Roman Catholic Priests: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
Job Overview Roman Catholic priests are types of religious workers.They either practice as diocesian priests or as religious priests. Diocesian priests are also called secular priests. They lead individual parishes under a certain diocese. Religious priests, on the other hand, live and work with the other members of the religious orders in the church. Primarily, the duty of all priests in general is to perform different rites such as administering the seven sacraments of the church: the sacrament of baptism, confession, confirmation, marriage, communion, the sacrament of holy orders and that of the annointing the sick. Diocesian priests generally provide pastoral care to the parishioners handled, as well as make sure that religious programs are beign implemented well and adequately. Religious priests, in contrasts, often are educators and missionaries. They may also be confined to the monastery studying andplanning for religious missions. Majority of the Roman Catholic Priests are Diocesian priests, and in total, there are around 45,000 priests in the United States presently.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
To become an ordained priest, it usually requires a minimum of 8 years of post graduate study. Those who are interested to be Roman Catholic priest should start by taking a college degree and opting to pursue a stdy in theological seminaries right after the college graduation. Programs that are being offered by the seminary colleges are Religion, Philosophy, History, Behavioral Science and Mathematics. An additional four years of preparatory courses on Theology, Liturgy, Homilectics, Ethics, to name a few, should be taken, including the fieldwork in parishes and in different communities, before reaching the state of ordination by the bishops.
Skills and Abilities
A religious dedication is needed to become a priest.
A strong faith to God, and belief to his power are prerequisites should one wants to consider a career in being a religious Roman Catholic leader. Righteousness and self sacrifice are qualities that they should also possess. Since they are not allowed to marry and most of the time spend their days with the church and the parishioners, they must be fully decided that their role is to serve the people in general, and lead them to righteousness, as idealized by the workings of the Lord. They should be skilled in teaching, have a compassion to the poor, sick and needy, as well as have a strong personality and good interpersonal skills.
Duties
Either a Diocesian or a Religious priest, a Roman Catholic priests in general have generally the same power bestowed on them after being ordained by the bishops. The way of living and the type of work they focus on though differ. Diocesian priest are assigned by bishops to a specific parish, and therefore the works are confined in the parish they handle. They are responsbile in leading the people through liturgical celebrations such as the regular mass. They also provide pastoral care to the parishioners in the event of death, sickness and other personal dilemma.They may be involved in overseeing religios education within the congregation as well as some administrative duties within it. Religious priests, on the other hand, either Dominicans, Franciscans or Jesuits, work as members of the religious communities in schools, hospitals, in specific communities, to provide teaching and do missionary works as ordered by their superiors.
Earnings and Job Outlook
Religious priests should accept the vow of poverty. They take their basic need support from the religious orders. Any salary or community contributions coming from the people will be turned over to their respective religious orders. As for the Diocesian priests, they recieve small salaries that are calculated to support their basic needs daily. The range of salary starts from 15,290 U.S. dollars to around 18,500 U.S. dollars per annum.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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