| Seminarians are introduced to the apostolic life by hands-on experiences in such areas as family ministry within the parish, campus ministry, secondary education & counseling, parish religious education, diocesan tribunals & vocation offices, hispanic ministry, hospital ministry (private, public and military), social ministry to the poor and homeless, ministry to the dying (AIDS ministry with the Missionaries of Charity), ministry to those in correctional institutions, ministry to the mentally ill and institutionalized elderly. In addition, some students work at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, DC. On-site supervision and evaluation is complimented by regular small group theological reflection at the Seminary. In addition to field work, classes, symposia and workshops regularly emphasize the practical, pastoral and priestly dimension of the study of theology. Pastoral field education and theological reflection are requirements for the M.Div. degree and an integral part of the Ordination program.
The pastoral formation program puts the seminarian's commitment to a realistic test. Through field education, the seminarian better understands the apostolate and is prepared to make a more mature commitment to the priesthood of Christ. It helps develop a sensitivity to the needs and aspirations of people and exposes the candidate for priesthood to different ways of life and the circumstances and problems peculiar to each. He also experiences working within the structure of the Church, in which there is a hierarchy of mission and authority.
Details of the Pastoral Formation program and descriptions of the Pastoral Formation placements are published in the Seminary Handbook. |
