Practical guidance for priests in their lifelong journey of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation Given the demands of ministry, it can be difficult for priests to keep learning and growing without the structure of seminary life. Yet, ongoing formation is essential for effective ministry and evangelization. Written by bishops, the Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests offers practical guidance on the lifelong pursuit of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation for priests at every stage of their priesthood. This official text from the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is published here in print for the first time. The Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests: Describes a holy, healthy priesthood and explains how priests can remain dedicated to lifelong learning and growing Offers solutions to common challenges of living the priesthood today, both within the Church and the wider culture Addresses ongoing formation at every stage of life, including early priesthood, the middle years, and “retirement” Organizes guidance around the four dimensions of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral Includes appendices for those involved in ongoing clergy formation at the diocesan level on the topics of recently ordained priests, evaluating when clergy need assistance, cultural considerations of formation, and boundary education The Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests is intended to be a resource that priests review regularly, both in their development of individualized formation plans, and in discussion in spiritual direction, with colleagues, and with mentors. This new edition of the Guide features: A newly designed cover with beautiful sacred art Colored tabs with paragraph numbers at the top of each page for easy navigation Carefully designed pages to make each page readable, organized, and inviting A document summary explaining the intended audience, the document’s origin, and the purpose it seeks to serve within the mission of the Church The official text of this work written by the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations This edition is part of The USCCB Collection from Ascension, which features official documents from the United States bishops previously published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests was developed by the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. It was approved by the full body of bishops at the June 2023 Plenary Assembly. It is a pastoral document intended to "help each priest to take stock of his life and ministry and to discern and formulate an individualized plan of formation", since "the priest himself is principally and primarily responsible for his own ongoing formation. The Guide sets forth principles for the life and ministry of priests, a description of a holy, healthy priesthood, and the means of formation available to priests.

See Pamphlet 5-383 for duplicate copy.

Rooted in the documents of Vatican II, the Program of Priestly Formation offers the normative direction for all seminaries in the United States to meet the challenge of priestly formation in the third millennium. The fifth edition, like it predecessor, was shaped by feedback collected during many seminary visitations. the requirements for priestly formation reflect these informative and significant examinations of the current and future needs of seminary formation. the Program of Priestly Formation stands as the normative guide for seminary formation for the twenty-first century, and it sets the horizon for priestly ministry in the years ahead.

Local norms for structuring seminarian formation and teaching the next generation of priests Seminarians are the future of the priesthood. During these formative years, they learn what it means to conform their hearts to the service of the Church and develop the charity, faithfulness, and compassion they will need to minister to their future parishioners. The Program of Priestly Formation guides those who teach seminarians with advice on forming compassionate spiritual fathers who will serve their parishioners well. It also outlines the structural elements of seminary formation and the various people responsible for accompanying a seminarian through his formation. The Program of Priestly Formation: Begins with an introduction to priestly formation, outlining its foundations in community and its missionary spirit Explores the theological foundations of the ministerial priesthood and the Church’s role in promoting priestly vocations Outlines the process of admission into a formation program and local norms for how seminarians are evaluated throughout their education Organizes guidance around the four dimensions of formation–human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral–and how to incorporate these at each stage of seminary formation The Program of Priestly Formation is intended for bishops, priests, seminary rectors, seminary faculties, formators, and all who minister to seminarians as they fulfill this high call to form missionary disciples and lay the foundation for a lifetime of priestly formation. This new edition of the Program features: A newly designed cover with beautiful sacred art Colored tabs with paragraph numbers at the top of each page for easy navigation Carefully designed pages to make each page readable, organized, and inviting A document summary explaining the intended audience, the document’s origin, and the purpose it seeks to serve within the mission of the Church The official text of this work written by the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations This edition is part of The USCCB Collection from Ascension, which features official documents from the United States bishops previously published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Inspired by and based on Pope John Paul II's apostolic exhortation I Will Give You Shepherds (Pastores Dabo Vobis).

John Paul II on the mission and the formation of the priests of the future

The preparation of new priests for ministry currently faces closer scrutiny than at any time since the Reformation, and the importance of effective priestly formation has perhaps never been clearer in the entire history of the Church. In Models of Priestly Formation, some of the world’s leading experts on the topic consider priestly formation since Vatican II, explore current best practices internationally, and imagine what the future of such formation might look like. The book promises to become an essential reference for every person involved in priestly formation and for anyone interested in understanding better how it is carried out and how those who do it think about their task. The eBook edition includes four additional essays.