Ave Maria University |
|||||||||||
|
Pre-Theologate
Ave Maria University Pre-Theologate Program
At Ave Maria University, we believe that a priest must be one who seeks holiness in his own life and leads God’s people to it as well.
Fr. Dave Testa, who began the Ave Maria Pre-Theologate, had the great wisdom to situate our formation program in the context of the Center for Discernment. At Ave Maria University, we welcome all good men who are sincerely seeking to discern their vocation while pursuing an undergraduate degree.
Every year young men graduating from high school are thinking about the priesthood but are not yet ready to make the commitment to enter a formal college seminary program. Similarly, some men have spent a tour of duty in the military or have entered the workforce for several years, but feel they are missing something in their lives. Could it be that God is calling them to serve as a priest or a religious?
The Center for Discernment provides these men the opportunity of discerning their vocation to the priesthood, the religious life or the laity. Following the Salesian model of discernment, we maintain that holiness is to be found in every way of life, not only the religious. This is the Universal Call to Holiness as advanced by the Council Fathers at Vatican II.
Students commit themselves on a semester basis to the Pre-Theologate. If at any time they are uncertain about continuing, they are free to take a leave of absence from the program; they remain on campus and continue their studies without any loss of time or credit. If they wish, they are free to re-enter the program the following semester.
While the majority of our men who complete the Pre-Theologate do go on to study at a major seminary, the seminary is not for everyone. Those who do not enter seminary take a treasured experience with them throughout their lives. Thus, the Center for Discernment enriches the Church with both solid, holy priests and good, committed laymen.
Article:
This article details the specific concerns of the growth and population of the Seminarians within the Catholic Dioceses of the United States.