WHAT IS SEMINARY FORMATION?
Seminary formation is a process of continuous personal growth and development of a man aimed toward the goal of priestly ordination. It is a program of preparation and formation of the whole man in the context of the four areas of Human, Pastoral, Intellectual, and Spiritual growth.
- Called, Formed and Sent
One of the primary scripture passage related to seminary formation is from the Gospel of Mark, in which it says: “And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons” (Mk. 3:13-15). Pope John Paul II noted that: “It is not difficult to find in the words “To be with him” a reference to Jesus’ “accompanying” the apostles for the sake of their vocation. After calling them and before he sends them out, indeed in order to be able to send them out to preach, Jesus asks them to set aside a “period of time” for formation. The aim of this time is to develop a relationship of deep communion and friendship with himself. In this time, they receive the benefit of a catechesis that is deeper than the teaching he gives to the people (cf. Mt. 13:11); also, he wishes them to be witnesses of his silent prayer to the Father (cf. Jn. 17:1-26; Lk. 22:39-45)
- Christ who Forms
The Church’s work of formation takes its lead from and is a continuation of Christ’s own work. Each aspect of formation is intended to assist the man first in his personal relationship with Christ, and in his understanding of self, and development into the man God intends him to be. Formation overall is intended to form the man into a true “servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God.”
- Galilee the First Seminary
The first program of discernment for the priestly vocation lasted all of 10 seconds: Jesus walked up to the Peter and Andrew and simply said: “Come follow me.” In the same vein, the first program for priestly formation, or seminary, was all of three years: Jesus walked with his apostles, taught them, and ordained them at the Last Supper. Today, seminary formation takes a little longer than three years, but holds the same basic objective: to form future priests to become “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4:1)
- Formation in Grace of the Whole Man
Formation is not equivalent to a secular sense of education, school, or job training. It is an activity of cooperation with the grace of God where by God Himself works in the man to form him into Christian man and sharer in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms believers into the very image of Jesus Christ, who himself is the image of God. The grace of the new covenant embraces all who have joined themselves to Jesus Christ in faith and baptism as well as those who present themselves for possible priestly ordination and make themselves available for God’s work of transformation. Formation takes place when we make ourselves a ready place for the Lord to dwell in us and transform us into the person He intends us to be.
- Formed in the Church
All priestly formation takes place within the context of the Church as the Body of Christ, as Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher), and in relation to the mission of the Church in the World. The formation in seminary is therefore integrated within the wider ecclesial understanding of the Church. The seminarian must, therefore, entrust himself to the Church in his formation, at the same time knowing that he is the person primarily responsible for his formation.
- Four Pillars of Formation
The seminary forms future priests by attending to their human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation, which are outlined in Pastores Dabo Vobis as the four pillars of priestly. These pillars, each having it’s own importance, are looked at as a whole, where by the seminarian continues to grow in all aspects of his person. Just as we see the fingers of a child’s hand grow in proportion to each other as he matures into manhood, so too we see the human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral aspects of a seminarian grow into the maturity of a man ready to be ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
- Human Formation
The purpose of Human Formation is to assist the seminarian in his task of becoming a man who reflects in himself, as far as possible, the human perfection which shines forth in the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. The human formation of the priest shows its special importance in relation to those who receive the mission for which he is ordained: In order that his ministry may be humanly as credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the future priest mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humanity.
- Spiritual Formation
The basic principle of spiritual formation is “to live in intimate and unceasing union with God the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit” (PPF107). The spirituality of a priestly way of life is characterized by prayer, celibate chastity, mature obedience, simplicity of life and social justice in imitation of Jesus Christ. “For every priest his spiritual formation is the core which unifies and gives life to his being priest and his acting as a priest” (PDV, no. 45).
- Intellectual Formation
The main principle of seminary intellectual formation is that the seminarian is formed to seek an ever-deeper knowledge of the divine mysteries for the benefit of the salvation of those he will serve. As a disciple of Christ, a seminarian is one who learns not only about Christ, but about all things that will assist him in bringing Christ to others.
- Pastoral Formation
In pastoral formation, which is the culmination of the entire formation process, we see that not only should the whole formation have as its object to make the men true shepherds of souls after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, teacher, priest, and shepherd, but also that the formation as a whole aims at preparing them to enter into communion with those whom they serve.
Young men undergoing formation from the Parish of Katukurunda in the Seminaries of Sri Lanka:
- Aloysius’ Minor Seminary, Borella, Colombo 08
Four candidates from the Parish of Katukurunda, Moratuwa are currently enrolled in the minor seminary formation program of the archdiocese of Colombo
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- Mahamendige Merius Akila Dilhara Mendis (No 196, Jaya Mawatha, Katukurunda, Moratuwa)
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- Supun Nirmal Silva (No 32/01, Katukurunda, Moratuwa)
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- Rashidu Deemantha Piris (No 139/03, Jana Asiri Mawatha, Katukurunda, Moratuwa)
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- Geethal Pessanjith (11/126 A, St. Anne’s Lane, Katukurunda, Moratuwa)
- Sacred Heart Intermediate Seminary (Daham Sevana), Kalutara
One candidate has undergone formation in the intermediate seminary, and at present has opted for a period of discernment on regency:
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- Bro. Ambalangoda Liyanaralalage Sandun Shemal Marian Fernando (Diocese of Rathnapura) (No. 74, Katukurunda, Moratuwa)
- National Seminary of Our Lady of Lanka, Ampitiya, Kandy
At the moment there are no candidates from the parish of Katukurunda enrolled in formation at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
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- Zero diocesan candidates from the Parish of Katukurunda, Moratuwa
