Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

26 | GUIDE TO ONGOING FORMATION FOR PRIESTS

68. Ongoing formation is needed to address not only the normal life changes that affect every priest but also the limitations of seminary formation. In some surveys, recently ordained priests have identified gaps in their formation. 47 Some of those concerns are well-founded critiques of seminary programs that rightly point out areas for improvement. Others, however, reveal not so much gaps in seminary formation as the need for further formation. After all, many aspects of priestly life—administrative abilities, financial expertise, leadership, and certain pastoral skills, to take some clear examples—are only fully learned in the field. Rather than shoe horning these important skills into an already burdened seminary curric ulum—likely with dubious results—it seems wiser for the Church to provide some basics about these topics during the seminary years while actively fostering their development after ordination. 48 Just as the integration of the four dimensions is vital in seminar ians, ongoing formation strives to continue integrating the dimensions in priests. Each of the dimensions deserves our attention. If four rowers are pulling a boat, each needs to pull with equal force, or the boat makes little progress. Just so, if we focus exclusively on our continued spiritual devel opment but ignore our pastoral growth, for instance, we risk becoming spiritual recluses and absentee fathers. If we focus on our pastoral work but ignore intellectual pursuits, our preaching and teaching can become superficial and stale. If we focus on academic studies but ignore the need for greater human maturity, we can become eccentric and off-putting. Each priest will want to tailor his personal plan for ongoing formation to meet his own needs, addressing his own weaknesses and building on his own strengths, without ever losing sight of his whole person. 69.

MEANS FOR ONGOING FORMATION

70. This Guide addresses each dimension of formation in its own chapter (chapters three through six), beginning with some objective markers

47 See National Association of Catholic Theological Schools and Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Enter by the Narrow Gate: Satisfaction and Challenges Among Recently Ordained Priests (Washington, DC: CARA, 2020). 48 “Initial and ongoing formation are distinct because each requires different methods and timing, but they are two halves of one reality, the life of a disciple cleric, in love with his Lord and steadfastly following him.” Francis, Address to the Plenary of the Congregation for the Clergy, October 3, 2014, www.vati can.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2014/october/documents/papa-francesco_20141003_plenaria-congregazi one-clero.html.