The programme of formation for seminarians is built on the principles enunciated by the Second Vatican Council and the Post-Conciliar documents. In particular, it is anchored on the four elements of formation outlined in the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis: Human Development, Spiritual Development, Intellectual Development, Personal Development.
Human Development.
The call to maturity is a lifelong task. Discerning a special vocation to achieve this in priesthood or religious life, some offer themselves to Christ and his Church in a particular way and enter seminary. In so doing, they undertake to follow a programme of formation which, with God’s help, will lead them towards full human maturity and a deep spiritual awareness, as well as provide an intellectual and professional preparation suitable for the work of evangelisation in a new millennium.
Maturity is a complex reality which cannot be easily or fully defined. One can, however, recognise a mature man. He is a person who, having accepted his personal history, explores and recognises the truth of his identity. He constantly attempts to imbue his human development with Christian values and, in particular, with the practice and habit of living the Christian virtues. He consistently tries to acquire and preserve the capacity to act freely. He is a man who has an obvious emotional self-control, one who enjoys community living because of his willingness to give himself in service of others and a person who devotes himself in a steady, consistent and calm way to his vocation and his duties. His conduct is clearly influenced by an informed conscience and he uses his freedom to explore and fully develop his human potential.
“Human maturity and in particular affective maturity requires a clear and strong training in freedom” (PDV, 44). Fostering human development must challenge the seminarian to achieve a convinced and heartfelt obedience to the “truth” of his own being. True freedom asks him to be master of himself and to be ready to open out to others in generous, dedicated service. On his educational journey, the community life of the seminary, the dedicated service of the College staff and their professional collaborators, together with the seminarian’s own family, provide the ambience in which growth and human development take place. The seminary formation programme invests much time and energy in each seminarian and asks of him that he respond to this with total generosity.
The priest of the third millennium will continue the work of the priests who, in the preceding generations, have animated the life of the Church. During the third millennium the priestly vocation will continue to be the call to live the unique and permanent priesthood of Christ. A renewed vision for this new era is required so that the timeless and age old mission of Christ and his Church may be fulfilled. Tomorrow’s priest will be ” the living image” of Christ, the Head and Shepherd (PDV, 43). In his person he must strive for that level of human maturity which Christ reached in his Incarnation and reflect this to the people and culture in which he will offer his service.
Spiritual Development.
The spiritual life has as its continuous goal the development of a person’s relationship with God. This faith relationship is based more on an affective experience of divine love than a cognitive understanding of God. In the seminary the student learns to discern the will of God in his life, and grows more generous in embracing that vocation. Personal holiness helps to form a community and in this way the seminary becomes an example of Christian fraternity.
Among the practices that further spiritual development, the life of personal and liturgical prayer is first and foremost. The communal celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours root the student’s life in Christ and in his Church. A daily time of private meditation is essential to the future priest’s identity with Christ before the Father.
Spiritual Direction facilitates the student’s discernment of God’s will and knowledge of God’s compassion so that he might be free of the obstacles that hinder his faith. In his spiritual director the student finds a trusted anam chara who will accompany him on his inner pilgrimage.
Life in the seminary is characterised by a spirit of reflection. Time for silence and opportunities for solitude form part of the College timetable. Reflection allows the student to be present to the movement of God’s Spirit in his life. The student ought to give time to spiritual reading and acquaint himself with the principles of spiritual theology. In this way he is enabled to understand the meaning of his life and put into practice the faith that he professes.
Intellectual Development.
A sound philosophical and theological training is essential for all candidates for the priesthood. Seminarians must study and meditate on the Word of God in the light of the tradition and teaching of the Church and learn to express it in a language that can be readily understood in the social and cultural situation of today. To be an effective preacher, teacher and spiritual guide, deacons and priests need to develop a familiarity with the opportunities and challenges posed to Christian faith not only by science and technology but also by contemporary movements in art and literature. All students at the Irish College are offered the opportunity of obtaining a Baccalaureate in Theology. Some students, with the agreement of their Bishop, undertake further specialisation to licentiate or doctoral level. The College programme reserves the central part of every weekday for attendance at lectures, and for personal study and reading. Students are encouraged to make the most of this opportunity by attending their lectures and meeting the requirements which the university may impose for the particular course of study undertaken. Personal reading is an indispensable part of any academic programme. Students should familiarise themselves with the College and university libraries.
Living in Rome provides many opportunities to deepen one’s appreciation of the universality of the Church and to broaden one’s cultural and intellectual horizons. Every effort will be made to facilitate attendance at extra-curricular lectures and courses within and beyond the Irish College. In this context, students are reminded of the importance of attaining a proficiency in the Italian language.
Students will attend the university and course which has been decided by the Rector and the individual’s Bishop. The precise plan of study is to be agreed between the student and his Director of Formation. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that he is properly registered for all prescribed courses. Extra tuition can be arranged by the Director of Formation for courses which present a particular difficulty to the student. Examinations are to be taken during the normal sessions. A transcript of all results should be presented to the Rector at the end of each semester. Examinations may only be deferred under extraordinary circumstances and with the prior permission of the Director of Formation. Students may progress from one semester/year to the next when they have fulfilled the requirements of the previous one. If the occasion arises, students must re-sit examinations at the earliest possible opportunity.
Personal Development.
Pastoral formation ensures that the human, spiritual and intellectual formation of the candidate for priesthood is focused on his future life and ministry as a priest. While the Irish College prepares men for ministry in the universal Church, the primary attention for the programme of pastoral formation is given to Ireland. The programme is designed to offer to the student good communication skills, strong and effective leadership qualities, the ability to develop an aptitude for collaborative ministry, as well as to relate well to the culture of the modern world.
Through a programme of pastoral work and reflection, the College attempts to create in each student the compassion of a good shepherd, the ability to assume a conscientious and mature responsibility for the care of souls and an interior strength and perception which will allow him to evaluate pastoral difficulties and opportunities and establish priorities in his life and work.