Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

HUMAN DIMENSION | 87

work, and community living, the seminarian demonstrates an awareness of and capacity to manage appropriate boundaries. 257

VOCATIONAL SYNTHESIS STAGE BENCHMARKS

200. The personality of the transitional deacon is to be a bridge, not an obstacle, to pastoral ministry, such that he can relate to and accompany the many diverse peoples living in various states of life and different cultures. During this stage he works to overcome any human fears, and he grows in the freedom of natural self-confidence to be able to bring the Gospel to all those who need it. 258 To that end, during this stage it is evident that he is capable of having and invested in maintaining wholesome friend ships with priests and others and that he willingly participates in presby teral gatherings. He is committed to mentoring relationships with men and women who assist in his pastoral placement. He demonstrates appro priate transparency in his relationships with his supervisor and staff and is accountable to them regarding his responsibilities and schedule. Being a healthy member of a presbyterate also includes the ability to initiate and spend time with priests and people from diverse generations, ethnicities, and viewpoints; it demonstrates the ability to live the communal nature of the priesthood. As the transitional deacon transitions to full-time ministry, it is important that he shows the ability to maintain regular habits of prayer, rest, exercise, and study and that he exercises good stewardship in a rectory or other communal setting. Having already established healthy habits and strategies of addressing any ongoing health concerns, in this stage he iden tifies (if necessary) and completes visits to long-term health care profes sionals (e.g., physician, dentist, and so on). He recognizes the need for and demonstrates ongoing vigilance regarding the use of technology, and he exhibits appropriate accountability with peers and his supervisor regarding the use of technology. 201.

257 In formulating criteria for evaluating candidates, seminaries will find the 1997 Scrutinies from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments an invaluable and authoritative resource. 258 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 119.