Priests and Seminarians
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To be called by God
A call to priesthood in the Church is much more than just an individual, personal desire to serve and lead. While the call comes from God, it is mediated through the Church. With input from the whole Church and assistance from professionals in the areas of discernment and formation, bishops or religious superiors are entrusted with the responsibility of determining whether a candidate’s sense of being called is genuine. That determination is largely based on these factors:
- Does the candidate desire to give himself wholeheartedly as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church? Has he undertaken a life of conversion, and does his way of life reflect the moral teachings of the Church?
- Does the candidate believe that God wants him to become a priest? Is this belief rooted in a solid, fruitful prayer life? Has it been tested in conversations with a spiritual director?
- Does the candidate have some or all of the gifts and talents that other members of the community of faith can recognize as the sort of gifts that could make him effective as a priest? Have any others in the Church pointed this out and suggested that he consider the priesthood as a vocation?
- Does the candidate possess the ability to live a life of chaste celibacy?
- Has the candidate demonstrated the ability to complete a course of studies in preparation for the priesthood? Are his skills for ministry strengthening and deepening with experience? Is he growing in love for the Church, that is, for the people he may be called to serve?
- Does he have the desire to assent to the teachings of the Church and be faithful to them throughout his life?
Certainly, these factors are not fully developed in any candidate when he first applies to the diocese, but there should be evidence in him of the potential to develop them. The unfolding of these gifts, talents, and attitudes continues throughout the time of formation, and the discernment of a call to ordination also matures and deepens over the years.
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Seminary Formation
Depending on how much higher education a man has received prior to beginning his prieslty formation, his time in seminary will last between seven and nine years. The following detail the various possibilites for his priestly formation.
Propaedeutic Year
In 2022, Pope Francis mandated a year of human formation, known as a propaedeutic year, before a man enters a formal seminary program. Propaedeutic means “to teach beforehand.” Prior to entering the rigorous studies of seminary, a man spends a year of discernment and prayer to deepen and clarify his call to the priesthood. He lives at a house of formation, generally offsite from the seminary building. He establishes a regular routine of prayer, meets regularly with a spiritual director, addresses vices or character flaws that will inhibit priestly formation, attends retreats and pastoral work, and grows in community with other men. The Diocese of Fargo currently utilizes propaedeutic formation programs at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, NE; Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN; and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Following this year, he will enter one of the three formation programs detailed below.
College Seminary
All seminarians must first complete an undergraudate degree for their priestly formation. Men who enter priestly formation at the collegiate level will attend St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, NE to obtain a bachelor's degree in philosophy. If he enters seminary formation in the midst of his undergraudate studies, his time in college seminary may be less than four years, but never shorter than two years.
Pre-Theology
A seminarian who has already completed an undergraduate degree prior seminary, will enter priestly formation at the pre-theology level. This is a two-year program of philosophy, as well as other standard seminary courses such as Latin, Greek, and a study of the Catechism. Fargo pre-theologians will attend either St. Gregory the Great Seminary or Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, as decided by the bishop.
Theology
After the necessary philosophical requirements have been met at either a college or pre-theology seminary, a seminarian will then begin his graduate theological studies. This will include a masters degree in divinity, and may also include a second masters degree in theology or another equivalent degree. His theological studies generally take four years. Fargo theologians will attend either Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, or Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN, as decided by the bishop.
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