Posted on 08/07/2007 10:10:52 AM PDT by fr maximilian mary
If you know anyone who wants to do something concrete about vocations, the young men and women are waiting. Check out the website of Mater Ecclesiae. I just went to the profession of one of their grantees, Sr. Marianna, O.P. ("Nashville Dominicans") and one of our Brothers, Br. Matthew Ball, is one of their grantees and is about to enter Novitiate Sept. 7th.
ping
God blessed me very richly even before I began discerning a call to the priesthood; because of the circumstances He put me into, I have no debts going into seminary. That said, some dioceses are willing to work with seminarians to deal with debt; a friend of mine is also discerning, but his dad has insisted that he work to pay off his debt before applying to the diocese.
I think one important thing that can be done is to impress upon young people that debt does not need to be an impediment to discerning a vocation. Thank you for posting this and getting the word out.
Vocation bump.
Do the Knights of Columbus help? I know that our local chapter has an account called a Seminary Burse but they’ve never used any of the money for anything in 7 years.
Vocations bump!
In my former council in Indiana, we had two seminarians from our parish that we made sure to raise money for.
They had a State program named S.O.S. (save our seminarians) that money was available from.
Our council picks one or two seminarians from the local area every year and provides a cash donation to help cover out-of-pocket expenses, but nothing substantial enough to completely cancel college loans, etc.
My son is in his 2nd year at Franciscan U. in Steubenville OH, (he’s a pre-theologate, discerning the priesthood. diocesan, most likely) and we are wrestling with this very problem right now! Circumstances (too involved to insert here) are such that he is having trouble qualifying for student loans this year. He is working with the financial aid counselor at FUS on various options, but I thought I might ask here too: Does anyone know of organizations that give student loans specifically to pretheologates? I think the diocese (Manchester NH) will do something once he gets to major seminary, but it’s going to be difficult until then, unless our specific circumstances change. Any ideas are much appreciated. Thanks!
“Do the Knights of Columbus help?”
The Order provides dozens of scholarships each year for seminarians. These are limited to $2,500 per year, and can be renewed for up to four years. Going back a couple of years (the last year for which I could find data), the Knights were supporting about 130 or so seminarians throughout the United States and Canada.
More directly, local Councils often “adopt” seminarians and provide them with small stipends, usually about $500 per year, while they’re in the seminary. I believe that each seminarian is limited to a maximum of $2,000 per year.
It’s not a huge sum, but I know that our former pastor told us that he received these stipends when he was in the seminary, and it helped him out. As well, the seminarians that my own Council has supported have been appreciative.
Sometimes, Councils also provide other gifts to seminarians. I think that one year, our Council bought our seminarian an inexpensive laptop computer (about $750, I think).
sitetest
Some dioceses will pay some or all of pre-Theologate studies; my home diocese pays the full amount, and asks to be reimbursed half if the seminarian does not go on to be ordained.
I’ve had a loooooong day.
I thought that it said: Debt, the Vacation Killer [Catholic Caucus] and was wondering how Catholic vacations are killed by debt as opposed to the Protestant ones.
LOL!
Neither a borrower nor a lender be
Do not forget,
Stay out of debt.
LOL!
I guess my vacations should be alive and well, since as a Franciscan I not only have no money, but no debts! (But our Order doesn't take vacations--there's no vacation from your vocation!)
RE: your local KofC seminary burse and not helping anyone for 7 years... If they have the burse and no one specific to help, maybe they should consider helping the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations (see link in post 1). They are helping concrete individuals and have had to turn some applicants away due to lack of funds.
I graduated from the pre-theologate program at Franciscan University in 1991. Assure your son of my prayers.
If he is considering the Diocesan priesthood, often the Diocese can help and rally behind their vocations. What is more, unlike religious vocations, Diocesan priests can pay off their own loans once ordained, since they have a salary. The trouble with religious vocations is that they make a vow of poverty; therefore, religious orders won't accept candidates with outstanding debt. This is where the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations can be a vocation saver/promoter.
If your son can get through the program, even at a slower pace, I think either a group like Mater Ecclesiae or his future Diocese would help.
Obviously, there is no substitute for prayer. God bless...
You should double check with the Diocese. Boston picks up the bill for the Seminarians, and McCormack being a former Boston guy may do likewise.
He’d still have out of pocket expenses, but if you contact the New Hampshire State Council once he is accepted they’ll “hook him up”, if not and he ends up at St. John Seminary in Boston, let me know, I’ll tell Brighton Council and he’ll have a check in no time.
Very interesting information - thanks!
Thank you, Father, for the ping! According to their web site: We Are Not Accepting Applications.
The Fraser Family Foundation's Mater Ecclesiae grant program is closed and will remain closed to new applicants. The grant program has been transfered to the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations. When the MEFV's St. Joseph Student Debt Relief Grant Program is accepting applications. Please see the MEFV's website for details.
Please continue to pray for the success of the new MEFV. Fiat Dei voluntas.
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