Formation for Seminary Formators for the Local Church
“The task of formation of candidates for the priesthood requires not only a certain special preparation of those to whom this work is entrusted, one that is professional, pedagogical, spiritual, human and theological, but also a spirit of communion and of cooperating together to carry out the program…
The body of formation personnel should witness to a truly evangelical lifestyle and total dedication to the Lord…
The bishops first of all should feel their grave responsibility for the formation of those who have been given the task of educating future priests. For this ministry, priests of exemplary life should be chosen” (Pope John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis 66, March 25, 1992).
Bishops need to constantly improve the quality of formation in their respective seminaries. A sine qua non to attain this end is to have the close collaboration of well-trained formators. To help them face this challenge, Theological Centrum initiated a new project in 1985, called the Formation for Seminary Formators for the Local Church. This program allows seminarians and priests, who have to be sent officially by their respective bishops, to undergo basic or specialized training abroad, and afterwards return to their dioceses. This was made possible with the support of the Studium Theologiae Foundation and the Faculties of Theology of the University of Navarre (in Pamplona, Spain) and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (in Rome).