A spiritual director is often of significant help in discerning one's readiness for seminary life. Back to top. The answer to this basically depends on the agreement between the candidate and the sponsor. The older the candidate and the shorter the projected service in ministry, the more will be the expectation that the candidate pay for some, if not all, of the cost of seminary education. In any case, each sponsor has policies relative to how much of the cost they will pay and how they will support the candidate.
Health insurance is also a factor to be negotiated with the sponsor.
Back to top. In general, it is best not to sell anything initially, particularly a house, until one's vocational decision is established. Diocesan priests are not required to take a vow of poverty while religious are. Nonetheless, each case is different. Some diocesan candidates have kept their house and used it as a place to go during seminary vacations or for taking a day off, once they are ordained.