Program of Priestly Formation 6th edition

HUMAN DIMENSION | 79

to accomplish the tasks entrusted to him and the self-knowledge to face temptation and resist it effectively. g. A man who relates well with others, free of prejudice, and who is willing to work with people of diverse cultural backgrounds : A man capable of wholesome relations with women and men 233 as rela tives, friends, colleagues, staff members, and teachers and as peo ple encountered in areas of apostolic work. h. A good steward of material possessions : Someone who is able to live a simple style of life and to “refrain from all things that have a semblance of vanity”; 234 someone who has the right attitude toward the goods of this world, since his portion and inheritance is the Lord; 235 someone who is generous in making charitable contributions and sustaining the poor. 236 i. A man who can take on the role of a public person : Someone both secure in himself and convinced of his responsibility, who is able to live not just as a private citizen but as a public person in service of the Gospel and representing the Church. Education in the awareness and mature use of social media is a vital component of human formation in seminaries. Prudence and discern ment are more important in our current environment than they perhaps were in the past because information technology in our era advances exponentially faster than at any other time in human history. On the one hand, information technology can be used as a powerful tool for pastoral ministry, most notably evangelization. On the other hand, it habituates us to substituting the virtual for the real, desensitizing us to reality. In addition, careless and undiscerning use of information technology is morally dangerous and may lead to addictive behavior. Seminarians must be taught “how to use these technologies in a competent and appropriate way, shaped by sound theological insights and reflecting a strong priestly spirituality grounded in constant dialogue with the Lord.” 237 Seminarians must use social media and technology in accordance with local diocesan/ eparchial policies, especially in regard to communication with minors. 184.

233 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 95. 234 CIC, c. 282 §1; CCEO, c. 385 §1. 235 See Ps 16:5-6.

236 See Presbyterorum Ordinis , no. 17; CIC, c. 282 §2; CCEO, c. 385 §1. 237 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 97; see Ratio Fundamentalis , nos. 97-100.