| The spiritual life component enjoys priority in the total formation process of the seminarian. It has as its goal the seminarian's continual growth in his personal relationship with Christ and his commitment to the Church and his vocation. The detailed policy on formation in priestly celibacy is found in the Seminary Handbook. Spiritual formation sets the foundation for the attitudes, habits and practices of the spiritual life in a lifetime of priestly ministry.
The Director of Spiritual Formation gives a regular conference during Evening Prayer on subjects pertinent to the spiritual life, the virtues, the means toward spiritual maturity and different aspects of priesthood. The Director of Spiritual Formation is available to all seminarians and concerns himself with the spiritual welfare of each seminarian. Every seminarian is also required to meet at least monthly for spiritual direction with a priest approved for this ministry by the Rector, who guides him, helps him establish sound habits of personal prayer, and plays a key part in vocational discernment.
The daily Seminary schedule includes community Eucharist, holy hour of adoration, and the communal recitation of Morning and Evening Prayer, all under the direction of the Seminary Director of Liturgy. The seminarian is encouraged to avail himself of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession is available daily. Special Penance services are held during the Advent and the Lenten seasons. External confessors are regularly available. Days of Renewal (Prayer Days) are an integral part of the schedule, and the annual Seminary Retreat provides a concentrated period of time for the seminarian to reflect on his Spiritual Life.
It is a tradition of the Seminary that devotion to the Mother of God is part of the seminarian's spiritual growth. The recitation of the Rosary, the Legion of Mary, and a course in Mariology help foster this devotion to the Blessed Mother. |
