Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

98 | GUIDE TO ONGOING FORMATION FOR PRIESTS

and support the rationale of the program and help the new priest to plan his time well so that he will be able to take part in program events. Ideally, the program also offers pastors training for their role in supervising the young priest in his first years. Some pastors identify their role in this regard as being mentors, but this is a misunderstanding of the term (see below under “The Mentor”). The role of a mentor is primarily supportive. Although a pastor can and should be supportive, the heart of his contribution is supervisory. He helps the young priest to find the balance of ministry and prayer, work and rest. He helps the man understand accountability and his responsibility to others and to the mission. He offers concrete feedback on preaching and work performance. He also bears the burden of communi cating serious concerns to the diocesan bishop, or to his delegate, if a young priest struggles with alcohol, substances, improper engagement with media, or other behaviors that endanger him or others. The role of the spiritual director and confessor is critical in the life of every priest. As this matter is a personal choice of the individual priest, assigning a spiritual director is not necessary (as it might be in the semi nary). Nonetheless, those charged with crafting and overseeing the program of ongoing formation need to ensure that newly ordained priests under stand the importance of establishing this habit of regular direction from the very start of their priestly ministry. Although this unique relationship takes place in the internal forum, and the discussions are entirely confiden tial, the fact that a priest has a director and is faithful to direction is not in the internal forum; it is a legitimate interest of the diocesan bishop or his delegate. A diocese or several dioceses in concert may find it advisable to arrange the training of suitable directors to assist young priests in estab lishing the practice from the start. THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR 247.

THE MENTOR

248. The mentor is a seasoned or mature priest, other than the pastor, who provides peer support from one priest to another. The mentor for a recently ordained priest should be a mature priest who lives and works in a parish other than that of the new priest. As opposed to the priest’s own selection of a spiritual director, the diocesan bishop may wish to assign mentors to newly ordained priests (some programs do permit the new priest