College Student

Keeping Doors Open

1. Take full advantage of career advisement, career fairs, and other services offered by your college or university. A decision to say "yes" to priesthood must be a free and informed choice.

2. Keep a journal. Writing is an excellent way to see what ideas come up repeatedly, to identify areas of progress, and to surface topics for discussion with someone you trust.

3. Investigate the academic requirements of priesthood. You may be able to meet the philosophy and theology prerequisites for the Priestly Formation Program while earning your undergraduate degree. For information, contact Dr. David Stosur, academic dean, at Saint Francis Seminary, dstosur@sfs.edu

4. Get involved in campus ministry. Find out firsthand if you have the ability to take a stand and to be of service while interacting with people at various places in their faith journeys. Being a peer leader, Bible study facilitator, or liturgical reader will offer you the opportunity to start to “go public” in ministry.

 

 

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MEN'S DISCERNMENT GROUP

Are you looking for fellowship, support, and feedback as you discern your vocation? Join a new discernment group for men college age or older. We are meeting four times this semester. You are welcome to attend as many gatherings as your schedule permits. Seminarians will be on hand to answer questions and participate in the discussions.

Here are the upcoming dates and activities. All meetings are from 7:30-10:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 21, 2005
Mary and My Call
Reflections on devotion to Our Lady
Reading: "Redemptoris Mater" ("Mother of the Redeemer"), Pope
John Paul II's encyclical on Mary
http://www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0224/_INDEX.HTM

Nov. 18, 2005
100 Days After WYD in Cologne, Germany
Reflections on how the Church worldwide has influenced
individuals' call from God
Reading: Pope Benedict XVI's message at the WYD Marienfeld
Vigil with Youth
http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?
id=1893&backPID=1373&tt_news=1185

Dec. 16, 2005
From Baptism to Bishop
-Archbishop Timothy Dolan reflects on his priestly discernment
-Adoration in the chapel in Archbishop Dolan's home
-Hors-d'oeuvres and socialization

Jan. 20, 2006
Feb. 17, 2006
March 17, 2006
April 21, 2006

The address of Saint Francis Seminary is 3257 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis, 53235.

Why join a discernment group?

  • To pray with other men who are serious about answering the universal call to holiness
  • To share in fellowship and support each other as we seek to do God's will
  • To engage in thought-provoking discussion on spirituality, the Catholic faith, discernment, and opportunities to serve God and His people
  • To grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Who can be involved?

Men of college age and older who have a desire to know, love, and serve the Lord in the vocations to which He calls us.

Is there a commitment to attend the group meetings?

You may not be able to make it to all four meetings this semester. We ask that when you are present, you participate fully. We pray that through your active discernment, involvement in this group will become a priority for you.

Must I be discerning a call to priesthood to join?

No, but you must have an openness to go wherever God may be calling you in your life.

Do I have to prepare?

You don't have to, but it would really add to the discussion if you checked out the discussion material. Suggested reading will be posted for each meeting, but feel free to bring in any other materials that you believe would add to the discussion.

St. Francis is an hour away!

We realize that you may have to drive a distance to be involved in the group. In the future we would like to have groups around the diocese.

Coming?

Please let the Vocations Office know if you're coming...even if you don't know until the last minute. E-mail vocations@sfs.edu or call 414-747-6437 so that we know how many to expect.


Choices and transition both describe the college experience. You choose the college or university to attend. You narrow down a major. You make new friends. You have more freedom than ever before.

Saint Francis Seminary offers three programs for students earning their undergraduate degrees at Milwaukee-area colleges and universities while discerning a call to priesthood. In addition, for those interested in an independent college seminary, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has a collaborative relationship with St. Joseph Seminary, on the campus of Loyola University in Chicago.

Four College Programs

  • Explore

    Begin to experience seminary life through weekly gatherings for dinner with other students in the College Program, celebrate Mass together, and discuss topics related to spirituality and priesthood. You will also receive invitations to formation offerings and social events at Saint Francis Seminary.

    This is a way of exploring priesthood while keeping other doors open. You make no commitment to the program except to participate as you are able for one semester.

    To apply for the program, all you need to do is talk with Father Joe Juknialis, College Program director.

  • Seminary Without Walls

    Once you experience some level of ministerial call, what’s next? In Seminary Without Walls, college students attend daily Mass on or off campus, interact with other men in Saint Francis Seminary’s College Program, work with a spiritual director, participate in some type of pastoral ministry, and take time off for a weekend retreat each semester.

    There is a formal application process, including personal interviews and a psychological evaluation (using written instruments and meeting with a licensed psychologist). Don’t let the psychological evaluation and interviews throw you! These tools help you to know up front, at the very beginning, that you are someone who will do well as a priest or, alternatively, that you should look at other forms of ministry.

  • Saints Peter and Paul Residency Program

    The residency program is offered to college juniors and seniors seriously thinking about priesthood. You continue to work toward a bachelor’s degree at the school of your choice in the Milwaukee area while living at the residence. Monthly formation nights and an annual weekend retreat provide opportunities to really focus on the unfolding of your vocational call.

    You will live with college men who are thinking seriously about priesthood, as you are. Fr. Joe Juknialis, director of the College Program, also lives in the residence. Your involvement in different ministries at Saints Peter and Paul Parish will offer you an inside view of the life of a parish priest. Informal conversations with Fr. Joe will give you a unique opportunity to reflect with him on what he does as a parish priest and seminary professor.

    There is a formal application process involving a written application, interviews, and psychological assessment. (If you have been in Seminary Without Walls, you will not have to repeat common elements of the admissions processes.)

  • Independent College Seminary Program

    Are you interested in experiencing seminary life at the undergraduate level? St. Joseph Seminary is the college seminary program of the Archdiocese of Chicago, but the program accepts seminarians for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as well. St. Joseph Seminary offers a structured formation program on the Loyola University campus. You will still participate in some formation opportunities with the seminarians attending college in the Milwaukee area so that you are not cut off from the Saint Francis Seminary/Archdiocese of Milwaukee community.

    • Seminarians participating in any of the college programs offered by Saint Francis Seminary or the program at St. Joseph Seminary assume full financial responsibility for their undergraduate education. Talk with Fr. Joe Juknialis, director of Saint Francis Seminary's College Program, about grants specifically for students involved in the College Program. Of course, you will also work with the financial aid office at the college you are attending.

Fr. Joe Juknialis
Saint Francis Seminary
College Program Director
sfs@wi.rr.com

 

 


Thinking ahead to graduate school at Saint Francis Seminary? Click here.

Interested in a retreat? Click here.

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