Serra House

A seminary has two basic purposes: to assist those discerning a call to priesthood and if so to prepare him for priestly ministry. What it means then, is that some men will come to the seminary without absolute certainty that God is calling them to this ministry, but thinking it is a real possibility. They will use their time in the seminary to come to that decision, and so move from a questioning stage to a level of comfort that they are indeed called to this life-long commitment. We call this “moving from discernment to decision”. That decision can come early for some and late for others, but all the while, seminarians study, pray and work toward that final goal. Here is where the “program of formation” comes in, designed to prepare candidates for ordination in four basic areas: spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral. Each area represents an important element in the life and ministry of priests, and gives the candidates insight into how this will be lived out in their future.