Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

PASTORAL DIMENSION | 147

exposure to the Church’s missionary work during the years of for mation can be beneficial to the seminarian, his discernment, and his future ministry. d. The community dimension : Pastoral formation must initiate semi narians to the care, guidance, and leadership that are extended to a community. The pastor is to be a man of communion and the shepherd of a flock. In the context of individualism in the United States, the concern is that “pastoral formation” and “pas toral care” might otherwise be limited to one-to-one contact. Pastoral ministry is primarily directed to a community and then to individuals within that community. Seminarians need to learn how to integrate and make available in service to God’s People all the formation they have received from all dimensions. This means the acquisition of certain skills, for example, an abil ity to communicate the mysteries of faith in clear and readily comprehensible language 441 using media and technology appro priate to the social context. At the same time, pastoral formation means more than acquiring skills. It signifies a level of personal development, fit ting for a priest who acts in the person of Jesus Christ, Head and Shepherd, Servant and Spouse. Effective ministry means, for example, the cultivation of a flexibility of spirit that enables the priest to relate to people across a number of different cultures and theological and ecclesial outlooks. Formators must help the seminarian put on both the mind and heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd, 442 including exposing him to cultural and linguistic diversity. This exposure enables him to more fully welcome new comers to the culturally rich society in which we live, while at the same time encouraging these newcomers to maintain the rich ness of their own cultural identity. 443 e. Collaboration with others : Pastoral formation must give the semi narian the experience of working with various leaders within the Church, such as permanent deacons, the laity, and those in the state of consecrated life, so as to prepare him for fruitful collabo ration with others as a priest. 444

441 See CIC, c. 255; CCEO, c. 352 §2. 442 See Pastores Dabo Vobis , no. 58. 443 Useful resources for formation in cultural competency are noted in the section on the propaedeutic stage. 444 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 119.