Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

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Program of Priestly Formation

to address the questions encountered in this delicate ministry with a merciful spirit.” 373 Pastoral instruction can be offered addressing various situations that will arise in the life of the priest, for example, marriage preparation and ministry to the grieving. The vocational synthesis stage may include pastoral seminars as well as sacramental practica that the transitional deacon attends, or these seminars and practica may be given in the configuration stage. Given that the transitional deacon resides full-time in a pastoral setting, virtual meeting platforms may be useful during this stage. This stage will also see the deacon establishing a habit of individual study and ongoing intellectual formation that will serve him throughout his life as a priest. Vocational Synthesis Stage Benchmarks As the deacon nears completion of initial formation for the priesthood, the intellectual dimension of formation in this stage focuses on demonstrating competency in pastoral theology and its application in preaching, sacramental and pastoral ministry, and liturgical praxis. Regardless of whether continued meetings or seminars are required during limited visits to the seminary, it is important that the deacon demonstrate a commitment to continued growth in intellectual formation through personal study, workshops, and conferences. It is also important that he recognize and articulate areas for his personal ongoing intellectual growth. 374

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Norms for Intellectual Formation Propaedeutic Stage

In the intellectual formation of the propaedeutic stage, the seminarians should develop familiarity with Christian doctrine by studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church .

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373 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 178. 374 See CIC, c. 279; CCEO, c. 372.

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