Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

48 | PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY FORMATION

daily care for supervision of all aspects of formation in the seminary. 149 He provides regular (at least annual) reports to the diocesan bishop or competent authority of the ecclesiastical entity on the status of each semi narian. Therefore, while other formators, professors, and specialists will assist the rector in his duties, it is important that he know each semi narian personally.

PRIESTLY ACCOMPANIMENT

99. A seminarian must be assigned to an individual priest formator who is in residence in the seminary. This priest is responsible for accom panying the seminarian through that particular stage of formation. This formator accompanies the seminarian in the external forum and is respon sible for personalizing the work of seminary formation for an individual seminarian as well as engaging in the discernment process that oversees the suitability of the seminarian for continuation. 150 The formator is at the service of the mystery of vocation in the seminarian. He helps to discern whether such a call is present and to foster it to its fullness by relating to the man as a shepherd and a father. Just as Jesus accompanied his Apostles and offered them indi vidual formation along the way, so also “seminarians need to be accom panied in a personal way in the various stages of their journey by those entrusted with the work of formation.” 151 The growth of human forma tion happens generally in a threefold process of self-knowledge, moving to self-possession, and finally to self-gift, and all this in a context of faith. 152 This is a gradual process of growth that integrates both the human and spiritual life of the man and leads to a deepening of interior freedom. The growth of interior freedom leads ultimately to a configuration to Christ and thus makes him capable and willing to live the Paschal Mystery of Christ in his own life. The formator accompanies the man in this gradual growth process and assists “the seminarian in becoming aware of his condi tion, of the talents that he has received, and of his frailties, so that he can become ever more receptive to the action of grace.” 153 This dialogue 100.

149 See CIC, c. 260. 150 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 132. 151 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 44. 152 See USCCB Committee on Priestly Formation, Spiritual Formation in the Catholic Seminary (1982). 153 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 46.