Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

112 | GUIDE TO ONGOING FORMATION FOR PRIESTS

most extensive orientation programming needs follow-up and amplifica tion over time. New questions arise in the lived experience of international priests, and further discussion of culture is essential before a priest might be considered for a pastorate. Additionally, general programming needs to be accessible to priests of other cultures and should contribute to building up fraternal understanding and cooperation among priests from different cultural perspectives.

CULTURE AND ONGOING FORMATION

289. Three areas of concern center on the power and role of culture in ongoing formation efforts. First, all clergy have a general need for resources for intercultural competency in ministry to the diverse Catholic population of the United States. Those same skills also have application to the inter actions among clergy in rectories and in parish ministry. Second, dioceses need to consider the cultural identity of their presbyterate when selecting topics or planning programs for the clergy. This consideration benefits not only missionary clergy who were ordained in other countries, but also local clergy who might belong to a particular cultural identity within the US context. Third, the essential fraternity of a healthy presbyterate might be weakened if the clergy interact exclusively with those of their own cultural experience and viewpoint. A comprehensive ongoing formation program will seek to encourage or build those bridges between priests. Given the nature of culture, attitudes and perceptions as to proper physical and emotional boundaries are heavily influenced by a priest’s culture. Thus, boundary education (addressed in appendix D) needs to be sensitive to cultural differences among priests. For international clergy arriving for ministry in the United States, these concerns are a source of considerable anxiety. In addition to the initial orientation provided to them, this area of ongoing formation should figure into a number of settings for priests on a regular basis. BOUNDARY EDUCATION 290.