Questions about Roman Catholic priesthood

[TechBear_Seattle]

I am putting together some background material for a character in a story I'm writing. He is a Roman Catholic priest, born in 1960. I've searched the internet for answers to these questions, but have not found anything particularly useful. So, I turn to people who might be able to help :hi:

1) I have him ordained as a deacon in 1982, at the age of 22. Would that be too young?

2) What is a slightly less than average time period between becoming a deacon and becoming a priest? Three years? Five? Ten?

3) What holy days are commonly used for ordinations? The only one I could find is Pentecost; are there any other traditional dates?

4) Is there any information I should know about the priesthood that would help make this character believable, with an accurate background?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

[eleny]

1. Just a thought....

Why not interview a few priests.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. I probably will eventually, when I need details

Right now, I'm just putting together some background.

[Divernan]

3. But details are exactly what you ask about in your OP.

nt

[seriousstan]

4. But that would mean getting out from in front of the keyboard.

[eleny]

7. They'll be able to help best with these details

And good luck to you with your story!

[demosincebirth]

5. Try the Catholic/Orthodox forum

[zalinda]

6. Okay, I'm sending you to some sites that should help you

http://www.catholic-pages.com/DIR/priesthood.asp
http://www.vocations.com/priest/
http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=155&SID=3
http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20002001/248.htm
http://www.catholicpriest.com/Current_news_articles/mcmahon_article.htm

You don't have to become a deacon to become a priest. A deacon is usually a person who wants a part in the church but doesn't have the calling to be a priest. He is support staff for the priest. I don't think he's ordained, but I'm not sure.

Every priest goes to the seminary, after getting a BA from college, and there isn't a set time table to become ordained.

As for what kind of guys become priests, pretty normal ones. My uncle became a priest late in life. He's got a great wit, is intelligent, and even likes sports. No one would have guessed he would become a priest.

zalinda

[AngryOldDem]

11. Final step before ordination is typically a "transitional deaconate"

At least in my diocese. This lasts for about a year and transitional deacons assume more priestly roles (short of consecration of the Mass) in parishes.

[Goblinmonger]

8. PM me if you wish

I can hook you up with a couple classmates that went on to the priesthood.

If you stay in seminary the whole time and are not ordained by an order (which is a whole different set of rules and timelines), the normal progression would be
1. high school seminary for religious formation (obviously not a requirement).
2. minor seminary for your undergraduate degree (not a requirement but helps in getting you classes that help for seminary--much like pre-med and pre-law degrees help).
3. major seminary for your masters of divinity. (this is a requirement for ordination). This normally takes three years. If I am remembering correctly (and this may be just the major seminaries that my classmates ended up going to) the third year is usually "student priesting" and major seminarians are usually ordained as a deacon after their second year though this is not required.

I spent four years in a high school seminary that was attached to a minor seminary, so feel free to PM me if you want to chat about personalities/stories of seminary life.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Twenty-two would be too young in just about any denomination

You may be familiar with the Episcopal diaconate, which has two options: being a transitional deacon, which is like an internship for the priesthood, which a person does after they have completed three years of seminary; and being a vocational deacon, in which being a deacon is an end in itself and not a stepping stone to anything else.

We currently have a young woman at my church who started out as a transitional deacon, was ordained in December, and is now a full-fledged priest on staff.

As other posters have indicated, being a deacon among the Roman Catholics is more like being a vocational deacon among the Episcopalians.

The other thing about being an Episcopal vocational deacon is that it's a part-time, volunteer position. Most vocational deacons either have day jobs or are retired and do miscellaneous jobs at whichever parish the bishop assigns them to.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. Ah, got it

As it happens, I did spend many years in the Episcopal Church, even began classes with the diocese that would have led to seminary and possibly ordination. Thanks.