What Do You Need To Become A Priest In The Archdiocese Of Military Services

What is the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program?

The Archdiocese for the Military Services The states, (AMS) in partnership with other U.Due south. dioceses and religious communities, offers the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program. This program enables a man with a vocation to priestly ministry building in the military machine to be financially co-sponsored throughout his seminary training by both the war machine archdiocese and the seminarian's noncombatant diocese or religious community. Upon graduation from the seminary, he is ordained a priest for his civilian jurisdiction. After completing at least three (three) years of pastoral ministry as a priest, he volition be permitted (equally part of the co-sponsorship agreement between the AMS Archbishop and the co-sponsored priest's Ordinary or religious superior) to serve on active duty as a armed forces clergyman. All Catholic priests who take served and who are serving in the U.S. military chaplaincy have been "borrowed" or are "on loan" from dioceses or religious orders. Priest-chaplains do not become incardinated in the AMS. They remain incardinated in their diocese or religious order, accept faculties to function within the jurisdiction of the AMS granted by the AMS Archbishop, all the same tin be recalled by their Ordinary or religious superior at any time.

What are the advantages of the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Progarm if I experience chosen to serve both as a Catholic priest and in the military services?

The Co-Sponsored Seminarian Plan ensures that you have good pastoral training and experience before inviting you lot to share the unique responsibilities present in the military environs. In other words, it grounds you every bit a immature priest in sacramental ministry and priestly fraternity before going on to serve every bit a military chaplain for as long a period as yous and your bishop or religious superior decide. Regardless of whether you cull a total military career or not, the myriad experiences and training gained through the armed forces will serve you well in the many pastoral opportunities you volition surely take back in your home diocese or customs.

What steps are necessary if I feel chosen to explore the possibility of pursuing my priestly vocation in the war machine?

If you are currently a seminarian for a local diocese or religious community, yous beginning must discuss your interest and discernment in the military chaplaincy with your formation directors and your Bishop. Follow their directions. Yous should not contact the military archdiocese prior to speaking outset with your Bishop and those responsible for your formation (i.e., diocesan/religious customs vocation director, director of seminarians, seminary rector). With their permission contact the AMS Director of Vocations.

If you are a layman, military or noncombatant, and non nevertheless formally accustomed to a diocese or religious customs priesthood formation program, and feel a call to the priesthood and the military chaplaincy, prayerfully seek the communication of your Catholic armed forces priest-chaplain (if you are on active duty), or your local parish priest. He will put you in bear upon with the vocations manager in your dwelling house diocese. The vocations manager can outline the steps to discern your phone call, enter into seminary formation, and go an ordained priest. You may also contact our AMS Managing director of Vocations for information and guidance.

When y'all contact the AMS Managing director of Vocations, you will be asked to consummate a survey which provides personal, academic, ecclesiastical, and military information near yourself. On the basis of the information gathered, specific guidance volition be offered to you by the AMS Office of Vocations.

Attend i of the two annual vocation discernment retreats provided by the AMS. This retreat will give you the opportunity to meet with the AMS Director of Vocations and military chaplains from the different branches of the armed forces to learn more than about the rewards and challenges of serving both God and country.

If a mutual decision has been made betwixt you and your bishop or religious superior giving y'all permission to exist a Co-Sponsored seminarian chaplain candidate, y'all will be invited to use for the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program.

Who tin participate in the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program?

Whatsoever unmarried Catholic young man who is a US citizen with college experience who shows signs of having a vocation to priestly ministry building, can meet the academic requirements for seminary grooming, and qualifies for military service is eligible to employ.

A candidate must be able to enter active duty before age 42. Adjustments on the entry age may be made for those with prior military service equally long equally the total number of years of military service tin equal twenty years or more.

If you lot are currently a seminarian, yous must first discuss your interest in the military chaplaincy with your formation director and `bishop or religious superior; follow his directions.

What are the steps to become accepted for the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Programme?

Step ane: If y'all are a seminarian, discuss your interest and discernment regarding the military chaplaincy with your germination directors and bishop or religious superior. Follow their directions.

If y'all are a layman, military or civilian, and not withal formally accepted to a diocese or religious customs priesthood formation program, and experience a call to the priesthood and the armed forces chaplaincy, prayerfully seek the communication of your Cosmic armed forces priest-chaplain (if you are on active duty), or your local parish priest. He volition put you in touch with the vocations managing director in your home diocese. The vocations managing director can outline the steps to discern your telephone call, enter into seminary germination, and become an ordained priest. You lot may as well contact our AMS Managing director of Vocations for information and guidance.

Footstep 2: With their permission contact the AMS Managing director of Vocations. You lot will and then be asked to consummate a survey which provides personal, academic, ecclesiastical, and armed forces information about yourself. On the basis of information gathered, specific guidance will be offered to you lot past the AMS Office of Vocations.

Step three: Attend one of the 2 annual vocation discernment retreats sponsored by the AMS. This retreat volition give you the opportunity to meet with the AMS Director of Vocations and military priest-chaplains from the different branches of service to learn more nearly the rewards and challenges of serving both God and your state.

Pace 4: If a common decision has been made between you and your bishop or religious superior giving y'all permission to be a co-sponsored seminarian chaplain candidate, y'all will then exist invited to apply for the Co-
Sponsored Seminarian Program.

Can I choose which military branch I would serve as chaplain?

Yep. Candidates are free to cull whether they wish to serve with the Army, Navy, or Air Strength. The Declension Baby-sit and the Marine Corps are served by Navy chaplains.

What if my bishop or I discern that I should not be a armed services chaplain?

The decision to finish a candidate'due south status as a Chaplain Candidate or a Reservist whether by the candidate, his bishop, or the military machine service removes you from the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program. Termination of this plan, however, does non directly affect your status as a seminarian or priest of the local diocese or religious community.

Who do I contact to start the process to become a military chaplain through the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Programme?

If y'all are a layman, war machine or civilian, consult your local pastor, vocation manager or Catholic chaplain before applying. If your priest feels yous should begin the process, the pastor or chaplain will make initial contact for yous with the Director of Vocations of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Yous may also initiate contact yourself at the post-obit address:

Director of Vocations
Archdiocese for the War machine Services, U.s. (AMS)
P O BOX 4469
Washington, DC 20017-0469
Web site: world wide web.milarch.org
Telephone: (202) 719-3615
Fax: (202) 269-9651
E-mail: vocations@milarch.org

Co-Sponsored Seminsarians, Labor Day 2018