Keep posting on here, I'm sure an ex-priest or two will pop up. I believe FatherK on here is a current priest and he can help you. He seems like a willing-to-help kinda guy.
2007-07-01 02:35:18 · answer #7 · answered by Laptop Jesus 3.9 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you have to ask that question then you really don't need to be doing it. Try answering the question of WHY you want to be a priest and WHAT you are searching for in it. Until you can answer those two questions, consider yourself in doubt and when in doubt - DON'T.
2007-07-01 02:49:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The first thing I would think, would be to study the religion and if you like it, to become Catholic, and talk to your Priest.
2007-07-01 02:50:37 · answer #9 · answered by Stupid Me 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Talk to your priest. I believe you will need a letter from him to enter the seminary.
2007-07-01 02:34:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋