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

Hi, everyone after much deliberation and praying I have come to the conclusion that god is calling me to the office of the priesthood. I will be becoming an Eastern Rite Ukranian Catholic Priest. This is the rite I was baptised in and am more familiar with. My only problem is I dont have any money to pay for my schooling. My parents are dead set against this and will not support me in this. Ive tried talking to them in everyway possible nothing worked. What can I do? I really want to become a priest and believe I am called but I cant complete my schooling without any money.Please provide me with a way to solve this please GBU

HAVE YOU DISCUSSED YOUR SITUATION OPENLY WITH THE RECTOR OF THE SEMINARY? IF NOT,YOU SHOULD. THERE MUST BE AN ANSWER TO YOUR PREDICAMENT.

I have they have not responded. I just wanted to know what some priests,decons or laypeople might suggest. Please keep on responding

church248:

Christ is in our midst!!

Have you tried communicating with your bishop? That's probably the best place to start. He may be able to support you. You might also think of contacting the two seminaries in the United States. You ahve nothing to lose, though you may need a recommendation from your parish priest and bishop.

You don't mention why your parents' support is so vital. Are you living on your own? Can you find employment and do so? You may have to move out and find a way to support yourself as well as start a serious, focused savings plan for this effort. It may take some more years than you think it should. The question then is whether the Lord and your call are worth it.

Bob

Dear church248,
I will pray for you.
Just keep in mind that it might take a while before you get an answer from the Eparch.

Dear church248,
Christ is indeed in our midst!
And you can hear His still, small voice. This is discernment, keep praying for guidance and exploring all avenues, knowing that all of us on this thread will be praying for you.

D. Luke

Glory to Jesus Christ and to His Holy Spirit that he has convicted your heart.

There are questions in my mind which prevent me and perhaps other members from expressing more concrete help. These are the questions...please don't feel obliged to answer them for they have the right to be kept personal, but here goes...

Are you still in high school, college, unemployed or working? Do you have a degree? Are you active in your parish functions? Are you completely dependent upon your parents? What does your pastor recommend?

Unfortunately we live in a skeptical society because of fraud and abuse of trust. I brought up the subject of seminarians debts and the difficulty that they face, so I feel some responsibility for your post for help; that being said I would also feel guilty if someone offered you a substantial amount of money and you happened to be one of those misled inmates who take advantage of trusting people.

Please forgive me of my curiosity; I express it only out of love for bycath forum members. Hopefully my doubts are foolish; if that be so, please accept my apology and prayers that you follow God's will.

Fr Deacon Paul

Adding to Fr. Paul's questions, I am sure that your eparchy will want to know about your parents' objections. Is it general antipathy toward the church and the priesthood? Or do they respect the church but think that you are not suited to the ministry? Do they think you would be a good priest, but that would it would be a "waste" of other God-given gifts and talents? Arguably, your parents know you better than anyone else, and any vocations director would want to hear their perspectives and objections.

Slava Isusu Khrestu

My Friend

Have you spoken to Fr. Andrija Petresin at Exultation of the Holy Cross in Thunder Bay. I am sure that he would do all in his power to help and guide you along your path. From having met him, I am assured that he would be a great friend and advocate for you.

Form, the news most recently..." Keep dry, avoid the bridges and country roads some of them are not there anymore, I found out yesterday!"

C Bohom
Unworthy
Kolya

The ideal seminary for you to attend would have been St. Basil's in Stamford, but unfortunately the Seminary and College has been closed and only Ukrainian language, pysanky and cantor workshops are being offered in Stamford. Shamefully, a great part of the education and formation of priests for the Ukrainian Catholic priesthood in the USA only exists in Washington, DC. You should contact His Grace Metropolitan Stefan Soroka. Perhaps you could be accepted as a seminarian at St. Josaphat's Seminary in Washington, DC.

Although my reply is of little help and I feel others have already guided you the right way, I cannot but help give a comment.

To think that the Holy Spirit ordained men from all backgrounds whether they were uneducated or educated such as St.Paul, would have me understand it is a mans Moral and prayerful Character is what makes him ready for the priesthood, not an education. It has always been difficult for me to accept this form of current educational requirement for recruitment by the Church at present.

But a persons calling I suppose arises through what the Church considers that calling to be, and that is, to be already one in possession of an education prior to ordaination. Many saints down through History had to climb this hurdle you must currently climb such as St.Ignatius of Loyola and St.John Vianney. But if God wants you to be where he wants you to be, then like this previous saints you will be there.

You are in my prayers

God bless
Stephen

Hi, I am wanting to become a priest and am looking to find an eparchy in North America that would completely pay my way into the seminary. I'm not looking for a free ride because I just don't wish to pay its because I will not receive any funding from my parents and I don't have enough money to pay for it myself or to even take out a student loan. Does anyone know of any Eparchys?

PS: I am from the eparchy of Toronto and would have went under that eparchy gladely but I was told by one of the priests of the vocations committee that the bishop and eparchy does not have any money to help me and the bishop was not interested in any new vocations.

Most will forgive tuition once a seminarian has graduated and been ordained but I don't know of any that just offer a free ride.

Are your parents practicing Ukrainian Catholic? Or are they of another sui juris Church? I once met a UGCC priest whose parents were adamently against his vocation because they were Latin and he had the call to a Church they knew little or nothing about for various reasons. They even refused to go to his ordination or to attend any DL he served. Is this part of the objection? If so, you may have a toughter road to travel.

Bob

Well, this was the case with me. My family was Latin, and I was asked to join as an altar server at a Ruthenian Church, even though we were quite new to the Rite at the time. My dad and sister were kind of against me serving in the Byzantine tradition, but my mother welcomed the idea. It was good though, and I'm glad to have returned to the Eastern tradition after some time. So I've been in your shoes, but not to the degree of being fully ordained. Let's hope the best for you.