Human Formation
In priestly formation, the entirety
of a man’s life should be “marked, molded,
and characterized by the way of thinking and acting
proper to Jesus Christ, Head and Shepherd of the Church,
as summed up in his pastoral charity” (John
Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, no. 21). In other words,
formation is the transformation of the entire person.
Human formation calls each man to prepare himself
for service as a priest by examining his priorities,
his time-management skills, how he relates to men
and women, his physical, psychological, and emotional
health, his friendships and leisure pursuits, and
his ability to exercise and accept authority. Particular
attention is focused on developing the attitudes and
behaviors compatible with a celibate life.
Spiritual Formation
Theology spiritual formation is designed to help
the seminarian strive for that degree of priestly
charity, virtue, and intimacy with God that will enable
him to serve as a living sacrament of Christ in ministering
to the people of God. Spiritual formation contributes
to an integration of the various aspects of the seminarian’s
life for the formation of a truly holy, apostolic
priest. Students of the School of Theology will focus
on discerning and developing their vocation, and demonstrating
progressive development in the evangelical counsels:
celibate chastity, simplicity of life (for religious:
poverty), and obedience.
Intellectual Formation
Theology has been described as fides quaerens intellectum
— “faith seeking understanding.”
Since the work of the priest is in proclaiming the
Word of God, explaining the teaching of the Church,
handing on her heritage, counseling her faithful,
celebrating her sacred mysteries, and conducting her
rites, it is vitally important that priests have a
deep knowledge of theology. “The doctrinal,
educational, catechetical, and apologetical aspects
of a candidate’s training are to prepare the
seminarian to be a faithful, loyal, and authentic
teacher of the Gospel…. As a man of the Church,
the priest preaches and teaches in fidelity to the
magisterium, particularly the Holy Father and the
diocesan bishop.” (PPF, 5th ed., 2005). Graduates
of the School of Theology demonstrate the ability
to teach the authentic Catholic tradition and give
evidence of the knowledge and culture one would expect
of a well-educated Christian.
Degrees & Certificates
The Church requires a minimum of four full years
of theological study to prepare for the priesthood.
Specific requirements for the degree programs may
be fulfilled in fewer than four years, but candidates
for the priesthood must meet the four-year requirement
for comprehensive formation.
The School of Theology offers: Required of candidates
for priestly ordination, the Master of Divinity is
a first level professional ministerial degree program.
The degree requires participation in human and spiritual
formation programs, annual student evaluation, theological
reflection and pastoral formation programs, and ministry
workshops. The Ordination Program is a more extensive
program of preparation, which consists of the M.Div.
program and various practica. Coursework in the M.Div.
program centers on biblical studies, systematic theology,
moral theology, church history, pastoral theology,
liturgy, and canon law.
The Master of Arts in Theology is a first-level graduate
degree. It is optional and is intended to prepare
the candidate, either lay or clerical, for teaching
and for higher studies in the sacred sciences. It
may be pursued concurrently with the M.Div. degree,
and it is designed to give a sound initiation in graduate
theological studies and a concentration in biblical
studies, dogmatic theology, or moral theology. Students
in the Master of Arts program take courses in foundations
of theology, the Trinity, Christology, ecclesiology,
theological anthropology, and fundamental moral theology.
The program culminates in a thesis and comprehensive
examinations. An affiliation with the Pontifical Lateran
University in Rome enables the Josephinum to offer
the Bachelor of Sacred Theology, which prepares students
for advanced work in pontifical degree programs at
universities in Europe. Students striving for the
S.T.B. must complete additional requirements within
the course framework of the M.Div. program.
Pastoral Formation
“The aim of pastoral formation [is] the formation
of a true shepherd who teaches, sanctifies, and governs
or leads…. The grace to be a shepherd comes
with ordination. That grace, however, calls for the
priest’s personal commitment to develop the
knowledge and skills to teach and preach well, to
celebrate the sacraments both properly and prayerfully,
and to respond to people’s needs” (PPF,
5th ed., 2005). The pastoral pillar of the School
of Theology enriches the understanding of theology
by giving an added experiential element to theological
reflection, and it brings the seminarian to the realization
that effective pastoral activity requires a profound
understanding of one’s faith and an evergrowing
spiritual life. First-year seminarians are placed
primarily in adult religious education settings. Second-year
theologians generally learn about ministering to the
sick in a hospital placement, and third-year students
focus on family life issues. Of paramount importance
in the fourth-year program is the aim of helping individuals
make the transition from the role of student to that
of pastoral leader. To this end, fourth-year students
are asked to plan and carry out significant programs
of ministry in which their particular gifts can be
best utilized and developed, usually within the context
of a parish as ordained deacons.
From time to time, Theology students may take part
in the Josephinum’s Pastoral Year Program, either
on the recommendation of the faculty or as a requirement
of his diocese. Those who engage in this program,
with the approval of their bishop and director of
vocations or religious superior, will devote a full
year to various forms of well-supervised, full-time
pastoral ministry in their own diocese or religious
community. Participation in this program not only
enables the student to test and develop his pastoral
skills, but it also provides an opportunity for him
to achieve the level of personal growth and spiritual
maturity that is essential for a priest in the Church
today.
Pastoral formation ensures that graduates of the
School of Theology will give evidence of the capacity
and skills to minister to the diversity of people
and cultures reflected in the universal Church; engage
in theological reflection as a means to integrate
pastoral ministry experiences with the spiritual and
intellectual elements of priestly life; and understand
and appreciate the complementary roles of the bishop,
priest, deacon, and laity in the Church today.
