Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

PREFACE | 3

6. Four chapters follow the chapter on seminary formation and present a detailed description of how each of the four dimensions (human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral), respectively, is to be integrated at each of the four stages of seminary formation (propaedeutic, disciple ship, configuration, and vocational synthesis). Each chapter includes the benchmarks for that dimension, which the seminarian is expected to achieve before moving to the next stage. This Program of Priestly Formation continues with a chapter about the ongoing formation of priests. This chapter is intended to help all those involved in the preparation of seminarians for the priesthood, including the seminarians themselves, to recognize that the seminary lays a foun dation for a lifetime of formation. The USCCB, however, does have a separate document that presents ongoing formation in more detail. 6 The Program of Priestly Formation c oncludes with a section on seminaries that describes their governance, leadership, and personnel. The Program of Priestly Formation, then, is normative for United States seminary programs and serves as a basis for future visitations. 7 A B rief N ote on T erminology : When the term “ecclesiastical entity” is used in this document, it refers to the diocese or eparchy, personal ordinariate, institute of consecrated life, or society of apostolic life for which a seminarian is preparing for ordained ministry in the Church in the United States. At the same time, each seminary, with the approval of the diocesan bishop or the bishops concerned, or of the competent authority of an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life as the case may be, is to develop, articulate, and implement its own particular program in conformity with the Program of Priestly Formation. The term “discerner” refers to a man who has not yet entered the propaedeutic stage and is in the process of discerning entry into the first stage of initial priestly forma tion. The term “seminarian” refers to a man who has been accepted into a seminary formation program. The term “candidate” refers to a seminarian who has received the Rite of Candidacy. The term “professor” refers to 7. 8. 6 USCCB, The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2001). As of the publication of this Program of Priestly Formation , the Basic Plan is being revised; the second edition will be published soon. 7 See CIC, cc. 242, 455. This Program of Priestly Formation is intended to serve the entire Catholic Church in the United States. Some of its principles, norms, and pastoral applications are specific to the Latin Church. Nonetheless, the Program of Priestly Formation is also normative for all Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris in the United States except where it conflicts with their particular traditions and pastoral life and with the requirements of the CCEO.