Program of Priestly Formation (Ascension)

PPF 77

Program of Priestly Formation

permission. In the event that further consultation is needed in a particular case, additional release forms must be obtained.

In the initial admission process, an evaluation should be made of an applicant’s indebtedness, his ability to handle finances (for example, responsible record keeping and payment of personal taxes), spending patterns, and perhaps a willingness to cover a portion of his formation expenses. Applicants should demonstrate an aptitude for learning principles of good stewardship, avoiding any attitudes of entitlement. They should also show an openness to developing professional approaches to personal and Church-related business matters. The admission process should be attentive to older, experienced applicants, who often bring a mature spirituality, experience in pastoral life, and other significant life experiences but who might also be less docile to formation. The admission processes must be no less rigorous, thorough, or comprehensive than it might be for other applicants. If an applicant has never been in a formation program, then he must complete a propaedeutic stage lasting not less than one calendar year and a discipleship stage lasting not less than a two-year calendar period. Discipleship stage programs that form men with prior life and education experience (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) must be designed to address all four dimensions of formation, not simply to meet academic requirements. If applicants have been in a formation program previously, with due regard for what has already been stated regarding criminal or compulsive sexual activity, ecclesiastical entities and seminaries must consult all previous institutions about the past record of these applicants as prescribed in the Norms Concerning Applications for

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