www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Other Sacramental Mysteries Future Seminarian Needs Help

May I suggest that you find a good spiritual director to advise and assist you. He will advise you as to what you need to do to proceed ahead with your goal. If you have a true vocation MONEY will not be an impediment to your vocation. Do you desire to be an Eparchial priest or a priest within a Ukrainian Catholic religious community. There are some in Canada doing wonderful work among Catholics of the Ukrainian Byzantine Rite. First and foremost, I would advise you to be patient. It may be very difficult and nerve racking particularly if you are very concerned about your present financial situation.

If I may. Please contact the chancery. Ask for the Director of vocations himself. Work with him, he has been appointed by the eparch to foster vocations. I have found that there are many priests out there that say they are all for vocations to the priesthood and will be more than willing to help you only if you fit their idea of what a priest should be. Not if you have a true calling. Go to the source before you get discouraged. I know for myself that after attending a Latin Minor Seminary for 6 years that there is always a way for God to work. I was dishearten about thirty years ago when after being accepted into the major seminary shortly after my father passed, the first thing the rector asked was,"And tell me son how do you plan on paying for this adventure?" I looked the monsignor right in the eye and said, "Good Father this is not an adventure this is a man sue arching out a vocation, and if money is the most important thing for you then you don't want me." Several other young men were treated the same way, all those are now ordained in different Latin dioceses.

Also, consider entering a religious order. Searching allows the Holy Spirit to direct you. Often they send their young men on to seminary.

I am replying many months later to your post.

Did you succeed in finding student aid? In either Canada or the USA?

I will pray that God speaks to your parents - it is a great honor in many cultural traditions (Slovak, Italian, Greek, Polish) for a family to produce a son who becomes a priest.

Pleaset let us know how your quest is progressing.

I am very familiar with your city (Ottawa) and spent about four months living in your capital while delivering a computer security project for PWGSC AGency on Montreal Road. There is a strong economy in Ottawa - perhaps you could get part time work?

Please update us. Our Church needs more priests.

Blessings,