Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

PPF 460

Program of Priestly Formation

Seminarians benefit from the mentorship of specialists who are permanent deacons, consecrated men and women, and laypersons. 514 Specialists serve as mentors only according to their proper expertise. They offer recommendations, opinions, and points of view to the rector and formation team, without making a formal judgment as to the suitability of the seminarians for the priesthood or advancement to the next stage of formation. 515 Seminaries should seek ways to fully integrate these mentoring relationships into the communal life of the seminary so that they have a genuine impact on the formation of the seminarians. These relationships add another facet of accompaniment to priestly formation distinct from spiritual direction and external formation advising, which are always done by priests. Academic Dean The academic dean, under the direction of the coordinator of intel lectual formation, administers the academic program of the seminary in all its aspects: curriculum, courses, methods of instruction, and the academic quality and performance of professors and students. Librarian The librarian administers the library according to the standards of the respective professional accrediting and educational associations. The librarian ordinarily reports to the academic dean. Development and Public Relations Officer A person may be appointed to assist the rector with planning, com munications, public relations, and fundraising. This officer makes the seminary known to the general public—especially to priests, vocation directors, schools, parishioners, and others—in an effort to attract new seminarians and gain support for the seminary.

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514 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 143. 515 See Ratio Fundamentalis , no. 146.

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