Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

PASTORAL DIMENSION | 157

desire will strengthen him, over the years of priestly ministry, to make a generous gift of himself without counting the cost. This stage, which leads to the transitional deacon’s public expres sion of his free, conscious, and definitive intention for the priesthood, must also encourage him to find a suitable time for his spiritual prepa ration to priestly ordination 465 and to show his positive disposition for ongoing formation with his future brother priests after ordination. 384.

NORMS FOR PASTORAL FORMATION

385. Every seminary is required to offer a coordinated program of pastoral formation that forms seminarians who are able, as shepherds of Christ’s flock, to serve men and women in answering their call to holiness. 466

386.

The pastoral formation program should be an integral part of the

seminary curriculum.

387. The goals and objectives of the pastoral formation program must be clearly stated and must serve as the basis for the evaluation of semi narians in this area. This statement should also include a description of professional ministerial ethics. The coordinator of pastoral formation must be a priest, possess the requisite parochial experience and professional expertise, and participate in professional organizations in the area of seminary pastoral formation. The coordinator must model a love for priestly ministry in the Church. The pastoral formation program should provide seminarians with a broad exposure to supervised pastoral service, with primary emphasis on parish ministry. 388. 389.

465 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 77. 466 See Lumen Gentium , section V; Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 89.