FAQ's
Daily Lives of Priests
Vows of the Priesthood
What does a seminarian study?
There are four main areas of study and development in preparing for the priesthood: human, spiritual, the ability to minister (to serve and work with people) and academics. Spirituality, the study of prayer and the development of one's relationship with God, is covered mostly on an individual basis, with each man meeting with a priest-advisor. Ability to minister is developed in supervised programs. If a man goes to a college seminary, he has the same classes as a regular liberal arts college with the addition of classes on Church and God. After college, he enters theology, where his time is spent studying the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, and the skills he will need to be a priest.
How old must one be to enter the seminary?
There is no certain age to start preparing for the priesthood. Some people go to high school seminaries, others enter seminary after high school, after college, or after working for a number of years. Church law requires that a man be at least 26 years of age to be ordained a priest. In the Diocese of Dallas there currently is no age limit on when a man can be accepted to the seminary. However, careful consideration regarding health, finances, and future years of priestly service must be taken into account prior to the acceptance of an applicant.
Is seminary life hard?
Seminary life is not any harder than college or graduate work at another university. Seminarians have the added responsibilities of developing as men of prayer, and as a bearer of the Good News. Friendships are encouraged with both men and women, but dating is not part of the seminarian's life since he is preparing for celibacy, not marriage. They have the responsibility like any student, to fulfill the responsibilities that are part of their preparation for the life they've chosen.
Are you taught to write homilies?
Seminarians are required to take courses on writing and giving homilies. Once a seminarian is ordained a deacon (about one year before ordination to priesthood), he will preach periodically at Mass in the Seminary and in parishes. During this deacon year, he will receive constructive feedback on his homilies from the people at Mass and the priest with whom he serves.
Do you have to be an "A" student in the seminary?
A seminarian should be an average or above average student. A priest need not be a "brain," but on the other hand a priest must have the ability to pass the courses the seminary requires in order to serve the Christian community well.
Where do candidates complete their education?
Most students complete their undergraduate work at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas and earn their degree from The University of Dallas, Irving. A Pre-Theology program is offered to individuals who have an academic degree but need to complete undergraduate requirements in Philosophy and Theology. After College Seminary most students will attend Theologate Seminary at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas and earn a M.Div. from The University of St. Thomas, Houston. Older candidates (over age 50) usually attend Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wisconsin.
About the Daily Lives of Priests
Do you honestly enjoy your life?
I do! It brings me immense satisfaction and deep happiness to work with people in many ways. As a minister of the Gospel, I touch the very center of others' lives by trying to communicate the unconditional love Jesus has for us. Sure, there are times of discouragement, frustration, and fatigue -- everyone has those. But if I had my life to live over again, I'd choose the same life.
What does a priest do all day?
What a priest does with his day is so varied and complex that only a sampling can be given here. Prayer, work, exercise and leisure are all necessary for a healthy life. We try to make sure we have a balance of all these -- but we don't always succeed.
In the area of work (ministry), many of us have one main occupation, such as teaching, parish ministry, social work, or hospital work, all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands.
The unpredictable demands are also interesting and challenging. They center around meeting the needs of people: the sick, old, angry, hurt, hungry, imprisoned, excited, happy. We share with them our understanding, encouragement, and support. We rejoice, cry, feel with them. Such events are both painful and rewarding, fatiguing and empowering.
How important is prayer in the life of a priest?
Because we have chosen a way of life which says by its very nature that God is most important, prayer has a central role in our lives. Prayer is communication with the Lord whom we love --and is as necessary for us as communication is for any two persons who expect their relationship to continue. Can you imagine having a best friend (or wife) to whom you never spoke?
Since prayer is so important, most priests spend approximately two hours a day in prayer; part of that time with others, at Mass and in common prayer; part alone, in reading and quiet contemplation. Probably the main benefit of prayer is that it makes us more sensitive to God's activity in the people, events, and circumstances of daily life.
Does a Diocesan priest receive a salary?
Since a diocesan priest does not take a vow of poverty, he receives a personal salary. Priests receive a salary commensurate with the local standard of living enabling him to pay for expenses he has: medical, car, books, entertainment, vacation and charitable contributions.
The amount of money made by a priest is not really important. We have chosen to live simply, without accumulating a lot of material possessions, in order to enable us to focus our lives more easily on Jesus, and to serve His people.
Do priests get time off and what do they do in that time?
We have approximately the same amount of leisure time as most adults. In this time, we are free to do whatever is legal, moral, and reasonable for adults in our situation. Obviously, because priests are unique individuals, we won't all choose the same types of recreational activity, and no one of us choose the same activity every time. Some of the more common choices are sports,movies, TV, reading, sharing with friends, enjoying the outdoors.
Is prayer always easy for a priest?
Definitely not! There are lots of times when we don't feel like praying just as there are times we don't feel like doing other things that are basically important to us -- for example, the athlete doesn't always feel like practicing; a student doesn't always feel like studying; the wage-earner doesn't always feel like working, etc. However, in all the cases mentioned, because the prayer, game, grade, or job is important, we act on motives deeper than feeling, and do what we know needs to be done.
Our efforts aren't always perfect, but we are so convinced of our deep need for God that we keep trying to pray, no matter how we feel. We believe that God sees and responds to our attempts to communicate with Him.
Do you ever fight with other priests?
Hopefully, "fight" is too strong a word; perhaps disagreement would be more accurate. This is natural, expected, and healthy when people are living together. Presuming the maturity of the people involved, most disagreements can be worked out to the benefit and satisfaction of all. Priests work at growing in the art of communication, and this demands trust, openness, and willingness to live in the tension involved in talking out differences.
Can you retire from your work?
A retirement age applies to priests (75 years old). We can retire from active ministry, but many will get involved in part time ministry or volunteer service. We can not retire from the priesthood. We do not retire from our love for people.
Can you be fired from your job?
If our work is incompetent, we can be removed from our assignment. We could not be fired from the priesthood.
About the Vows of the Priesthood
What vows do Diocesan priests make?
Diocesan priests make no vows. For ordination, they freely make promises of celibacy and obedience to their Bishop.
Do you have to be a virgin to become a priest?
No. A person's past life is not the main concern. The question is: Am I willing and able now to live and love as a celibate person in the service of others?
Can priests date?
No, because dating is meant to lead one to marriage, and as celibates we plan not to marry. However, we can and do have friends of the opposite sex.
Are you ever attracted to someone of the opposite sex?
Yes, we are. Nothing happens to us at the time of entering the seminary that eliminates normal human needs, feelings, or desires. As celibate people, we choose to channel these feelings and express our love for others in a wide range of means other than those physical expressions restricted to marriage.
What do you do if you fall in love?
The basic responsibility in such a situation is to preserve the original, existing commitment (to continue to live as a priest) and to do whatever is necessary to do that. The priest must decide to develop the relationship within the bounds and responsibilities of his commitment to celibacy, or to drop the other person out of his life all together. While such decisions are not always easy to make, they are by no means impossible and often leave the priest stronger than before in his vocation.
Do you ever wonder about marriage and children?
Yes, it's only natural that at times priests consider the beauty of family life. However, we recognize also the beauty and happiness of our own life style, and make a free choice to remain celibate.
Do you ever get lonely?
As in any way of life, there are times of loneliness for priests.