Guidelines
Do you think God may be calling you to be a priest?
After high school graduation, there are two primary paths for entering seminarian life:
- Some men first complete a four-year degree at a college or university, then apply to a “major” seminary.
- Another option is to attend a “minor” seminary, like St. Joseph College Seminary, which is designed for young men in the Diocese of Charlotte who have graduated from high school. This is a place to discern the priesthood in a seminary-type community while attending Belmont Abbey College and earning the requisite bachelor’s degree before going to major seminary for a more intense and intentional formation for the priesthood.
Criteria for admission to the diocese’s Seminary Program
You must be:
- Living a life of active faith, prayer and service
- Recommended by a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte
- Involved in the life of your parish
- Under 49 years of age
- Single or widowed – not married or divorced
- Have lived in the Diocese of Charlotte for at least one year
- A U.S. citizen, or hold a valid tourist or student visa if not a U.S. citizen
Not sure where to start?
Quo Vadis Days (“Where are you going?”) is a five-day vocation discernment camp at Belmont Abbey College that helps attendees discern God’s will for their lives. This summer camp is designed exclusively for young men who are aged 15 to 19 and want to learn more about a priestly vocation.
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