In
The News
Pope Benedict's 'Letter to Seminarians': "learn
to live in constant intimacy with God"
Anyone who wishes to become a priest must be
first and foremost a “man of God”,
to use the expression of Saint Paul (1 Tim 6:11).
For us God is not some abstract hypothesis;
he is not some stranger who left the scene after
the “big bang”. God has revealed
himself in Jesus Christ. In the face of Jesus
Christ we see the face of God. In his words
we hear God himself speaking to us. It follows
that the most important thing in our path towards
priesthood and during the whole of our priestly
lives is our personal relationship with God
in Jesus Christ. take for granted and so we
grow in gratitude. With gratitude comes joy
for the fact that God is close to us and that
we can serve him. Keep
Reading.
Vocation Director shares his story
Rev. Brian Welter, Vocation Director for the
Archdiocese of Chicago was interviewed for Mundelein
Seminary’s “Priesthood” booklet
to share his vocation story. Read the story
of his path from carpenter to priest here.
Meet the US Catholic Priesthood Class
of 2010 - Highly
Educated and Experienced
WASHINGTON—The vast majority (92 percent)
of men being ordained to the priesthood report
some kind of full-time work experience prior
to entering the seminary, most often in education.
Three in five (60 percent) ordinands completed
college before pursuing the priesthood, with
one in five (20 percent) also receiving a graduate
degree. One in three (34 percent) entered the
seminary while in college.The median age of
ordinands is 33. The youngest member of the
Class of 2010 is 25; 11 men are being ordained
at the age of 65 or older. On average, men were
18 when they first considered their vocation.
“One important trend evident in this
study is the importance of lifelong formation
and engagement in the Catholic faith,”
said Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, chairman
of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated
Life and Vocations. He noted that, along with
their education and work experience, half to
three-quarters of the Class of 2010 report they
served as an altar server, lector, Eucharistic
minister or other parish ministry. Read
the full story.
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