MSP Formation

The seminary aims to continue and deepen the formative programme begun in the probation period. By coming to the seminary the candidates have openly declared that they are willing to enter seriously into formation after the model of Jesus Christ. The whole rationale of the seminary is that Christ be formed in them. To achieve this, candidates must have the conviction that union with Christ by a life of meditative prayer, humility. Self-denial, purity of intention, and obedience is a prerequisite for a dedicated life as missionary priest who is expected “to live in intimate and increasing union with God the Father through his son Jesus Christ.” (Optatam Totius, 8).

All seminary activities, which involve students, are geared to their formation as future priest members of the Missionary Society of St. Paul. At present, there are several other congregations e.g. the Via Christi, the Ad Gentes, the Little Sons of the Eucharist, and the Charitans congregations, that also benefit from the seminary formation programme. The seminary provides a coordinated set of programmes designed to promote healthy formation in the different areas of life to meet the different formation needs at the various stages of the seminarian’s journey to the priesthood. It places special emphasis on Missionary formation in all aspects of its programme and not just in the academic curriculum. The students, like their patron St. Paul, must learn to “become all things to all people.” (1 Cor. 9:22).

The pastoral formation has two aspects, the academic, which is part of the theology programme, and the practical, which is integral to the whole life of the seminarian, both within the seminary and outside it. The latter is what we deal with here.

The pastoral formation must prepare the seminarian for the many tasks and responsibilities, which will be his as a priest and a member of the society. As a shepherd of the people of God, it will be his task to guide, support, and build up the community of the Church. His position will often be one of authority and leadership and so his training must teach him how to exercise these roles fruitfully.

During his training, the seminarian will be given various responsibilities connected with the day-to-day life of the seminary. These will provide him with the opportunities he needs to learn how to work with others, how to exercise authority and responsibility, and how to be accountable for his actions. He will learn through success and failure so that he will know how to be modest in success and to accept failure without undue despondency.

In addition to the ordinary responsibilities which they have within the seminary, the seminarian may be assigned some regular apostolic work such as catechesis, hospital visitation, village apostolate, social work, etc. A variety of experiences in these areas will enable them to put into practice what they learned in the classroom. Besides, each student will do six weeks of pastoral work during the long vacation in a parish to which he had been assigned by the pastoral director. A report on this pastoral experience will be forwarded to the rector of the seminary by the parish priest of the place of pastoral work. Some students will occasionally be assigned to work in the seminary for six weeks during the long vacation.