Spiritual Formation

Pope John Paul II considered spiritual formation for a priest as "the core which unifies and gives life to his being a priest and his acting as a priest" (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 45).

Accordingly, then, a spiritual formation program in the seminary must concern itself not only with the candidate's growth and development while in residence, but also with his continued progress in and faithfulness to the spiritual life after he is ordained and leaves the external supports the seminary offers.

As the Program of Priestly Formation notes, "The final goal of spiritual formation in the seminary is to establish attitudes, habits, and practices in the spiritual life that will continue after ordination. Spiritual formation in the seminary is meant to set the foundation for a lifetime of priestly ministry and spirituality" (5th ed., par. 110).

The seminary program at Saint Meinrad takes its direction from the USCCB's Program of Priestly Formation, which is itself influenced by Pope John Paul II's 1992 Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis. It is in PDV that the four pillars of priestly formation - human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral - were first both demarcated and interrelated.

In addition to these official documents, the spirit and charism of the century-and-a-half tradition of the Benedictine monastic community of Saint Meinrad Archabbey are certainly treasured assets in allowing us to fulfill this sacred charge of priestly education and formation.

Indeed, St. Benedict's reference to the monastery as a "school of the Lord's service" offers an apt description of a seminary, and it is significant that many practices of Benedictine life are central also to the formation of those wishing to seek God as disciples of Jesus and serve him as his apostles.

Daily commitment to prayer, the Eucharist and spiritual reading (lectio divina); humble obedience; a certain detachment from secular values; the ongoing process of daily conversion; a genuine spirit of hospitality; a love and concern for community: these regular practices and dispositions of the Benedictine spirit are those that diocesan seminarians and priests also are expected to embrace.

	Fr. Joseph Moriarty Director of Spiritual Formation 200 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577 (812) 357-6231 jmoriarty@saintmeinrad.edu
	Fr. Bede Cisco, OSB Associate Director of Spiritual Formation 200 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577 (812) 357-6696
	Fr. Jonathan Fassero, OSB Associate Director of Spiritual Formation 200 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577 (812) 357-6762 jfassero@saintmeinrad.edu
	Fr. Peter Marshall Associate Director of Spiritual Formation 200 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577 (812) 357-6280 pmarshall@saintmeinrad.edu