Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

SPIRITUAL DIMENSION | 107

and personal causes of loneliness and can develop a habit of healthy approaches to these challenges and improve his habit of solitude. 308 From the standpoint of his vocation, the seminarian can commu nicate a presumption of permanence to priesthood and share his joyful desire for lifelong priestly life and ministry, as well as a desire to live the sacramental life of a priest. He understands the importance of the evan gelical counsels for priestly life. He manifests the identity of the priest hood—Head and Shepherd, Servant and Spouse. 242.

VOCATIONAL SYNTHESIS STAGE BENCHMARKS

243. In this stage, the transitional deacon continues to grow in the solid foundations of prayer, discernment, and solitude as he moves to full-time ministry in the parish. It is important that during the vocational synthesis stage he continues to maintain his regular habits of spiritual direction, daily Mass, and personal prayer, demonstrating the ability to integrate into his own internal spiritual and prayer life his pastoral experiences and the people to whom he ministers. A formal process of theological reflection will aid this effort. His continued growth in the pursuit of holiness, essential to his priesthood, is aided through his faithful pursuit of ministry. 309 Demonstrating an obedient heart in his pastoral assignment and in his relationship with his bishop and pastor, or with the competent authority of an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, is necessary for his future happiness as a priest. So too, his recognizing the need for appropriate and regular communication with his bishop, vicar general, and other diocesan officials or competent superiors is a way of demon strating that he understands the spirit of an obedient priestly heart. 244.

308 Healthy habits in this area are crucial to his future well-being as a priest. “The Causes and Context data indicate that abuse is most likely to occur at times of stress, loneliness, and isolation. Such stressful or challenging situations triggered the desire in some priests to form inappropriate relationships with others—such relationships were most often with adults, but sometimes with minors.” John Jay College Research Team, The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States , 1950-2010: A Report Presented to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2011), 120. 309 See CIC, c. 276 §2, 1°; Presbyterorum Ordinis , nos. 12-14.