Implementing the Program of Priestly Formation, Sixth Edition

By FR. ROBERT HORIHAN

Changes have come to IHMS this year thanks to the sixth edition of the Program of Priestly Formation (PPF), which sets forth the norms of priestly formation in seminaries throughout the United States. The latest edition of the PPF, which went into effect on August 4 of this year, does not use the familiar academic jargon of freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes but instead employs language of “stages.” The work of formation that has heretofore been understand as unfolding through those four aforementioned classes will henceforth be seen as occurring through two distinct stages, namely, the propaedeutic and the discipleship stages. A man enters the propaedeutic stage when he first begins formation, and this stage will usually last one year. Once the propaedeutic stage is completed, a man will enter the discipleship stage, which will span several years. The propaedeutic stage is thus not unlike the more familiar “freshman year,” with the discipleship stage extending throughout the remaining years here at IHMS.

As already mentioned, the propaedeutic stage will usually last a year, but the PPF specifies that “year” in this case means twelve months and not simply an academic year. Thus, this year’s incoming propaedeutic stage seminarians arrived at IHMS in the midst of the summer months, several weeks before the other seminarians returned and the academic semester began. This earlier arrival allowed the men to acclimate more gradually to their fraternal home and lay a firm foundation for their future formation at IHMS. And just as they arrived prior to the academic year, they will also remain for some time after the spring semester concludes and the other seminarians have departed for their summer activities.

This extra time beyond the typical eight or nine month academic year allows a more reflective first year of formation for the propaedeutic stage seminarians. It provides the space for them to pray, ponder, and discern deeply whether the Lord is calling them to continue exploring the possibility of a priestly vocation.

By definition, the propaedeutic stage is a man’s very first experience of priestly formation. Thus, a man new to IHMS may be able to enter the discipleship stage if he has completed the propaedeutic stage in another setting. In addition to the twenty propaedeutic stage seminarians who arrived at IHMS in July, we do have another five “new men” who came in August and entered the discipleship stage, as they had already experienced the initial phase of formation elsewhere. Such cases could aptly be compared to transfer students at secular colleges who begin at one institution and continue their studies at another.

We have been introducing our twenty propaedeutic stage seminarians on our Facebook page throughout the past month and are excited to welcome them as we launch into a new venture. We pray that the Spirit will animate them, and all of the seminarians here at IHMS, with zeal, love, and ardor as they continue exploring the will of God for their lives. We ask for your prayers, as well, that the Lord will make known to them his abundant love as they grow in deeper communion with him.

Robert Horihan is the rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona.