priest question - Writers Forum

elibats · 12-30-2005, 12:37 AM

What’s the word for that thing priests do for like their student priesting? Sort of like an internship, or a trial run at being a priest? Here's the context:

“I graduated divinity school three years ago,” he began proudly, twisting the buttons on his crisply ironed white shirt. “The church I did my ………. with offered me a job, and I worked there a few months before I realized I needed a less conservative environment.”

thanks, p

Beatrice Boyle · 12-30-2005, 03:23 AM

First of all, a priest (Catholic) doesn't attend divinity school...he attends a Seminary and is known as a Seminarian. A minister attends divinity school.

A "Priest" isn't "offered a job" when he is ordained, but is assigned to wherever the Bishop thinks he is needed.

I think you need a little more research on your story before you continue with it.

Hope this helps.

Bea

Mike C · 12-30-2005, 03:46 AM

Heh... by the look of the av, BB knows what she's talking about.

Elibats, has anyone ever spoken to you about that 'write about what you know' thing?

elibats · 12-30-2005, 03:47 AM

sorry, i didn't mean to offend anyone with my ignorance... i was raised atheist so all the names sort of get mixed up in my head

actually it might work that the guy who's talking doesn't get it right because he's really just pretending to be a priest.

anyway, thanks! P

mammamaia · 01-01-2006, 01:47 AM

if you're in the uk and referring to the anglican priests, it may not be the same thing as the catholic version that bea describes... but she's right, in re catholic seminarians and priests...

elibats · 10-31-2006, 07:12 AM

looking back on your mistakes in a writing forum is so awkward

i'm a unitarian so i really should know a little more about other religions

honestly i'm kind of an atheist

but who knows what that is?

anyone?

Mungye · 10-31-2006, 07:37 PM

I am a Messianic Jew, I go to St. James, a Catholic church that is quite ancient.

Here is how to go about it, well there can be more but:

Go through the application process for the seminary through your diocese or through the religious order. This process usually includes several questions about yourself and your desire to discern the priesthood, as well as a psychological examination.
If you're accepted, go to the seminary. Unless you're somewhat older, you should expect to spend at least 6-8 years there, depending on how much college experience you have. Typically religious orders have a slightly different formation process, based on their own needs. Check with them about the exact steps they take that lead to ordination.
While you're there, continue to pray and discern God's will. Above all, do what your rector, bishop, vocation's director, or other superiors ask you to do.
The final test of whether or not you have a vocation to the priesthood is the call of the bishop. If the bishop does not call you to Holy Orders, you do not have a vocation to the priesthood. The bishop's call is definitive.
Be ordained a transitional deacon, taking your vows of celibacy and obedience.
Be ordained a priest.
Continue to grow in holiness. taken from wikihow

mammamaia · 11-02-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

honestly i'm kind of an atheist

but who knows what that is?

anyone?

you're kidding, right?... i'm an agnostic atheist myself... do you know what that is?

elibats · 12-12-2006, 04:36 PM

i go back and forth between agnostic and atheist

mammamaia · 12-13-2006, 12:51 PM

do you know what the difference is?...

broadly speaking, agnostic means not believing in 'ultimate knowledge' of anything...

atheistic means specifically not believing in any god figure...

elibats · 12-13-2006, 11:22 PM

yeah, i wasn't sure

because agnostic to me has always meant "i don't know"

and atheist to me has always meant "there is no god"

any other thoughts on that?

i'm also a Unitarian Universalist, technically

mammamaia · 12-14-2006, 01:21 PM

to me, being agnostic = i'm ok with not knowing

and i agree with you on the atheist bit... i'm both, to the max!

elibats · 12-15-2006, 01:18 PM

me too... but i'm always confused... i used to think that was part of being agnostic but i'm not decidedly agnostic yet.

i am a unitarian tho.