Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

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Program of Priestly Formation

others, a spirit of generosity, and a developing habit of self-donation are also necessary benchmarks to be achieved prior to the seminarian’s acceptance into the discipleship stage. DISCIPLESHIP STAGE BENCHMARKS “As the Second Vatican Council reminds us, the nature and mission of priests must be understood within the Church, the People of God, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, for the service of which they consecrate their lives.” 454 The foundation in pastoral knowledge, pastoral skills, and pastoral charity, which is laid during the discipleship stage, will enable the seminarian in the following stages to continue to develop the skills necessary for a life of service in the Church. Pastoral knowledge acquired in the discipleship stage includes competency in the performance of liturgical roles in the seminary community as well as knowledge gained by actively participating in formation seminars. Pastoral skills adequately demonstrated by the end of the discipleship stage include relating well with others, both in the seminary and in pastoral settings; freedom from prejudices against any class or group of individuals; a willingness to work with people of diverse cultural backgrounds; demonstrated generosity to the poor given his limited means; demonstrated accompaniment of the poor; the ability to tithe; and a willingness and ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team. It is necessary that seminarians demonstrate that they relate well to women in authority and in peer situations. Seminarians demonstrate good stewardship of personal and communal property. They demonstrate the capacity to take initiative in leadership situations and express a missionary spirit with a zeal for evangelization.

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Pastoral knowledge and pastoral skills are meaningless if they are not accompanied by pastoral charity. To aid in the development of

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454 Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 30.

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