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Discernment


willguy

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CFR means Community of Franciscans of the Renewal . . . they're number one on my list up there! ;)

Also,Seat belt, the Franciscans of the Immaculate are a Conventual Franciscan Community.

Edited by BLAZEr
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Blazer, I saw how you said you ran your youth group. Just wanted to say I have been going to youth group since eigth grade and my youth minister runs it the EXACT same way. We have discussion on a topic. Then p and w in front of the tabernacle. Then we usually go get a bite to eat afterwards or if it is to late we just go home. There have been nights when praise and worship has goine into one in the morning. At the end of praise and worship we thank god what we are happy and thankful for and we pray for one another it is kinda like a popcorn prayer while the youth minister pics his guitar. We go to steubenvill every year, do service work, and put on workshops.

Just a side note we have had three seminarians come from this youth group in a small podunk town in Iowa. We have two to three more on the way thinking about it.

P.S. I am one of those seminarians and the reason i am in seminary is because of this youth group and the way God worked through it. Dont ever think you arent making a diff Blazer. I cant thank my youht minister enough for keeping me strong in high school and protecting the seed of my vocation.

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That's amesome! I learned everything from the Youth Minister I worked with in South Bend, the amesome Lou Paiz. We have seen 4 vocations to the priesthood blossom, and I can guarantee more on the way. Right now we have 2 guys in the seminary.

Thanks for the encouragement, because sometimes, man I need it. God Bless!

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i just wanted to say a little more about willguy's problem if i could:

I got a question. There's this girl who likes me, and I like her. The problem is that I plan on entering the seminary next fall, and I don't want to start dating here because of that. I don't want to get a relationship going only to have to kill it. I couldn't stand hurting her like that. The problem is that its hurting both of us to play these games, and I need to just go up to her and lay it out. Any advice (besides to just grow some balls and tell her)? .....

.....I'm not sure what you mean. I just want to be friends. I don't want to date, because its just setting it up to fail. Either that or I'll let it get in the way of me pursuing the seminary. I don't want either to happen, and I've met guys in both situations. It's just hard because she's had trouble with men in her past, and she's not entirely emotionally stable. I don't want to hurt her, but I need to make it clear that all this flirting isn't going to get her anywhere.....

.....Small problem with not seeing her. She lives in my dorm. We run in a small group usually, about 5-10 of us (we call ourselves the posse). So I see her a lot. But I know what you mean about not being alone. I think I just need to have a conversation with her and lay it out. Thanx for the help guys.

this may be obvious advice, but i think you need to be as honest as you can with her. tell her why this conversation is hard for you to have. tell her why this is a hard decision to make. let her know what your feelings are both about her and the seminary. from my experience, women appreciate honesty, and especially a guy who can honestly talk about his feelings.

also, its important that you help her to understand that, in breaking this off, you are not treating her like all the other guys who have hurt her in the past. if this "break up" is going to be hard for her, then she is likely to just instinctively lump you in w/ the rest of the jerks. so, you have to show her that you are not just thinking about yourself. make it clear that you have her emotions and her feelings in mind. help her to see that it is for the very fact that you DO care about her that you are deciding to break this off. any type of relationship beyond friendship won't be good for her, and you know that. i don't have to give u the reasons.

also, let her know that just b/c you are breaking this off, that does not mean that she will never hear from you again. there are safe ways to correspond w/ her and to even help her w/ some of her problems w/o it getting in the way of ur discernment process (ex: group activities, short phone convos, email). this realization will help relieve that feeling of "oh no, its all over."

finally, there's still more you can do to help this situation. no more flirting. no more "mixed signals." you have to be aware of your words and your actions around her now. not that you should be paranoid, just conscious and respectful. if she is emotionally unstable, then she will probably read into every little word and gesture. so, you have to make sure that you are still nice and caring (so she won't feel rejected) but at the same time not flirtatious (so as not to confuse her). as complicated as this may sound, it is actually not that hard. its just a matter of being more aware of yourself--which is always good for the discernment process.

well, i hope this helps (if help is still needed!). Good luck and God Bless,

nick

Edited by phatcatholic
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EcceNovaFacioOmni

Pray also for those who may be trying to decide on a non-religious vocation. Myself, I am not sure what I will be.

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pham,

since i came to lindsey wilson college as an undergrad, my whole plan has been to get a BA in Human Services, a M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling, and then a PhD or a Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology. well, i'm one semester away from having the first two and i need to start making preparations for the third. but, the thing is, i've been recently thinking about getting a theology degree instead. but, alot of questions have come up in response to that. hopefully, u guys can help:

1. what can i do w/ a theology degree?

2. how hard is this gonna be? what are they (any theology department) assuming that i know already? i don't know any hebrew, greek, or latin. i can't quote scripture very well. all i know about my faith i've learned thru my own personal study.

3. what are some good schools to go to? i keep reading about this rule or certification that bishops put in place to make sure that theology schools are teaching orthodox catholic beliefs, but how alot of schools ignore that. i also know that alot of schools don't reveal to the public wether their theology department is in accordance w/ this mandate or not. so, how do i know which schools are orthodox?

4. is this whole pursuit of a theology degree just a lame attempt to avoid the real question about the priesthood? (i guess that's a question i have to answer on my own!)

i dunno, what do u guys think? holla back,

nick

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Theologian in Training
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phatcatholic,

Theology degrees are usually denomination specific. That means that at Lindsey Wilson College, a theology degree will probably be a United Methodist Theology degree. Catholic Theology degrees, as far as I know, are what seminaries offer. You have to have a BA and some philosophy classes before you can start on your theology degree.

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You can also get a theology degree at a Catholic College/University. I recommend Franciscan University of Steubenville.

I got a BA in Philosophy and Theology from Notre Dame. Despite some very un-Catholic theologians, there are also some very good theologians. I think you can get a good education at ND if you are willing to do the work and make sure that what you're learning is actually church teaching. It hones up those debate skills, I tell you.

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4. is this whole pursuit of a theology degree just a lame attempt to avoid the real question about the priesthood? (i guess that's a question i have to answer on my own!)

I think you already know the answer. If you are called to the priesthood and you just get a theology degree and call it quits, then you are a cop out. If you aren't called to the priesthood, then there is nothing lame about pursuing a degree in theology without pursuing orders.

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good call will....

btw, how did it go w/ you and that girl? i hope everything turned out ok was my advice helpful at all?

give us an update.

pax christi,

nick

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good call will....

btw, how did it go w/ you and that girl? i hope everything turned out ok was my advice helpful at all?

give us an update.

pax christi,

nick

I haven't talked with her yet :ph34r: . Yeah, I know, cop out. I really need to, but I just don't like having to hurt her. I know it'll hurt more in the long run if I don't, but I'm a wimp.

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