Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

Appendix A. Program for Newly Ordained Priests

239. This appendix concerns the crafting of strategies and programs for the ongoing formation of recently ordained priests (those in their first five years after ordination). 216 It does not offer a ready-made program or even a template for a program. Presuming that dioceses are varied and have varied geography, resources, and personnel, we offer the ideas that follow to assist those who have the responsibility to discern and to plan.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

240. We do not need to provide the data here to demonstrate the impor tance of the first three years after ordination for the long-term well-being of a new priest and for the effectiveness of his priestly ministry. Numerous studies have covered this ground and provide ample evidence for the need to pay particular attention to this period of a priest’s life, as he moves from formation into the exercise of priestly ministry. The transitional nature of this period provides one of the first chal lenges to those responsible for ongoing formation. Newly ordained priests may fear that ongoing formation programs may be mere continuations of seminary formation. As this document asserts, a clear relationship does indeed exist between formation before ordination and lifelong engagement in ongoing formation. A seamless transition from one to the other, with a steady commitment to ongoing growth and development as a man and as 241.

216 Studies indicate the importance of the first five years after ordination. However, many priests are already considered as candidates for a pastorate by their second or third year. In addition, most dioceses would have difficulty sustaining a program for five years. Therefore, this appendix suggests a program of one to five years to allow for flexibility given local circumstances.