-What kind of subjects do you study to be a priest

-What kind of subjects do you study to be a priest?

-Is the study you do in preparation for priesthood easier than University study?

The academic study required for people studying for ordination is the same standard as other tertiary study. I did a double degree at the University of Queensland before entering the Seminary and I found the academic standard equal to that. I was quite impressed.

This is nothing to worry about though. You have excellent lecturers, as well as Seminary staff supervision and tutorial assistance as well as other students to assist you to work well.

Sometimes one comes across a perception, amongst people who remember their Secondary education religion classes, that theology and the study of religion/ faith is a "non-subject" that lacks the same academic standard and demands of other sciences. This cannot be further than the truth. In fact, theology is one of the oldest subjects ever studied when universities were first established. The academic approach to theology is a "critical approach". This does not mean people are sceptical about their faith, but it does mean that a student is expected to explain, argue and cite authorities and quotes for any point that is made. It would be no more acceptable in a theology course to do an assignment without the proper research and citation than it would in an economics or literary assignment. In fact, the study of theology covers a number of other academic disciplines including History, Philosopy, Literary Criticism, Art, Architecture, Ethics and so on. The study of Scripture and of Doctrine etc is also a well respected and very thought-provoking area.

The point of this study is not to make the priest some kind of a "know it all" but it would not be fair to inflict a person onto a parish who has not done the appropriate study and reflection. Naturally, the priest then applies what he has learnt in different practical ways, sometimes teaching, but other times simply using his training and background to form his attitudes and thoughts on different issues.

Here is a list of the kind of subjects you might study.

This is merely a guide based on the subjects I did in my time:

MY SEMINARY PRGRAMME:

YEAR ONE: (2 UNIVERSITY LEVEL SUBJECTS A SEMESTER)

Semester 1: INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT

INTRO TO OLD TESTAMENT.

INTRO TO CHRISTOLOGY (study of the different theories and approaches to understanding who Jesus the Christ is and was and the significance of not only the person of Jesus but his significance in religious understading and practice).

INTRO TO PHILOSPHY.

+ 2 SEMINARY SUBJECTS:

TOWARDS PRIESTHOOD –

1.(AUSTRALIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY);

2. LITURGY; SPIRITUALITY. YEARLY RETREAT.

YEAR TWO: (FOUR UNIVERSITY LEVEL SUBJECTS A SEMESTER)

GOSPEL OF LUKE

GREEK LANGUAGE

(THE LANGUAGE THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN IN)

PENTATEUCH (FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF BIBLE)

HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY (LOOKS AT THE HISTORY AND THEORIES ON HOW WE THINK ABOUT LIFE’S BIG QUESTIONS)

PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN PERSON.

ROMANS/ GALATIONS

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHURCH AND MINISTRY.

YEAR THREE: FOUR UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS A SEMESTER) GRADUATED WITH BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY.

YEAR FOUR: (FOUR UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS A SEMESTER). DIPLOMA OF MINISTRY COURSE. PREACHING SKILLS.

INCLUDING EXPLORING PARISH CULTURE, GROUP COMMUNICATIONS, MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

YEAR FIVE: IN A PARISH. LEARNING IN A PARISH SETTING.

YEAR SIX: STARTED MASTERS IN THEOLOGY. FOUR SUBJECTS A SEMESTER. MORALITY AND ETHICS.

YEAR SEVEN: LEAD-IN TO PARISH. PRACTICAL ISSUES: CELEBRATING MASS, CANON LAW. TWO SUBJECTS OF MASTERS DEGREE. RETREAT.

- EVERY YEAR. EXPECTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS, PRAYERS, SHOW LEADERSHIP, WORK WITH PEOPLE, HAVE A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, YEARLY RETREAT, USE MY RECREATION TIME AND IMPROVE RELATING SKILLS. BALANCE, WORK, REST, PLAY AND PRAYER.

- THE PROGRAMME FOCUSSED ON ATTITUDES AND VALUES AND THEN ON SKILLS. AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.