I think exposing seminarians to female professionals is necessary. Female professors, accountants, ministry experts, lawyers, etc., etc. There is a "boys only" culture in this church and a tendency to disregard the advice and counsel of women already employed. My master's thesis showed better decisions--in any organization--are made by men and women TOGETHER, not only one or the other.
We actually have a deacon who is in residence at our parish right now and I think it's great--to me,, it makes so much sense. He gets to see how a parish actually works, he deals with the day in day out, and he gets comfortable with the parishioners at every level. Seems like a win to me.
I thing the two major changes in the new PPF are good, but we need to be aware that the only trend in seminary formation is to make it longer, more expensive, and more involved. At some point the law of diminishing returns takes effect, and we'll need to acknowledge that we won't get any better of a priest by making his formation even longer.
The new synthesis stage of formation, thought, seems logistically pretty easy. Simply ordain the seminarian to the transitional diaconate in the spring when he graduates from seminary and assign him to the parish that'll be used as his first presbyteral assignment. Put him on the payroll and have him live in the rectory just like a priest, and in the fall ordain him a priest. There would be a few small hurdles with this plan, but easily surmounted.
But on the other hand, to play devil's advocate against the synthesis stage, what is gained by delaying the man's ability to say Mass and hear Confessions for six months? The experiences that will be gained during the synthesis stage-working with lay staff and volunteers, being immersed in a parish, etc-currently happen during the new priest's first assignment, and a deacon in the synthesis stage won't be "done" with those experiences after six months in the diaconate. Such lessons and experiences are a lifelong process for everyone, clerical and lay. I'll be very interested in reading the full PPF and seeing examples of the the synthesis stage utilized well.
On the other hand, I did have a "spirituality year" in seminary. It wasn't at the beginning like the propaedeutic year, but rather was halfway through, between the Philosophy and Theology studies. It was hands down the most important year of my formation.
Proofreading... "Indeed, the priest was removed from the parish until he was indicted this year for two counts of sexual battery" should have a "not" in there (was not removed...until) if I compare to the article.
Of course, there is suspicion of terrorism. The suspect was born in Frejus near Cannes. From Wikipedia, Frejus is 20% immigrant read Islam. ---This was the day of the French election where an ultra right candidate was in the run off campaigning on an anti immigrant platform. You have to suspect strongly that this event was managed to protect the image of President Macron.
I imagine, for would-be college seminarians, bishops will establish prop houses at their local Catholic universities. This way seminarians can still avail themselves of the permitted 9 hours a semester (18 hours for the whole year) of general ed/core curriculum reqs. (Effectively, the prop year only adds an extra semester of academic work for these guys.)
For dioceses without a Catholic U, they'll probably be sent to their local metropolitan see, where all of the prop years of the province will be gathered in one house.
December graduations might be a problem though... It would surprise me if dioceses realign their admission processes such that new seminarians start at the beginning of the calendar year.
On the one hand, I hope that a genuine experience of full-time diaconal ministry will promote a deeper appreciation for the Order of Deacons more broadly. It's neither a stepping stone (though it can also be that) nor the Fifth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. On the other hand, I'd be very concerned to see liturgical praxis instruction removed from the seminary environment. It is easy to envision both liberal and conservative priests (mis-)educating new deacons according to their particular idiosyncrasies and tastes, rather than future priests receiving uniform instruction from subject matter experts. I'm not so naive as to believe that something like this doesn't already happen, both in seminary and in a priest's first parish assignment, but I can see this synthesis stage making things worse.
My Parish has a transitional Deacon from Ireland living here for 6 months, he leaves in June and will be ordained in September, it's working out very well.
It seems many saints of old were reluctant to be bishops or abbots, and were literally dragged to their ordination. When did we stop doing that? Let the pope appoint someone, then just drag 'em to their ordination! =) joking of course, but it does seem the Vatican could do more of "hey, you're going to be bishop, suck it up and do what the Holy Spirit is telling us" these days.
I also (as a physician) am waiting for an alternative route to being a minister starts developing, as we are seeing nurse practitioners taking over more and more. The Germans seem to be pushing this, so will interesting to see how the world deals with priest shortages.
Any moment of sacred contemplation is precious. To be given a whole year in which to silence the incessant yammering of electronic media to be able to hear God clearly and rest in Him would be beyond price. Talk about proclaiming liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners! Future seminarians are fortunate indeed to be given this opportunity.
I see the Holy Cross priests already do this. They have a novice year after college. They spend the year after being ordained to the diaconate in a parish. I presume most other religious orders have the same program. So we won't be reinventing anything, just introducing it to a new group of seminarians.
I think exposing seminarians to female professionals is necessary. Female professors, accountants, ministry experts, lawyers, etc., etc. There is a "boys only" culture in this church and a tendency to disregard the advice and counsel of women already employed. My master's thesis showed better decisions--in any organization--are made by men and women TOGETHER, not only one or the other.
We actually have a deacon who is in residence at our parish right now and I think it's great--to me,, it makes so much sense. He gets to see how a parish actually works, he deals with the day in day out, and he gets comfortable with the parishioners at every level. Seems like a win to me.
I thing the two major changes in the new PPF are good, but we need to be aware that the only trend in seminary formation is to make it longer, more expensive, and more involved. At some point the law of diminishing returns takes effect, and we'll need to acknowledge that we won't get any better of a priest by making his formation even longer.
The new synthesis stage of formation, thought, seems logistically pretty easy. Simply ordain the seminarian to the transitional diaconate in the spring when he graduates from seminary and assign him to the parish that'll be used as his first presbyteral assignment. Put him on the payroll and have him live in the rectory just like a priest, and in the fall ordain him a priest. There would be a few small hurdles with this plan, but easily surmounted.
But on the other hand, to play devil's advocate against the synthesis stage, what is gained by delaying the man's ability to say Mass and hear Confessions for six months? The experiences that will be gained during the synthesis stage-working with lay staff and volunteers, being immersed in a parish, etc-currently happen during the new priest's first assignment, and a deacon in the synthesis stage won't be "done" with those experiences after six months in the diaconate. Such lessons and experiences are a lifelong process for everyone, clerical and lay. I'll be very interested in reading the full PPF and seeing examples of the the synthesis stage utilized well.
On the other hand, I did have a "spirituality year" in seminary. It wasn't at the beginning like the propaedeutic year, but rather was halfway through, between the Philosophy and Theology studies. It was hands down the most important year of my formation.
Proofreading... "Indeed, the priest was removed from the parish until he was indicted this year for two counts of sexual battery" should have a "not" in there (was not removed...until) if I compare to the article.
Of course, there is suspicion of terrorism. The suspect was born in Frejus near Cannes. From Wikipedia, Frejus is 20% immigrant read Islam. ---This was the day of the French election where an ultra right candidate was in the run off campaigning on an anti immigrant platform. You have to suspect strongly that this event was managed to protect the image of President Macron.
I imagine, for would-be college seminarians, bishops will establish prop houses at their local Catholic universities. This way seminarians can still avail themselves of the permitted 9 hours a semester (18 hours for the whole year) of general ed/core curriculum reqs. (Effectively, the prop year only adds an extra semester of academic work for these guys.)
For dioceses without a Catholic U, they'll probably be sent to their local metropolitan see, where all of the prop years of the province will be gathered in one house.
December graduations might be a problem though... It would surprise me if dioceses realign their admission processes such that new seminarians start at the beginning of the calendar year.
On the one hand, I hope that a genuine experience of full-time diaconal ministry will promote a deeper appreciation for the Order of Deacons more broadly. It's neither a stepping stone (though it can also be that) nor the Fifth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. On the other hand, I'd be very concerned to see liturgical praxis instruction removed from the seminary environment. It is easy to envision both liberal and conservative priests (mis-)educating new deacons according to their particular idiosyncrasies and tastes, rather than future priests receiving uniform instruction from subject matter experts. I'm not so naive as to believe that something like this doesn't already happen, both in seminary and in a priest's first parish assignment, but I can see this synthesis stage making things worse.
My Parish has a transitional Deacon from Ireland living here for 6 months, he leaves in June and will be ordained in September, it's working out very well.
Love the Pillar…great reporting!
It seems many saints of old were reluctant to be bishops or abbots, and were literally dragged to their ordination. When did we stop doing that? Let the pope appoint someone, then just drag 'em to their ordination! =) joking of course, but it does seem the Vatican could do more of "hey, you're going to be bishop, suck it up and do what the Holy Spirit is telling us" these days.
I also (as a physician) am waiting for an alternative route to being a minister starts developing, as we are seeing nurse practitioners taking over more and more. The Germans seem to be pushing this, so will interesting to see how the world deals with priest shortages.
Regarding the new step in priestly formation:
Any moment of sacred contemplation is precious. To be given a whole year in which to silence the incessant yammering of electronic media to be able to hear God clearly and rest in Him would be beyond price. Talk about proclaiming liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners! Future seminarians are fortunate indeed to be given this opportunity.
I see the Holy Cross priests already do this. They have a novice year after college. They spend the year after being ordained to the diaconate in a parish. I presume most other religious orders have the same program. So we won't be reinventing anything, just introducing it to a new group of seminarians.