Most seminarians require the men to set yearly formation goals for each of the four pillars of formation. These goals will vary as the men approach ordination, but the following will illustrate possible goals for a man in first theology.
Human Formation. Because I am shy and socially awkward, I will initiate a conversation with another Seminarian or a stranger once per day by asking sincere questions about him or her and then asking if he has any special intention for which I can pray.
Because I am not good at public speaking and get very nervous, I will take a seminary non-credit public speaking course to develop my public speaking skills before I begin my formal homiletics course in third-year theology.
Spiritual Formation Because I am just learning about the liturgy of the hours and incorporating them into my spiritual plan of life, I will pray the Office or Readings and Night prayer every day (in addition, of course, to morning prayer and evening prayer, which the seminary prays in common).
I will make a holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament every day, experimenting with different forms of prayer with the guidance of my spiritual director.
Intellectual Formation Goals I will study outside of class for a minimum of two and a half hours per day, six days per week, for a total of fifteen hours per week. Because I do not take good notes, I will supplement my class notes by acquiring the notes of a very good student, and I will study these along with my notes.
Pastoral Formation Goals I will spend one or two hours on Saturday morning preparing the material for my 4th-grade CCD class, which I teach on Sunday morning.
I will memorize the names of every child in my class, learn at least a little about them, and pray for them by name every single day.
Seminarians set goals like these, and others are held accountable to those goals in their regular meetings with their formation advisor and their spiritual director. Seminary formation is primarily "Self-formation." Seminarians must have the self-knowledge to see where they need to grow in each area and set goals to accomplish this growth.
From the Book "To Save a Thousand Souls: by Fr. Brett A. Brannen
A Prayer for Vocations Jesus, our eternal pastor, deign to look with merciful eyes upon this part of your loving flock. Lord, we need a large number of priests and men and women consecrated to the religious life. Multiply vocations and sanctify your priests and those consecrated to the religious life more and more. We ask you all this through the Immaculate Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, your sweet and holy Mother. Jesus, give us priests according to your heart. Jesus, savior of all people, save them! Save them!
Oración por las Vocaciones ¡Oh, Jesús, nuestro Pastor eterno! Dígnate mirar con ojos de misericordia a esta porción de tu grey amada. Señor, necesitamos un gran número de sacerdotes, y hombres y mujeres consagrados a la vida religiosa. Multiplica las vocaciones, y santifica cada vez más a tus sacerdotes, y a las almas consagradas a la vida religiosa. Te hacemos este pedido por medio de la Inmaculada Virgen María de Guadalupe, tu dulce y santa Madre. Jesús, danos sacerdotes de acuerdo a tu corazón. Jesús Salvador de los hombres, ¡sálvalos, sálvalos!
Answering THE CALL ARE YOU CONSIDERING VOCATION TO CONSECRATED LIFE? For information on becoming a Religious Priest Missionary of the Holy Spirit or a Diocesan Priest, contact one of the following people: Priests: Fr. Miguel Marquez, M.Sp.S Fr. Lucio Viallalobos, M.Sp.S Fr. Celso Marquez, M.SP.S 425-481-0303