The Path to Priesthood
Stages of Priestly Formation
The Stages
The Program of Priestly Formation (6th Edition), which governs all seminary formation in the United States of America, was promulgated on June 24, 2022. This document lays out a four-stage process of formation for ordained priestly ministry in the Church in the United States. Below is an overview of these four stages:
Propaedeutic Stage
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths (Mk. 1.3)
The Propaedeutic Stage, meaning preparatory or initial, is always the first stage of seminary formation. Lasting a minimum of 12 calendar months, it is a time for seminary candidates to grow in human and spiritual formation, providing seminarians "with the basic groundwork they need to engage in priestly formation" (PPF 119). Seminarians in this stage live in a community separate from the rest of the seminary and engage in developing an ever deeper life of prayer, growing in community engagement, developing a heart of service, studying Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and growing in communion with the bishop and diocese. This stage also includes a "second discernment" through which the seminarian makes "a firm resolution to dedicate himself to the work of priestly formation or, alternatively, ‘to follow a different path in life’ as a faithful lay Catholic" (PPF 122).
Discipleship Stage
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love (Jn. 14.9)
The Discipleship Stage has as its primary goal "growing in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and ... training one's character in Christian virtue" (PPF 132). Becoming an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ takes place in the context of a formative community which helps the seminarian grow in a life of prayer and service. Accompanied by the study of Philosophy, this stage may take place at either the college (undergraduate) or major seminary (graduate) level, dependent on a seminarian's previous education. By the end of this stage, a seminarian should be able to "clearly articulate his call and his conviction to be a priest" (PPF 134).
Configuration Stage
I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me (Jn. 10.14)
A definite transition takes place at the beginning of the Configuration Stage - from being formed as a disciple of Christ to being configured to Christ, the Shepherd and Servant. The Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders occurs at the beginning of this stage. Accompanied by the study of theology at the graduate school level, the seminarian in this stage gradually takes on a priestly identity and prepared to engage in pastoral ministry. This immediate preparation for Holy Orders is a time in which the candidate "conforms himself to the sentiments and attitudes of the Son, understood as self-offering for the pastoral care of the sheep" (PPF 136).
Vocational Synthesis
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28.19)
Upon ordination to the diaconate, a candidate for priestly ordination begins the Vocational Synthesis stage, which is a "gradual realization of the cleric's responsibility for the care of souls while he resides full-time in a pastoral setting, usually the parish" (PPF 6). In this stage, the formal study of theology has been concluded and the deacon has begun the transition to full-time pastoral ministry in service of the people of God. This transition takes place gradually while living in a parish setting and exercising the proper diaconal ministries before being ordained to the priesthood.