What are the steps of becoming a Priest?

[fdsafdsa]

I am considering the priesthood, but I am unsure of what steps that are involved in the process. Is there a selction in the type of priest you want to become, or rather are all priests the same or are there different types? How is education at the seminary? Is it a 4 year process like college? Are there things I must do to prepare myself. What happens to a priest who is 80+ years old? I am 19 years old, can I pursue the priesthood at this age? Those are my main questions, but I am also interested in knowing others experiences in how they became a priest and the steps the took. So please share anything that might of interest.

[Tantum ergo]

I would suggest that you talk to your own priest first. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, or if you are in college and do not know the priest there so well, look in your diocesan newspaper; there is sure to be a link to the Diocesan Vocations Office. E-mail or write to them; they will set you up with information and be glad to arrange a meeting for you so that you can have your questions answered. God bless.

[Friar David, O.Carm]

Originally Posted by fdsafdsa

I am considering the priesthood, but I am unsure of what steps that are involved in the process.

First, get a spiritual director.
Second, contact some vocation directors.

Is there a selction in the type of priest you want to become, or rather are all priests the same or are there different types?

Yes, there are two types of priests, secular (diocesan) and religious (members of religious orders).

You need to discern whether you feel called to the diocesan or community life.

How is education at the seminary? Is it a 4 year process like college?

Seminary education is graduate work. It is a 4 year masters degree program. You end up with a Masters of Divinity. That is if you attend an accredited program. Some religious orders have their own seminaries that are not accredited and I believe that you get a JCL or something like that, it is a pontifical degree. Same would go if you went to Rome with a religious order or diocese.

Are there things I must do to prepare myself.

You need a bachelors degree and the new requirements for seminary entry are 30 credits of philosophy and 12 credits of theology. The bishops are also recommending Spanish and Latin. Neither are hard and fast requirements but some seminaries may require the Latin.

What happens to a priest who is 80+ years old?

You will most likely be retired for a couple of years. How that works depends on if you go the secular or religious route.

I am 19 years old, can I pursue the priesthood at this age?

Yes you can but some religious orders may tell you that you will have to wait a few more years before entry into the postulancy/pre-novitiate.

Those are my main questions, but I am also interested in knowing others experiences in how they became a priest and the steps the took. So please share anything that might of interest.

I contacted many orders and went on some retreats with them, mostly "come and see" vocation retreats. I also did a "come and see" retreat at a seminary. I finally settled on the group I did after many stops and starts. Chose the Carmelites because I knew a couple of priests who were in the order.

I hope this helps you out.

[fdsafdsa]

I am planning on contacting my parish priest, but before I do, I just wanted to know some basic information and have some sort of direction to my questions.

[Friar David, O.Carm]

Originally Posted by Tantum ergo

I would suggest that you talk to your own priest first. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, or if you are in college and do not know the priest there so well, look in your diocesan newspaper; there is sure to be a link to the Diocesan Vocations Office. E-mail or write to them; they will set you up with information and be glad to arrange a meeting for you so that you can have your questions answered. God bless.

Only issue I have with this advice is that a Diocesan Vocation director will not mention much about religious life and may even try to steer a candidate away from it. After all there is a vocations "crisis" and the dioceses are trying to get all they can.

[fdsafdsa]

ByzCath thanks for the information. I believe you mentioned in your post that you need a bachelors degree before entering the seminary. If so does this mean that I may not purse the the priesthood untill I have a degree and if that is the case then I guess I can't purse the priesthood untill 3 years from now. Does the type of bachelor Degree have any effect, or is it of my own choosing?

[Friar David, O.Carm]

Originally Posted by fdsafdsa

ByzCath thanks for the information. I believe you mentioned in your post that you need a bachelors degree before entering the seminary. If so does this mean that I may not purse the the priesthood untill I have a degree and if that is the case then I guess I can't purse the priesthood untill 3 years from now. Does the type of bachelor Degree have any effect, or is it of my own choosing?

No, it doesn't mean that. Some dioceses have a college seminary program and some religious orders have you finish your bachelors degree in the postulancy/pre-novitiate program or right after the novitiate.

With the requirements being 30 credits of philosophy and 12 credits of theology, it would require a bachelors in philosophy if you do not what to have to do extra classes to prepare you for the seminary after you get your bachelors degree. A bachelors in philosophy with a minor in theology would be best and I would suggest that you attend a good Catholic University to get all this.

If you have not start college yet I would suggest that you get in touch with some vocations directors and see where they might suggest.