Formation at HSS

2. INTEGRAL FORMATION

Seminary formation aims at personalizing the whole process of the candidate's formation. This means that the process fosters personal and responsible assumption and integration of the seminarian's own insights. We must never forget "that the candidate himself is a necessary and irreplaceable agent in his own formation; all formation, priestly formation included, is ultimately a self-formation" (Pastores dabo vobis, 69).

Such integration can be fostered in four major ways:

The first and main way of integration is the constant search-both on the personal and communal levels-of an even deeper union with Jesus Christ, Priest, Prophet and King.
The second is that of the Seminary community itself which constitutes a privileged milieu where the integration of the various dimensions of priestly life are actualized: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral.
Spiritual direction is meant to be the means and the milieu par excellence for fostering personal integration and unity.
Finally, the seminarian established at the beginning of each year a "Personal Growth Plan" which outlines the particular emphasis he intends to give to his human and vocational growth, his spiritual and intellectual life, and his community and pastoral involvement.

3. HUMAN FORMATION

"The whole work of priestly formation would be deprived of its necessary foundation if it lacked a suitable human formation" (PDV, 43).

This requirement does not rest only on rational grounds but on the fact that the priest is called to be a "living image" of Jesus Christ and thus "should seek to reflect in himself, as far as possible, the human perfection which shines forth in the Incarnate Son of God" (ibid).

3.1 HUMAN QUALITIES

Future priests should therefore cultivate a series of human qualities, including (see Optatam totius, 11; Presbyterorum ordinis, 3):

to be educated to love the truth
to be loyal
to respect all persons;
to have a sense of justice;
to be compassionate;
to be men of integrity;
and especially to be balanced in judgement and behaviour.

Affectionate maturity, a greatly needed quality, results from an education in true and responsible love. Not only does it create the possibility of relating well to others but it leads the candidate to overcome selfishness and individualism. Finally, it commits him to freely and generously embrace a life-giving celibacy or married life. In this regard, Holy Spirit Seminary endorses integrally the recommendations of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as contained in the document, From Pain to Hope.

Therefore in the candidate's overall human formation the following elements are vital:

self-understanding;
his capacity to make choices that are clear, free and consistent with his vocation;
his relationship to women;
his response to possible family violence and/or sexual abuse;
and his capacity to relate in a balanced way to authority.

3.2 MEANS

The following means are used to foster the human formation of the candidate:

3.2.1 Psychological Assessment

Each candidate presents to the Rector on applying or during the first year a copy of a recent psychological assessment for application to the Seminary. This provides information on personal strengths and weaknesses which will be pertinent within the continuing maturation process. If an in-depth therapy is recommended it should be dealt with prior to or outside of the Seminary formation period. However, psychological accompaniment in the case of minor personality problems can be offered during the Seminary period.

3.2.2 Personal Growth Plan

Each candidate completes a Personal Growth Plan on a yearly basis which includes specific objectives to be pursued in the are of human formation. This plan serves as a grid for an on-going dialogue between the formators and the candidate, especially at the time of the mid-term and year-end evaluation.

3.2.3 Group Advisor

The formator in charge of a sub-group is particularly attentive to the human dimension of the formation. He or she assumes a specific role as advisor in this regard on both the personal and communal levels.

3.2.4 Rector's Weekly Conference

In his weekly conference the Rector also addresses the human dimension of priestly formation; celibacy and marriage and their preparation are one of the principle issues.

3.2.5 Human Formation Counsellor

This member of the Formation Team is appointed as a resource person both to inform and support the overall formation program and to guide each seminarians in his integral human formation.

1030 Baseline Road - Ottawa, Ontario - K2C 0A6
Telephone: (613) 727-1255 - Facsimile: (613) 727-1573 - E-mail: admin@hsseminary.org