ARE YOU THINKING OF PRIESTHOOD?

CONSIDER THESE OPTIONS FOR COLLEGE

WITH THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET

I. The College Seminary

Catholic leadership in our church requires the development of the spiritual, personal, intellectual, physical, and service aspects of our lives. The college seminary setting fosters growth in these areas. College seminaries can provide students with significant opportunities for spiritual direction and formation, a deeper appreciation of our Catholic faith and traditions, a better foundation for the study of theology, and a greater sense of Christian community. These are all reasons why someone who aspires to Catholic leadership may choose to attend a college seminary. The Joliet Diocese uses two college seminaries:

A. St. John Vianney Seminary

(SJV) is located on the campus of the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Students at SJV take classes and participate in campus life at St. Thomas. The students live together at the seminary, where they are expected to participate in the community's social and spiritual life. SJV provides many opportunities to experience prayer and Christian service.

B. Conception Seminary College

(CSC) is located in rural, northwest Missouri. CSC is a four-year, free-standing seminary college administered by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey. CSC is dedicated to the formation of men who wish to discover whether or not they are called to priesthood. The seminary offers its students a fine liberal arts curriculum as well as sound spiritual and character formation.

Give God a Chance with Your Life (Financial Aid):

To help young men give God a chance with their lives, the Diocese of Joliet offers full tuition and room and board scholarships for seminarians in their first year of college studies, either as freshmen or transfer students, at either SJV or CSC. For the remaining years, the Diocese provides half tuition and room and board scholarships for college seminarians. Students are also eligible for other forms of financial aid. Beyond the first year, the average yearly cost of education to our college students to between $2500 and $5000 per year. The Diocese is committed to meeting 100 percent of a student's demonstrated financial need. No student is denied the opportunity to prepare for priesthood because of financial hardship.

II. Affiliated Candidates

Young men of college age who are interested in learning more about priesthood and discerning a possible vocation to priesthood may present themselves as affiliated candidates and study at the college or university of their choice. Affiliated candidates will be invited to participate in various events and activities that will help them in the process of making a decision regarding priesthood. These candidates may be guided in taking some philosophy and religious studies courses as their colleges and majors provide. The vocation office will maintain regular contact with affiliates and will personally visit candidates on their college campuses as schedules allow. After receiving a college degree, young men who have been affiliates and want to study for priesthood will most likely need one year of pre-theology studies before beginning the major seminary.

The Diocese of Joliet offers no financial assistance to students who are affiliates. The various programs of discernment are offered free of charge to affiliated candidates. Once a man is ordained, he may receive assistance from the Diocese in paying back student loans incurred during college studies.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE SEMINARY

For more information on diocesan priesthood or college seminaries or to make arrangements to visit a college seminary, contact: Father John Regan, Joliet Diocese Vocation Office, 402 S. Independence Blvd., Romeoville, IL 60446; (815) 834-4004.

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Contact Father John Regan, Vocation Director