Priestly Formation
The Gift of a Priestly Vocation (Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis), the 2016 document of the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy that specifies the general norms for all seminaries throughout the world, describes four stages of priestly formation: propaedeutic, discipleship, configuration, and pastoral synthesis. St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary offers formation and degree programs that cover the four stages of formation.
The Propaedeutic Stage lasts at least one year and offers introductory formation in all dimensions of priestly formation: human, spiritual, pastoral, and intellectual. This stage focuses on “the life of the Church as a community in which excellence of character is nurtured” and strengthening the human and spiritual foundations of each student (PPF6, 32). Activities on campus and experiences off campus offer opportunities to grow in their knowledge of the faith and of their home dioceses, while deepening their discernment of God’s call to priestly ministry.
The Discipleship Stage lasts at least two years. During this time, seminarians usually earn the Master of Arts (Philosophical Studies for Missionary Discipleship) degree. Seminarians in this stage develop a deepening spirituality so that they may respond more fully to the budding vocation that led them to the seminary. They also learn to live as members of a community, begin sharing in the Church’s liturgical and outreach ministries, and study philosophy and introductory theology, along with classical and modern languages as appropriate.
The Configuration Stage usually lasts at least four years and lasts from the beginning of the seminarian’s study of theology until he is ordained a transitional deacon. Seminarians entering this stage at SVDP will normally spend four and a half years in this, three and a half years on campus, with a pastoral year internship in their home dioceses between the second and third year. Seminarians in this stage are admitted to Candidacy either before beginning this stage or in its first weeks and gradually develop a specifically priestly spirituality and broaden and deepen their ministerial experience. They receive the ministries of Lector and Acolyte and complete the requirements for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree, which focuses heavily on the study of theology and pastoral skills. (The MDiv requirements are not fully completed until near the conclusion of the Vocational Synthesis Stage.)
The Vocational Synthesis Stage begins with the seminarian’s ordination to the transitional diaconate and continues until his priestly ordination. The vocational synthesis stage takes place primarily in parish settings in the transitional deacons' home dioceses with some time spent at the seminary where they complete the requirements for the MDiv degree. While at the seminary, transitional deacons are assigned to serve at a local parish. The transitional deacons continue to receive support from spiritual direction and formation advising on how to integrate their new identity as a cleric with the greater responsibilities entrusted to them.
