Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I become a Sulpician?
A: The U.S. Province of the Sulpicians usually accepts applications only from those who are citizens of the U.S. or Zambia. Exceptions may be made for other priests who are already engaged in ministry in the U.S. or in Zambia and for those with previous experience in priestly formation. There are other Provinces of the Society of St. Sulpice that do accept applications from priests who are not U.S. or Zambian citizens. Depending upon your nationality, we may be able to refer you to one of our other provinces.

Q: I am a diocesan seminarian. Do the Sulpicians accept applications from seminarians?
A: We do, provided the applicant has the permission of the bishop who is sponsoring him for ordination. Normally we accept these applications after the seminarian has completed two years of theology (and his pastoral year, when that precedes his third year of theology). Seminarians accepted as Sulpician candidates understand that they will not be transferred to the Sulpicians until they have completed at least two years of parish ministry as a priest in their dioceses.

Q: I have been a priest for a long time. Do the Sulpicians accept applications from older priests?
A: Our policy is that you have to be in a position to accept your first assignment from the Sulpicians prior to your 55th birthday.

Q: I am a member of a religious order. Can I join the Sulpicians?
A: Since the Sulpicians are a community of diocesan priests, you can join them only after you have left your religious community and have obtained incardination as a diocesan priest. Of course, as a diocesan priest, you would also need the permission of your diocesan bishop to join us.

Q: My bishop will allow me to apply for a faculty position at a seminary. So why should I consider joining the Sulpicians?
A: Clearly there are many dedicated priests doing priestly formation in the Church who are not members of religious communities or societies of apostolic life. For Sulpicians, however, priestly formation is not merely an assignment but a life’s work, or a vocation within a vocation. Sulpicians have the support of a community whose members are committed to a common mission around the globe. Also, Sulpicians have a traditional approach to priestly formation that has been distinctive in the Church.

Q: My diocese is experiencing a shortage of priests at this time. How can I approach my bishop to ask about joining the Sulpicians?
A: Your diocese is like many others in the U.S., and your bishop is probably concerned about the declining number of priests. At the same time, bishops accept their responsibility to provide for strong priestly formation in the Church. For this reason, it has been our experience that most bishops will take a priest seriously when he expresses an interest in the Sulpicians, provided there is no crisis at home and provided they feel that the priest himself is serious and has the gifts and potential for priestly formation. You should be aware that even if your bishop allows you to apply to the Sulpicians, he may postpone your transfer to Sulpician ministry until a time of his choosing. You should also be aware that when you join the Sulpicians, you remain incardinated in your home diocese and may continue to assist in your diocese as your Sulpician duties allow.

Q: The Sulpicians are not a religious community but a society of apostolic life. What is a society of apostolic life?
A: Societies of apostolic life are associations in the Church whose members pursue a common mission without taking vows and who live as a community under Church-approved regulations called constitutions. So when you join the Sulpicians, you remain a diocesan priest; you do not become a religious. At the same time, you become a member of a community of diocesan priests dedicated to priestly formation. You might also want to know that the Sulpicians are both a clerical society and a society of pontifical right. This means that Sulpicians must be priests and that the constitutions of the Sulpicians have been approved by the Holy See.

Q: Why are the Sulpicians not a religious community, with vows?
A: The specific mission of the Sulpicians is the formation of diocesan priests, and our founder Father Jean-Jacques Olier believed that this mission is best accomplished by diocesan priests. That is why Sulpicians are expected to have some pastoral experience and why we maintain affiliation with our home dioceses. We cherish our identity as an association of diocesan priests who assist the bishops with the formation of their priests and seminarians.

Q: Do I need to be involved in informal discernment prior to applying to join the Sulpicians?
A: This depends upon your knowledge of and prior experience with the Sulpicians. For example, if you are a student or an alumnus of a Sulpician program, informal discernment may not be needed. If you have little or no knowledge of the Sulpicians, you should take some time to get to know us and our programs before making a decision to approach your bishop for permission to apply. This informal discernment normally includes a visit to the Baltimore-Washington area to discuss your interest, to meet some Sulpicians and to visit some of our programs. If you tell the Director of Discernment about your background, he will recommend an informal discernment process tailored to your needs.

Q: How long does it take to complete the formal process of application to join the Sulpicians?
A: Normally, from the time your bishop gives you permission to apply until the time when you are accepted as a Sulpician candidate, the process takes three to four months.

Q: Is there a good time of the year to make application?
A: We accept applications at any time of the year. You may want to know that our assignments begin on July 1. So if you hope to begin Sulpician ministry as soon as possible, it is best to complete your application before Christmas. That way, both your diocese and the Sulpicians will not be under undue pressure to make the necessary arrangements for new assignment.

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