To review previous writings visit the archive
Click here for Bishop Manning's series on "The Year of The Eucharist"
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To review previous writings visit the archive Click here for Bishop Manning's series on "The Year of The Eucharist" |
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February 2010
Article No. 35 in a series by Bishop Kevin Manning,
published in Catholic Outlook, February 2010
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The second part of the Decree on Priestly Formation deals more directly with the structure and content of formation for the priesthood. The decree sets out fundamental principles, which have been developed by the Church in later years.
Each Conference of Bishops draws up its own program, based on Church documents. In 2007, the Australian bishops adopted Program for Priestly Formation, Australia.
The whole seminary formation program encompasses human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral development and is, therefore, directed to the formation of the whole person.
Nevertheless, certain qualities and dispositions have to present in anyone before he may join the seminary community. Article 6 spells these out along with the obligation of the responsible diocesan personnel to make "diligent and careful inquiry" about the suitability of the would-be seminarian.
Chapter Four
In articles 8-12, this chapter sets out the principles of integration of
the seminary program. The four elements - human, spiritual, intellectual,
pastoral - must work in harmony so that the future priest may be as humanly
and spiritually mature as possible, intellectually prepared, and pastorally
sensitive and skillful.
Particular attention is to be paid to the preparation for living a celibate life and training is to be given in choosing behaviour that fosters the development of joyful and wholesome celibacy and in avoiding behaviour which does not.
The stress here is on the importance of the future priest developing solid human qualities, and experiencing responsible freedom, without which priestly zeal may do more harm than good.
Chapter Five
This chapter is concerned with the program of formal study to be
undertaken by seminarians. The period of formal, academic study is to be
preceded by an introductory period, which allows for a gradual initiation into
the main subject areas and a time for adapting to the spiritual practices of
seminary life.
The Decree calls for a rigorous training in Biblical Studies, the "soul' of all theology and suggests that much philosophical study, especially of modern approaches, comes best towards the end of the seminary course when students are more mature, especially as this study often has a strongly pastoral significance.
It is a characteristic of modern university curricula to encourage the concurrent study of diverse disciplines, and it is towards this that the seminary academic program should move.
Teaching methods are to be revised with a decrease in the number of general lectures in favour of seminars and tutorials that allow greater student investigation and communication.
Ecumenism (art. 16) and the human sciences need to be more seriously treated. The second part of the ecumenical directory will, in fact, include an important section on ecumenical education, especially in seminaries.
Pastoral training
Finally, the Decree turns its attention to pastoral training (Art 19-21).
It was a fact that seminary life often tended to consist of theoretical
studies, and training in spirituality almost unrelated in its manner of
presentation to the actual life and work of the ministry. That was to be
remedied.
Pastoral training also needs to include pastoral practice, both during the term, on holidays, and in a special a period of apprenticeship.
Good pastoral experience relies greatly on the pastors of the parishes to which the seminarian is sent and it is most important that pastors take seriously their responsibility of initiating and supervising seminarians into the ministry
Conclusion
Behind the changes of structure, content and method the basic aim remains
the same: to form ministers of the Church, who are truly men of God, seeking
Christ among men, and trying to live intensely, in their own lives, His
Paschal Mystery that they may communicate it to others.
