Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

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Preface

beginning with the importance of integrating the dimensions (human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral) into the stages of seminary formation (propaedeutic, discipleship, configuration, and vocational synthesis). The goal of this integration is to aid the seminarian in cooperating with God’s grace in conforming his heart as a disciple of Jesus Christ to the service of the Church in pastoral charity. The stages of seminary formation are then described in more detail. That chapter concludes with a description of the seminary community and the norms for evaluation. 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, discipleship, 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 foundation 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 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 tradi tions and pastoral life and with the requirements of the CCEO.

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