Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

174 | PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY FORMATION

444. The coordinator of spiritual formation makes provision for the individual spiritual direction of all seminarians and coordinates the regular visits of outside confessors to the seminary. 506 He meets regularly with the spiritual directors, providing supervision and assistance for their work. Either the coordinator of spiritual formation or the coordinator of liturgy provides for the liturgical life and prayer of the seminary commu nity, making provision for the daily celebration of the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours (or the Divine Praises, in the Eastern Catholic Churches), and opportunities for celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. He is also responsible for retreats and days of recollection, making sure they are well planned and carefully executed. Spiritual Directors Seminary spiritual directors, who must always be priests and are designated for this function by the diocesan bishop or major superior, 507 are responsible for the individual spiritual direction of seminarians. Spiritual direction “is one of the privileged ways of accompanying each seminarian in discerning his vocation.” 508 Those who act in this capacity should be exemplary priests who are dedicated to the Church’s service and to the ministerial priesthood. They should be wise, seasoned priests and should possess some formal training in spirituality and related areas of exper tise. Individual spiritual directors should continue to develop their skills and abilities through ongoing education programs and through inservice discussions with their fellow directors, taking care to preserve confidenti ality in matters of the internal forum. Since spiritual direction takes place in the internal forum, the relationship of seminarians to their spiritual director is a privileged and confidential one. Spiritual directors may not participate in the evaluation of those whom they currently direct or whom they directed in the past. 509 445. 446. 447.

506 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 136. 507 See CIC, c. 239 §2; CCEO, c. 339 §1. 508 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 136. 509 See CIC, c. 240 §2; CCEO, c. 339 §3.