A catholic priest is the one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God specifically: an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon.
Below is How To Become A Catholic Priest In Ghana
General Qualifications for Acceptance to the Priesthood
Baptized, confirmed, and practicing Roman Catholic men with a desire to serve God and His people as a priest must possess the following general qualifications:
Faith in, and love for, Christ and His Church.
Good moral character.
A high school diploma with favorable academic abilities.
Emotional balance and maturity.
Good physical health.
Psychological readiness and capacity to pursue a sustaining, life-long commitment.
A deepening habit of prayer and balanced devotional life.
Maturity to recognize and the willingness to respond to the needs of others.
Readiness to serve in the manner to which he is called by God, through his Bishop.
A developing spirit of detachment that helps him be in the world but not of the world.
Freedom to enter this state in life.
Additional Specific Criteria for Acceptance to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington
In addition to the general qualifications above, a candidate must also meet the following:
Be between the ages of 17-55. (Rare exceptions are considered on a case by case basis)
Does not have personal financial liability, i.e. car or personal loans, credit card(s), etc. versus personal assets that exceed 18,179.14 GHS; nor have total outstanding college student loan debt that exceeds 363,582.72 GHS
Have a connection and familiarity with the Diocese of Arlington and the people with whom the candidate feels called to serve here as a future priest, i.e. by living (past or present), working, or studying within the diocese. (In circumstances of military families exceptions can be made.)
Not suffer from a disordered sexual orientation, i.e. not consider oneself to be homosexual.
If the candidate has previously been dismissed from another priestly formation program or from an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, he must wait at least two years prior to being considered for the priestly formation program in the Diocese of Arlington.
If the candidate is a recent convert to the faith or has recently returned to the regular practice of the faith, he must wait at least two years prior to acceptance into the priestly formation program in the Diocese of Arlington.
How many years does it take to become a Catholic priest?
The process of training to become a Catholic priest can take anywhere from 4 to 13 years, averaging around 6, and is very involved.
Those who wish to become Catholic priests must attend a Catholic seminary, a school specifically designed to train and educate priests.
Can you become a priest at any age?
The Catholic Church does not set a maximum age on ordination.
However, specific dioceses and religious communities do not accept applicants above a certain age. when there is a limit, this is usually in the range of 40 to 55 years.