The Catholic Church in Austria has presented a new training program aimed at men between 45 and 60 years old who wish to prepare for the priesthood without initially leaving their civilian profession. The initiative was announced on January 5 by the Conference of Rectors of Austrian Seminaries, as reported by The Pillar.
The program, called Zweiten Weg für Spätberufene (“Second Path for Late Vocations”), proposes a flexible and personalized itinerary, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model for all candidates. It will allow combining theological studies—flexible in-person or distance—with the exercise of a professional activity.
Flexible Training Based in the Seminary
Although the candidates will continue working in their civilian field, spiritual and pastoral training will take place in the seminary. It has not been specified whether full-time residence in it will be mandatory, but the program’s organization will be adapted to each aspirant’s work obligations.
In exceptional cases, candidates could retain their employment even after priestly ordination, although in a limited manner and only with the express authorization of their diocese. In any case, the work must be compatible with the priestly ethos. Those who hold political positions must renounce them before beginning the transitional diaconate and priesthood stages.
An Unusual Model in Europe
The program is noteworthy, as the usual practice for late vocations has been for candidates to leave their jobs to train full-time in seminaries, some of which are specialized for older men. This is the case, for example, in the San Lamberto seminary, in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where candidates live in community and leave their professional lives.
Despite the flexibility of the new itinerary, aspirants must meet the usual requirements for priestly formation in Latin Rite dioceses: being single—although they can be widowers—and committing to perpetual celibacy.
In Line with Rome’s Guidelines
The program’s organizers trust that this flexible path will allow discovering new vocations in a context of priestly shortage. The Conference of Rectors emphasized that these candidates represent “a valuable asset for the Church,” as they can put their professional experience at the service of the ecclesial community.
The program aligns with the Vatican guidelines set forth in the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, which recognizes the “more developed personality” of older candidates and entrusts episcopal conferences with developing specific norms for late vocations, including possible age limits or the creation of differentiated seminaries.
Finally, the Conference of Rectors invited interested parties to contact their local seminary or the diocesan vocations delegation.