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Home > Support > Curricula > Which educational track should I follow for a child who is interested in religious life?
 
 
Question: I recently purchased High School of Your Dreams, and I have a question. What track should I follow for a child who has a call to religious life? Thanks!
Answer:

AMDG+

Dear Mom;

Praise God that you have a student who is discerning a call to religious life. What a gift, to have a child whose heart is open to God's will.

I'm not certain whether the student in question is a son or daughter, nor whether he/she is seeking monastic life or discerning a call to the priesthood. Requirements and academic preparation can vary significantly depending on these factors.

For example, a young woman seeking entrance into a Franciscan order might well be received after completing a 'middle of the road' educational track, with no college prep whatsoever. The same can be said for a young man who might be feeling a call to the monastic life, but not necessarily to the priesthood.

A young man feeling a call to the priesthood, however, might wish to pursue more rigorous high school studies, as virtually all candidates for the priesthood will face college courses either before entrance or while in seminary. [It is not an uncommon requirement for a young man to complete a total of six years or more of college level studies in preparation for ordination.]

To help determine which high school track would be a fit for your child's aspirations, it might be helpful to log on to the Institute for Religious Life's website. The Institute promotes only those orders which are faithful to the Magisterium; their website provides a wealth of information and contacts that might help your child narrow down the orders that he/she is interested in. The student then might contact the order/s to find what their educational requirements are for entry. This contact would help the student 'fine tune' his/her goals and, hence, reveal a suitable course of study.

In the meantime, perhaps HSYD's courses in Apologetics, Vocations, and Theology might further reveal his/her interests and gifts.

May God bless and guide you and your student in this wonderful journey.

Dominus tecum,

Nancy Nicholson

   
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