Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

PPF 370

Program of Priestly Formation

and ministry of bringing God’s Word to the world through preaching and teaching. This requires that the seminarian couple the deepest convictions of faith with the development of his communication skills, so that God’s Word may be effectively expressed. b. The sacramental dimension : The celebration of the sacraments is central to the priest’s ministry. Although the seminarian cannot celebrate the sacraments as a priest does, he can accompany priests who do, and he can prepare those who participate in them. In this way, he begins to have a sense of what his sacramental ministry will entail. He will come to appreciate the sacraments as part of his future public ministry for the salvation of souls and understand more clearly how the Church’s sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist, nourish and sustain God’s people. c. Ecclesial formation : All pastoral formation, on the universal, diocesan, and parochial levels, must be profoundly ecclesial and missionary in nature. Notwithstanding the specific situation of seminarians of an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, diocesan seminarians must be familiarized with the local Church that they will serve and especially with the priests, with whom they will be co-workers with the bishop. This dimension of pastoral formation means not only absorbing information about the local Church and presbyterate but, more importantly, cultivating bonds of affective communion and learning how to be at home in the place where one will serve and with the priests with whom one will serve. 437 Seminarians should see their future priestly assignments as something wider than their own preference and choice and as a sharing in a far wider vision of the needs of the local Church. At the same time, seminarians must

437 “The example of priests who have preceded the candidates into the priesthood will be a great help and incentive. This will include the elderly, the pastors who lead the Diocese, as well as the emeritus Bishops. It is a matter of making the ‘pastoral tradition’ of the local Church known and appreciated, the better to ease their future entry into pastoral life, for it is there that they will be incardinated and exercise the ministry.” Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 123.

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