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VOCATION TO HOLY ORDERS

Overview

There is no more serious event in the life of a man or woman than the perception of a vocation to Holy Orders. As Catholics, we believe that vocations come from God and are accepted or declined by those to whom they are given. Acceptance of a call to Holy Orders involves a commitment of body and soul; heart, mind, and spirit all joining in dedication to the service of God and the Church. Accordingly, a vocation to the priesthood or diaconate cannot be compared to a desire to enter some ordinary profession or field of human endeavor. It follows that the discernment and preparation process cannot be likened to the search for secular employment or admission to a conventional institution of higher learning.

Approval for ordination is not obtained solely through the completion of a series of organizational requirements or the accomplishment of a set of educational objectives. The decision to grant or withhold ordination is far more complex. It involves the mutual discernment of a call from God and a realization of that call through moral living, academic preparation, and spiritual development. In contrast to secular occupations, there is no entitlement to ordination, no matter how much it may be desired. The simple fact that one perceives a strong call to Holy Orders is no assurance that they can or should be granted. To be valid, a vocation must be discerned and affirmed not only by the individual but also by the Church acting through its people and bishops. The Church is at liberty to ordain those whom it considers suitably called and prepared. At the same time, the Church has a moral obligation to turn away those in whom it cannot discern true vocation or who are found to be inadequately prepared by reason of education, spiritual development, physical and mental health or manner of life. The selection of those called to ordination is among the most serious and solemn of the Church's obligations. It must and does employ all the resources given to it by God and by society. Thus, the decision to ordain is not based merely on the sincerity of the applicant or the achievement of some series of educational or institutional tasks but is likewise grounded in the revelations of prayer and meditation.

The Church's Pastoral Intention

Lest this all sound harsh and forbidding, it should be recognized that it is the joyful responsibility of the Church is to identify, raise up, nurture and cherish those women and men called to vocations. Because of the great responsibility undertaken by the Church in the selection of candidates for Holy Orders, the process is necessary laden with rules, regulations, requirements and stipulations. None of those unfortunate necessities should overshadow the great joy with which the Church welcomes those who perceive a call to her service. The Church stands ready to welcome and receive all who seek to serve God in any capacity. Vocational affirmation should always be a welcoming, loving, and supportive process in which the candidate joins with the Church in the mutual exploration of opportunities for ministry.

It is the intention of the bishops of CACINA that the discernment and preparation process be a time of joyful exploration and affirmation marked by encouragement, support, and mutual respect.

General Requirements

  • Candidates for Holy Orders shall conform in all respects to the minimum requirements found in the Constitution and Code of Canons of CACINA , as amended. Candidates for Holy Orders shall be Christians of good moral character, not impeded by civil or canon law, possessing sound mental and physical health. Candidates shall demonstrate stability in matters of finance, employment, and manner of life. CACINA clergy generally serve without financial compensation. Candidates shall be fully responsible for providing financial income sufficient for their needs and those of their dependents. Candidates may be employed in secular occupations that are not prohibited by civil or canon law or diocesan statute. Candidates who are not employed shall demonstrate that they possess financial resources sufficient to support
    themselves and any person(s) who are or may become dependent upon them.

  • Candidates may withdraw from the preparation program at any time at their own discretion. Candidates may be removed at any time from the preparation program at the discretion of the Church.

  • Acceptance as a candidate for the sacrament of Holy Orders is not a promise of ordination. Rather it is an admission to a period of discernment and training. Selection of those who will be ordained is solely at the discretion of the Church, and may be based upon criteria not expressly stated or implied in this document.

Beginning the Discernment Process

  • Persons seeking candidacy for Holy Orders should contact the Vocations Officer of CACINA at innocents@catskills.net.
  • If the Vocations Officer confirms that the applicant is suited to proceed, he/she will provide the applicant with application forms and additional materials.
  • Candidates shall complete an application form to be provided by CACINA and shall provide three letters of recommendation from persons who are not related by blood or marriage.
  • A non-refundable processing fee of $100 shall be paid to CACINA at the time application is made for admission to candidacy for Holy Orders.
  • Candidates shall undergo criminal record investigation and credit evaluation which will be performed by the church through such agencies. A history of legal or financial difficulties is not necessarily an impediment to ordination.
  • Candidates with spouses or life partners shall provide evidence of consent and support by their spouses or life partners to their pursuit of ordination.
  • Candidates shall undergo psychological evaluation by a mental health professional approved by the Institute. The cost of these procedures is the responsibility of the candidate.
  • Candidates shall submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended since high school.
  • Candidates (and spouses/life partners, if any) shall have at least one personal interview with the diocesan bishop of the diocese in which they reside and the Standing Committee of CACINA. In some instances, interviews with the Standing Committee may be conducted in person or by telephone. Candidates shall bear their own costs of travel and accommodations to attend these interviews.
  • When all these materials have been gathered by the Vocations Director and reviewed by the diocesan bishop, the candidate will be advised that she or he (1) may begin the educational assessment and preparation phase of the process, or (2) may not advance further in the process at that time but may possibly do so in the future under terms stipulated by the bishop, or (3) will not be further considered as a candidate for ordination1.

Preparation for Ordination

During preparation for ordination, the candidate shall be supervised and directed by the St. Charles Institute and assisted and supported by the Vocations Director, with periodic review by the diocesan bishop. For many candidates, the best preparation for priesthood is graduation from a seminary in the Catholic tradition accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the appropriate regional accrediting agency. However, CACINA recognizes that relatively few individuals can leave their secular occupations to pursue full time seminary study. Candidates for the vocational diaconate12 and candidates for the priesthood who by reason of life circumstances cannot attend an accredited seminary may pursue ordination through the CACINA training program.

Phase 1-A: Educational Assessment

  • Candidates who have graduated from a seminary or hold a university degree generally equivalent to seminary education shall satisfy the educational assessment phase by submitting transcripts and other supporting information for evaluation and approval. Candidates who intend to attend an accredited seminary shall satisfy the educational assessment phase by admission to a program approved by the bishop. Candidates who intend to pursue the CACINA training program shall complete an educational assessment program established by the Church. This assessment will include provision of detailed information regarding educational and life experiences in preparation for ordained ministry, service to the Church, and evidence of sound writing skills. Public speaking and reading skills will be assessed in person or by means of a short videotape. The purpose of this assessment is not to pass judgment on the candidate but to assist the St. Charles Institute to plan a program which provides credit for prior learning, meets the individual educational needs of the candidate, and complies with national standards for clergy preparation and training.
  • On the basis of the educational assessment, the St. Charles Institute will submit to the diocesan bishop an educational program plan. This will comprise the required course of study for the candidate.

Phase 1-B: Spiritual Assessment

Candidates are required to be under formal spiritual direction throughout the duration of their candidacy. Spiritual directors must be acceptable to the bishop.

The bishop and spiritual director will jointly assess the spiritual development of the candidate and, with the collaboration of the candidate, will devise a plan for continued spiritual growth.3

 

Phase 2-A: Educational Preparation

Candidates who hold a seminary or equivalent university degree may be accepted without further educational preparation or may be required to complete additional studies through the diocesan training program, as recommended by the St. Charles Institute and approved by the bishop. Educational preparation will be deemed complete when those studies, if any, are satisfactorily accomplished. Candidates attending seminary shall arrange for that institution to send grade reports for each term directly to the St. Charles Institute. Evidence of unsatisfactory academic progress shall be forwarded to the bishop for review. A persistent pattern of marginal or unsatisfactory performance may be grounds for termination of candidacy at the sole discretion of the bishop. 1.Candidates participating in the diocesan training program shall pursue the Educational Program Plan devised by the St. Charles Institute and approved by the bishop. Educational preparation will be deemed complete upon the satisfactory accomplishment of that plan.

On the basis of the educational assessment, the St. Charles Institute will submit to the diocesan bishop an educational program plan. This will comprise the required course of study for the candidate.

 

Phase 2-B: Spiritual Preparation. The bishop in cooperation with the candidate's spiritual director and others with whom he or she may choose to consult will determine each candidate's spiritual preparation. The bishop will be the final judge of the spiritual suitability of the candidate for ordination. Phase 3: Examination and Approval At the conclusion of preparation, each candidate will be examined over the course of study. This examination will be both written and oral and will be graded by a panel of examiners appointed by the Institute with the approval of the bishop. In addition to scholarly examination, each candidate shall be expected to demonstrate proficiency in the arts of ministry including homiletics, catechetical teaching, pastoral counseling, parish administration, and liturgics. Following the examination, the examiners will report their findings to the bishop as follows: Recommended, Recommended Conditionally (with statement of deficiencies to be corrected, or Not Recommended).

Based upon all the information available to him or her, the diocesan bishop will make the final decision to ordain or withhold ordination.