tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.comments2011-03-02T01:30:27.129-08:00Bobby Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10179051618327135497noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-54613955979020961452009-02-26T18:07:00.000-08:002009-02-26T18:07:00.000-08:00I have long felt a call to the priesthood. However, such is my financial situation that I could NEVER afford seminary.JNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383558659098043273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-91226816673730783782009-02-25T09:04:00.000-08:002009-02-25T09:04:00.000-08:00Thank you for your question about application and admission to the seminary. The application and admissions process to the seminary involves a series of step-by-step activities, all done in such a way as to help a young man and the Church, discover the nature of a young man's call. This process involves paperwork (i.e. an application form, autobiography, letters of recommendation, etc.), interviews, a pyschological evaluation, a health examen by a medical doctor, and finally a final interview with an admissions board.<BR/><BR/>A young man who believes that God is calling him to the priesthood presents himself to the Church and it is the role of the Church to discern with the young man the nature of the call. We consider where the man is coming from, his health, his motivation, his intellectual giftedness, and his capacity for growth.<BR/><BR/>The young man's role is simply to present himself and the Church's job to evaluate the nature of the call. In the end, it is the diocesan bishop who decides on the candidate. Once accepted to a particular diocese, the young man will be sent to a seminary by his bishop. For more information, please see www.scs.eduFr. Chris Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17701543637432938186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-11604230378729749222009-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:002009-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:00Your question about priests with tattoos is interesting. To answer it briefly, a tattoo is not an impediment to the priesthood. A man with a tattoo can become a priest. However, the seminary needs to take note of the nature of the tattoo (i.e. when did the man get it, what does it re-present, and whether the location of the tattoo is an issue, i.e. it would be odd to see a priest with a tattoo on his forearm.) At times, a man may enter the seminary and have a tatto from earlier in his life. Again, this alone would not prevent his entrance or being ordained, but it needs to be considered by the candidate and the Church. Depending on the nature of the tattoo, the Church might ask the man to consider having it removed.Fr. Chris Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17701543637432938186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-70988386162893005262009-02-24T15:54:00.000-08:002009-02-24T15:54:00.000-08:00Another thing which I have found to be a good Lenten sacrifice is giving up watching TV or listening to music. Turning off the ipod or radio or TV can be a huge sacrifice, but the subsequent silence can help us become more reflective during this season.Elizahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10703429412011666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-14969044402085467762009-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:002009-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:00Could you talk a little about the application and admission process to seminary? ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-58580580578915841712009-02-20T19:55:00.000-08:002009-02-20T19:55:00.000-08:00Hi Father Rogers,<BR/><BR/>Can someone with tattoos be a priest? Are priests allowed to have tattoos?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-28195109639071976052009-02-03T08:47:00.000-08:002009-02-03T08:47:00.000-08:00It would be really interesting if Fr. Rogers could interview an army chaplain on the vocation hour!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-2512231039852497972009-01-27T23:49:00.000-08:002009-01-27T23:49:00.000-08:00Father,<BR/><BR/>I wonder if you might do a post on devotion to the Blessed Mother. I think that a lot of young people, myself included, are so devoted to the Lord that it may be hard for them to be just as devoted to Mary. I say the Hail Mary and pray the rosary, but I still feel a distance to the Blessed Mother that I do not feel with Lord. Do you have any advice on how I can bring her more actively into my life?<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much! God bless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-3348082484048615442009-01-18T10:23:00.000-08:002009-01-18T10:23:00.000-08:00Father,<BR/><BR/>If enough people view you rblogs, perhaps you can write about how entering the seminary does not mean one is committed to being a priest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-32899808778305381242009-01-18T10:18:00.000-08:002009-01-18T10:18:00.000-08:00A "forgotten" sacrament and important issue to address. Well done!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-91178387452829439682009-01-18T10:17:00.000-08:002009-01-18T10:17:00.000-08:00Very difficult subject but well done!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-12217098898573857252009-01-18T10:16:00.000-08:002009-01-18T10:16:00.000-08:00Great interview. Are you undertaking anymore projects to promote vocations? Perhaps you should have posters made like the ones the Archdiocese of New York and post them in schools and churches?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-1987394348731366982009-01-14T09:45:00.000-08:002009-01-14T09:45:00.000-08:00Thank you so much, Father, for responding to my question. I appreciate the time and thought that obviously went into your answer, and I appreciate that you confronted a difficult subject so well. I continue to pray for vocations in the Archdiocese.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1456818649929757320.post-74636534834243053262009-01-08T20:49:00.000-08:002009-01-08T20:49:00.000-08:00Father Chris,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this great blog and for the Vocation Hour, which has been helpful for me in learning about my own faith . I am a convert to Catholicism taking RCIA, and though I have not yet become a full member of the church, I admit that I have been thinking a lot about priesthood. One thing I'm struggling with and hope you might address, though, is chastity and celibacy. I've been sexually active for a while now, and I'm worried that it will be hard to become celibate if I decide to enter seminary. How do priests do it? Is there a particular prayer or saint that some might find helpful in becoming celibate?<BR/><BR/>Thank you! Praise be to God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com