Seminary Life
 

If I feel as though I am ready to enter the seminary, what should I do?

St. (Padre) Pio puts it well, "pray, hope and don't worry." For, a genuine vocation is born from a deep prayer life which ultimately leads to a better understanding as to how God is calling you. If, from that time spent in His presence you feel as though He may be calling you to live as a priest or religious speak to your parish priest and ask if he can help you in contacting the vocation director of your diocese.

If I enter the seminary, does that mean I will, ulimately, become a priest?

To be honest, only God knows, but if you feel as though He is genuinely calling you, then it is a good bet you will be. However, and this is a big however, if you feel as though, during the course of your discernment in the seminary, that you are being called elsewhere, understand that the door does not lock behind you and you are free to pursue the will of God wherever He may take you. That said, the seminary itself does infer a level of commitment and responsibility, and so, as many saints have said, we live our vocation each moment of each day and we wouldn't be where we were unless God has called us to that moment.

How do I know with 100% confidence that I should enter the seminary?

To be honest, we never know with 100% certainty that we should do anything, yet, if your prayer is leading you closer to that decision, if your family, priest and vocation director think it is something that you should at least try, then it is good bet that God is speaking to your heart to let you know that He wants you to, at least, "give it a shot." Ultimately, it rests on taking a chance, taking that final, leap of faith. Yet, as any former seminarian will tell you, by doing so, you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
 

What will seminary life be like?

It will be a daily growing in your faith, a clearer understanding of your vocation, and an opportunity to discern where God is calling you. In the seminary itself there are what are known as "four pillars" to seminary formation, those are spiritual, intellectual, human and pastoral. All of these areas are dealt with in order to help you to become a well-rounded and holy priest.

How long will it take to become a priest?

Usually between six and eight years of seminary formation. Academically, for those who have a four year college degree, this will mean six years of formation including two years of philosophy and four years of theological studies. If you are entering out of high school or later in life and do not have a four year college degree, the diocese will first send you to obtain a college degree, with credits in Philosophy (which usually take four years) and then onto study theology or pre-theology for those who have not fulfilled their philosophy requirements. That is usually, on average, four years, but could be more, depending on credits and formation.

Below are the seminaries that the Diocese of Paterson Sends To: