Formators Institute

The 10th Institute for the Preparation of Seminary Formation Staff and Advisors

June 7 - 14, 2011
(brochure and applications available soon)

St. Patrick's Seminary
Menlo Park, CA

Sponsored by
Society of St. Sulpice
NCEA Seminary Department

The program is cosponsoered by the NCEA Seminary Department and the Society of St. Sulpice. Rev. Gerald McBrearity, S.S., is the program director. This 8-day "basic training" program for formators attracts participants from both diocesan and religious priestly formation programs.

Established in 1993, the founders, Father Melvin Blanchette, S.S., and the Seminary's Department's director, Father James Walsh, realized that ministering within the seminary system had already become much more specialized and required skills of mentoring and advising in addition to the traditional role of teaching and spiritual direction. The institute strives to help those who are new to the ministry of priestly formation in the contemporary seminaries at the college, pre-college, or theological levels. At the same time, this institute helps those who are already in seminary formation ministry who desire continuing education and skill development in doing the ministry of formation.

A total of 279 participants from all over the world and many different religious institutes with members involved in priestly formation programs have participated in the Institute.

Program Areas Include:

The Context of Formation: A Pastoral Methodology
Rev. James Walsh

Human Development and Psychological Testing
Rev. Melvin Blanchette, S.S.

The Integration of Chaste Celebacy with Sexuality
Rev. Melvin Blanchette, S.S.

Trends and Transitions in Seminary Formation
Sr. Katarina Schuth, OSF

The Formation Process: Internal & External Forum
Rev. Gerald McBrearity, S.S.

The ABC's of Cross-Cultural Formation
Rev. John Kemper, S.S.

Academic & Intellectual Formation
Rev. Philip S. Keane, S.S.

Forming Priests for the 21st Century: Theological & Spiritual Formation
Rev. Gerald Brown, S.S.

Presentation format includes lectures, group discussions, and case studies. Each participant will receive a four volume set of The Core Elements of Priestly Formation Programs: A Collection of Readings. This set includes articles from Seminary Journal that covers such topics as priestly identity, theology of priesthood, human formation, screening and testing, spirituality, liturgy, formation for celibacy, and the priest of the future.

Program is limited to 45 participants. (If necessary, a waiting list will be maintained.) Early registration is encouraged because slots fill up quickly.