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Questions and Answers
If you are considering a vocation check out the answers to the following frequently asked questions.
How do I know when I am called?
Everyone is called to a particular vocation in the Church - everyone. All the baptized are incorporated into the Church and so called to be holy. Priests are called, married people are called, single people are called. The struggle is to determine which call is truly ours amid the many vocations God has for his people. One way to think more carefully about whether or not you are called to the priesthood is to look at your talents and desires, at your background and ambitions. If you were raised in the Catholic faith and love it still, if you had good parents who were healthy examples for you, if you were fortunate enougth to come to know excellent priests along the way, that may have been God preparing you for the priesthood. A calling cannot be placed under a microscope and examined like a biological sample. It is far more complex and personal. For these reasons it is also often more difficult to describe and understand. Yet if you are a single Catholic male who feels moved at certain times to investigate the possiblity of becoming a priest, you should listen to that inner voice. Few men hear it, but it is very real and must be heeded.
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What about celibacy?
What about it? If you want to be a priest you can't get married. Remember, Jesus wasn't married. More seriously, while it is a huge stumbling block for many men, it is perhaps the defining characteristic of the Roman Catholic priesthood in a society drowning in sexual imagery. Celibacy is a huge commitment, no doubt about it. But it is a commitment which leads to a spiritually and apostolically vibrant church whose priests are almost always available to the people whom they serve. It is possible to live a full, rich, and happy life as a celibate, contrary to what some people think. The important thing is to have a consistent life of prayer along with strong and healthy friendships with brother priests. Without prayer and friends, celibacy will become more of a cross than a gift.
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How long does it take to become a priest?
It depends on your previous education and when you enter the seminary. Some men decide to pursue the priesthood right out of high school and enter college seminary. For them it would take a minimum of eight years, four obtaining a college degree and four years spent in a major seminary studying theology. For someone who already has a college degree, it will take four to six years, depending on the amount of philosophy they've studied, since all men entering the major seminary must have a college degree and 30 credit hours of philosophy. There are numerous variables which effect one's path to be priesthood, variables which need to be figured out on an individual basis with the vocation director and the seminary.
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What is seminary life like?
The seminary is a busy place where men live, pray, and study together. But a diocesan seminary does not approximate a religious order. It seeks to form parish priests. Life at the seminary entails daily Mass, private and common prayer times, lots of classes (for which you do receive grades), pastoral assignments in nearby parishes, and various other components. And, yes, you do take classes on how to say Mass and celebrate the other Sacraments. Every seminary should be a place of orthodox Catholic teaching as well, since seminarians have enough to ponder without having to battle wayward faculty over basic teachings of our faith. Tte faculty though, is concerned not only with your theological knowledge but also your human, moral, and spiritual development as well. So they keep a pretty close eye on the seminarians to make sure that they are well adjusted, prayerful, balanced men who have a holy and sincere desire to serve the Church. While the seminary has rules it is not a barracks. There is plenty of opportunity to play sports, exercise, or hang out with new found friends from all over the United States and other countries.
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What seminary do Springfield seminarians attend?
Since the Diocese of Springfield does not operate its own seminary, it sends its men to various seminaries. We currently have men at St. John's Seminary in Boston, Blessed Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, MA (for older men), Our Lady of Providence Seminary College in Providence, RI, SS Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, MI and the North American College in Rome, Italy. During the summer months those in major seminary normally work in various pastoral assignments and a weekly stipend is paid for their services.
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I'm thinking about it, how much does it cost?
Don't worry about cost - all we ask for is your life. The Diocese of Springfield will pay for your entire Major Seminary education as well as your cost for books. Those attending the college division must pay for their tuition for their undergraduate degree (currently we use Providence College in Rhode Island). Seminarians also have their health insurance paid in full. the Knights of Columbus of the diocese are very generous in assisting our seminarians with a stipend during the semester. We also have some other generous benefactors that occasionally will send money to assist with the personal expenses and other costs related to your studies.
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What does a priest do all day?
Since the daily life of a priest varies according to the size and location of the parish he's in, his daily schedule is always in flux. But some constants in the life of a parish priest include daily Mass, funerals, wedding preparation and weddings themselves, hearing confessions, spiritual guidance, homily preparation, visiting the hospital and homebound, baptizing, teaching religous education or at a school, praying the breviary, spending time with youth, and so on and so forth. While there is no set schedule, neither is there a lack of things for a priest to do each and everyday. It is a very full life.
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What about free time, or my own hobbies and interests?
So long as the priest makes it a priority there is definitely time for exercise, reading, going to a movie, golfing, and other activities. Every priest, without exception, is given one day off a week and a few weeks vacation every year. He is expected to use this time to recoup his strength and energy so that he can return to his parish ready to jump back into its flow of activities. Healthy priests relax by doing the same things that healthy, normal men do.
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Alright, I'm thinking about taking the first step. What do I do?
Pick up the phone and call the Vocation Office. There is nothing to be afraid of, we won't force you to sign your life away, we will just cooperate with God's will for you. Feel free to call with any questions you may have and we will be happy to chat with you.
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