Once the Delegate for Vocations has been made aware of an individual's interest in priesthood, Bishop's Delegate for
Vocations will make contact with the person. It is ideal if the applicant and Bishop's Delegate can have a face-to-face
meeting. After the seriousness of the inquiry has been determined, the applicant is given the formal diocesan application
booklet which is to be completed and returned within a few weeks.
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The Diocese has an interview committee comprised of nine members who are trained in the evaluation of candidates for
priesthood. This committee is made up of several priests and lay persons of the Diocese and is chaired by Bishop's Delegate
for Vocations.
First Interview
With the application form (including references) completed in as much detail as possible, the applicant is ready for the
interview stage. The first interview will be with Bishop's Delegate for Vocations. A very extensive interview model is used
for this process which was taken from assessment review standards practiced by many other dioceses. Numerous biographical
areas are covered, and the interview can take up to four hours. Bishop's Delegate for Vocations prepares a written summation
of the interview which is shared in a confidential manner with committee members.
Second and Third Interviews
Bishop's Delegate for Vocations then asks the applicant to meet individually with two members of the interview committee, one
lay person and one priest, for the second and third interviews. These interviews are likely to take an hour each and are
usually held at the office/residence of the interviewer. The applicant is responsible for making contact with the assigned interviewers to decide on the time and place for each interview.
Psychological Evaluation
The written summaries of the three interviews are shared with
all committee members. If all is going well, the applicant will
then be scheduled for an evaluation testing by a psychologist
who is retained by the Diocese of Gaylord. Psychological evaluation
is mandated by all seminaries. Bishop's Delegate for Vocations
receives a copy of the psychologist's written report. A meeting
is then scheduled for the applicant, Bishop's Delegate for Vocations,
and the psychologist to review the psychologist's report together.
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The diocesan bishop is kept informed of all applications for seminary sponsorship. The full interview committee assembles as needed. The purpose of each meeting is to evaluate applications in process. Each applicant will be represented at these meetings by the summations of their three interviews and their psychological report. The committee will move toward making one of the following decisions which will be forwarded to the applicant along with an explanation:
1) Acceptance of the applicant for seminary sponsorship by the Diocese of Gaylord.
2) Possible acceptance and continued interest of the Diocese exists for seminary sponsorship, but only after certain conditions are met. The Diocese might feel that particular issues in the applicant's life need to be dealt with first; i.e., counseling may be offered or certain stability of time and circumstance might be needed in a particular area.
3) No acceptance offered to the applicant at this time and a statement offered about future inquiries may be given.
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The Diocese of Gaylord prepares a letter of sponsorship for accepted
applicants which is sent to at least one seminary on the list
of seminaries currently in use by the Diocese. There is a degree
of flexibility as to which of the listed seminaries the applicant
may attend.
Applicant's Responsibilities
The applicant is responsible for following through on all procedures
required by any given seminary. These may vary from health exams
to the obtaining of academic transcripts. Any routine expenses
will be cared for by the Diocese of Gaylord. The candidate should
save and submit receipts for expenses that are reimbursable.
Financial Assistance
The diocesan program for financial assistance will be discussed
verbally with the individual candidate. In general, at the college
level the applicant pays the tuition and the Diocese pays room
and board. At the graduate level all normal costs are covered
by the Diocese. At any level, lack of monies or limitation of
resources by the individual is never allowed to be a factor in
not following through on entrance into a seminary. Individual
review is always a factor in every dimension of the application
process and subsequent formation programs.
Seminary Rejection
If a seminary should reject any sponsored applicant, the Diocese
would completely review its earlier decision of acceptance and
re-evaluate its decision regarding the candidate. Seminaries do
not accept candidates who are not supported by diocesan sponsorship.
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An applicant who resides outside the Diocese of Gaylord and who has had little or no exposure to our people will likely follow a slightly modified process. The Diocese would probably insist on some time being spent within the Diocese. This would vary with each case, but time spent here would allow the applicant to know us better and would provide an opportunity for us to better observe the individual.
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Individuals who have interrupted seminary studies with leaves of absence will be expected to follow the same process for re-evaluation. In addition, a seminarian who may be sponsored by another diocese and in existing studies at a seminary will also be expected to follow the process.
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The process as detailed above assumes that the applicant trusts the Diocese and, in a forthright manner, has given full disclosure on all major issues of his life. The individual must have responded honestly and fully in every phase of the review. In addition, any history of applications to other dioceses or religious communities must be shared in detail. Failure to participate in such a forthright manner and not fully representing all major aspects under review would be considered very grave and might thwart the entire process.
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The Diocese of Gaylord reserves the right to modify in any manner the application process on an individual basis or on a general overall basis for the good of the Church and Diocese and for the particular individual under consideration.
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Revised 3/99
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Initial
Inquiry