You can see in one of my posts in this thread http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=40138, I am more than likely be moving back up north where I grew up, to be a priest (if that is my vocation). Is it wrong to want to be ordained in a particular geographical area because of reasons such as:


- Being born and raised there.
- The weather.
- The surroundings and people.
- The culture.


I want to be part of a diocese that is pretty orthodox, but these other reasons come to mind as well.

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And another question: How does one know if a diocese is orthodox or not? Can anyone tell me if the following dioceses are pretty well orthodox or not?

- Diocese of Wilmington (Delaware)
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
- Diocese of Trenton (New Jersey)
- Diocese of Camden (New Jersey)









Thank you in advance.

I go to school in NJ in the Diocese of Trenton and the priests around the area are quite orthodox. I'm not sure about the entire diocese but from what I've seen, it's pretty solid.

Going to the cathedral and seeing how the masses there is informative. (Sometimes depressingly so... ) See how many vocations the diocese currently has. See if any religious orders have started there recently. Look up the bishop's name in Google and see what news articles say about him. (I remember how the people in Newark freaked out when VERY ORTHODOX Bishop Myers of Peoria got transferred there. )

I don't think wanting to be ordained in a particular area for climate or cultural reasons is at all wrong. I think it'd be a mistake to do otherwise! You want to be as happy as possible in the area you'll be working in for the rest of your life! No one wants a cranky priest.

philadelphia is orthodox....

Here's a good one, the Archdiocese of St. Louis! Archbishop Raymond Burke is awesome!!!

It is perfectly fine to move for those reasons. As long as it is not completely about us and it is done to a certain extent with prayer.

Though I think for most Diocese you need to be a resident for a year before you can enter seminary.


And oh yeah, Arch-Bishop Burke is the best!

diocese of camden is my diocese.....not really sure how orthodox or unorthodox it is.....i haven't been around for much of the last four years.....

philly is definately good.....espcially with rigali in charge...that is the archdiocese i went to school in

I know in my own discernment process, I was wondering the same things. I grew around Wichita, KS, and that is where all of my family is. However I Converted to the Catholic Church in Topeka,KS. I was struggling between the Archdioces of Kansas City Kansas, and the Dioces of Wichita. Be closer to my family, and friends down there, or in KC where I have found a strong faith life for me. While I do not think it is wrong to consider things like family, whether ect. in deciding for me the idea of going to the Wichita Dioces was selfishness on my part. I didn't want to give up those things there. I realized during my own meditations these past couple of weeks (After Matty Molnar and Jared Cheek died) that my answer needs to be the answer the rich man did not give Jesus. Yes, I am willing to sacrifice not being around my family and life long friends to follow him.

Just my thoughts, as long as your answer to God's call is pure then I don't think it is wrong to consider other things, but just make sure that you arn't witholding yourself from God's full fulfillment of your call

clink clink two cents in the jar

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your insights.