Seminarian FAQ's

$300,000 - Scholarship endowment
$50,000 - Tuition for one year
$12,000 - Sponsor a transitional deacon*
$5,000 - Summer assignment
$4,000 - Stipend for living expenses

* Transitional deacon is a deacon who is becoming a priest.

What is Bishop Dewane doing about vocations?

Bishop Dewane has made vocations a top priority. He has appointed a full-time Vocations Director. He stepped up recruiting in foreign countries where there is an abundance of vocations. And he is trying to create a culture of vocations awareness within the Diocese.  These steps have resulted in ten new seminarians starting their studies in 2008. That is the largest class ever in the history of the Diocese.

How much does it cost to educate a priest?

The cost is comparable to a college degree, about $30,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on the school the seminarian is attending.

How does the Diocese pay for this?

The vast majority of the expense comes out of the Diocesan Catholic Faith Appeal. The once a year collection in the parishes barely covers the cost of a single seminarian.

Why don’t the seminarians pay their own way?

Some families do contribute but many seminarians come from families that cannot afford the cost, and when they become priests they will not earn the kind of income that will enable them to pay large college loans. There is also competition between dioceses and religious orders, so, like the better schools offering scholarships to top students, we have to offer scholarships to keep our candidates.

Why do we need the Timothy Fund?

When the Venice Diocese was established by taking counties from the St. Petersburg and Miami Dioceses none of the endowment assets were transferred. Miami, for example, has a $15 million seminarian endowment which had been built up over many years. We need to build our endowment to take the burden off the Catholic Faith Appeal budget.

Why use an endowment instead of outright gifts?

The endowment process ensures that the principal does not get spent. The income is there every year and becomes a reliable figure in planning the seminarian budget for the Diocese. For the donor it gives the knowledge that the gift will continue to give, and the blessings will flow, long after the tax benefit is forgotten.