Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests (Ascension)

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Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

contribute meaningfully to the overall health of a presbyterate and foster a fruitful unity among priests of different age groups.

232 Last, every diocese has a great deal of pastoral experience, and certain priests will be especially effective in particular ministries. When a priest is given a new assignment, he can find it helpful to make on-site visits to priests successfully doing similar work, learning from them on the ground. 213 In addition, those who serve in similar capacities— for instance, those involved in campus ministry, hospital work, or military or prison chaplaincy—might consider gathering periodically to share best practices and speak about particular situations they face. They can be means of ongoing formation for each other, as well as a source of encouragement and new friendships. Episcopal Means 233 Because ongoing pastoral formation often consists of gaining new knowledge or revisiting matters previously learned, diocesan bishops and dioceses can do much to foster this dimension of priestly life. Many subjects can be addressed in priest study days, workshops, convocations, and online seminars. Topics that lend themselves to such training may be grouped under three principal headings: priestly ministry, parish apostolates, and management. Priestly Ministry 234 As in any other field, priests sometimes need to return to basics, refresh their memory, and update their knowledge about daily duties. Liturgical training, especially in regard to the celebration of Mass and other sacred rites, can often be helpful. So too can formation 213 “In view of his own spiritual and pastoral growth and out of love for his flock, the priest should welcome with gratitude, and even seek on a regular basis, the orientations of his bishop or the latter’s representatives for the development of his pastoral ministry. It is also an admirable practice for the priest to request the opinions of more expert priests and qualified laypersons with respect to the most suitable pastoral methods.” DMLP, no. 33.

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