Formation at HSS

4. SPIRITUAL FORMATION

The spiritual formation program works in coordination with the academic, experiential and evaluative components of the total formation program in preparing candidates for priestly service among the people of God. The program's specific purpose is to foster the human and spiritual maturity of the candidates as they grow in relationship with and imitation of the person of Jesus Christ. Students are called to see their lives as a daily, free response to the animating presence of the Spirit of the Risen Lord. This is a gradual and life-long journey of discernment, one which is encouraged and promoted in various ways during the five years of training in the seminary formation program.

It is the Holy Spirit that calls, forms and transforms the seminarians. Nevertheless, the seminary formation team has the responsibility in a human way for the training and formation of the seminarians by providing the context, climate, structures and opportunities for them to do their part in disposing themselves and responding to God's grace through all the activities, situations, events and persons that they encounter each day.

4.1 SPECIFIC GOALS

The spiritual formation program focuses its efforts on developing the religious identity of the candidate within the understanding of the priest as one who grows in his commitment to become:

a disciple of Jesus Christ;
a servant of God's people;
a representative of and leader within the faith community;
a presider over the celebration of the Church's sacramental life; and
a prophet of God's justice in the world.

As these are all dimensions of the same person, the program attempts to guide the candidates through an exploration of the human and spiritual foundations necessary for fulfilling such personal and ministerial commitments.

4.2 SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

The Seminary Spiritual Director coordinates the overall program for the candidates ensuring the students the availability of personal spiritual direction, the selection of themes appropriate to the formation needs of the class-year groups, the invitation of guest speakers to address the seminary community, the arrangement of retreats and retreat directors, and the overall spiritual life of the seminary.

4.3 SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Spiritual direction offers the seminarians a primary relationship with a priest-director through which he can discern his priestly vocation and reflect upon his growing relationship with the Lord Jesus and his people and assess the various ways he is responding to the Spirit in personal prayer, communal liturgy, common living, academic progress and life experience. The seminarian is expected to meet with his personal spiritual director at least once a month, and most are in the habit of meeting every two weeks. He is to choose his spiritual director from a list presented at the start of each year or he can freely request another priest-director approved by the Seminary Spiritual Director.

4.4 SPIRITUAL ORIENTATION DAYS

The opening weekend of the seminary year in early September (Labor Day long-weekend) for all seminarians is entitled "Spiritual Orientation Days." The purpose of the weekend is to reorient the returning students once again into seminary life after the four-month summer period and to include the new first-year candidates. This is accomplished by a series of spiritual and pastoral talks based on a central theme and given by a guest spiritual director. After each presentation, the seminarians engage in private reflection and may be followed by sharing in small groups. Each year a new theme is chosen from a papal or synodal document, spiritual book or article or other area with a focus on priestly formation and spirituality.

4.5 WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY EVENING

An import aspect of the Spiritual Formation program throughout the year is the Wednesday Community Evening each week. These evenings begin with supper and then an evening gathering from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm immediately followed by a Moleben, Akafist, or Complines. These gatherings involve a rotation from among three separate exercises:

4.5.1 Spiritual Groups

The seminary community is divided into spiritual groups consisting of a spiritual director and approximately five seminarians who are, for the most part, his spiritual directees. The groups arrange for themselves an evening program of discussion and sharing on spiritual themes.

4.5.2 Year Groups

Approximately once per month the seminarians gather in their particular class or year, first to fourth. They meet with a member of the formation team who facilitates participation and discussion on a scheduled topic.

4.5.3 House Meeting

A guest speaker or panel from outside the seminary is invited to address the entire community on a subject of spiritual interest or about a ministry in which they are engaged.

4.6 WINTER RETREAT

In addition to the Spiritual Orientation Days in September, a second weekend retreat takes place at a local retreat facility during the Winter Trimester, usually during Great Lent, led by a priest-director who guides the community in prayer and reflection through conferences and meditation.

4.7 DAILY SPIRITUAL PROGRAM

The daily spiritual program expected of all seminarians consists of the following: devout and prayerful presence at all communal liturgical services and a minimum of thirty minutes of private prayer based on personal devotions and the reading of spiritual books and articles. Frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is encouraged and regular opportunities for the community are provided.

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