Seminary and Graduate School of Theology - Mundelein Seminary

Formation Program
THE TEN AIMS OF MUNDELEIN SEMINARY
FORMATION
The primary objective of the Formation Program
at Mundelein Seminary is to help prepare
men for parish priesthood. The seminary
seeks to develop true pastors, mature
and holy men, who will live, work, and pray
with the people they serve in parish ministry.
To that end, we pursue the following 10 aims:
1. To help the seminarian develop a vital
SPIRITUAL LIFE appropriate to one preparing
for ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ,
Priest, Prophet and King. To grow in his
priestly identity as beloved child of God, disciple
of Jesus Christ, and one called to loving
service of God’s people. To develop a sense
of mission which flows from the man’s identity.
To develop a lively personal and liturgical
prayer life.
Tomorrow’s priests must be men of prayer,
of an active intellectual life and of a sincere
and heartfelt love for God’s people. To that
end, the seminary fosters growth in prayer,
and a love of study, in many ways.
The Eucharist is the center of all Christian
formation and the core of priestly formation.
Attendance at daily Eucharist is required for
the entire seminary community.
The Liturgy of the Hours is the official prayer
of every diocesan priest. Seminarians are
taught the “why” and “how” of the Liturgy of
the Hours and they are encouraged to make
the Liturgy of the Hours their special prayer
with and for the Church. The Program of
Priestly Formation prescribes gradual practice
of all the Hours; by third year of theology,
all should be regularly praying all five
hours.
Spiritual direction is an essential part of the
Formation Program of the seminary. It is a
safe and confidential internal forum in which
a man may discuss his spiritual life, primary
goals of which are growing intimacy with
and freedom in the Lord. Any life experiences,
good or bad, positive or negative, lifegiving
or challenging can be the “stuff” of
spiritual direction. The seminarian chooses
his own spiritual director and meets every
two weeks with this priest. The spiritual
director cannot participate in any seminary
feedback or evaluative process for his directees.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is an im-
portant element in the life of every priest and
seminarian. The sacrament is available to
every seminarian on a weekly basis. Seminarians
are encouraged to avail themselves
of the sacrament with regularity. In addition,
there are communal celebrations of Reconciliation
in preparation for Christmas and
Easter. The sacrament is always available
on a personal basis to the seminarians with
any priest, with the exception of the rector.
Spiritual retreats are a constitutive element
of every seminarian’s life. A five-day oncampus
preached retreat begins the fall
quarter for Pre-Theologians, 1st Theologians,
and 2nd Theologians. Upon their return
from the Pastoral Internship, the 3rd
year theologians experience a five-day directed
retreat. There are retreats prior to
reception of the diaconate and the priesthood.
In addition, each separate living area
or “cam” has an overnight retreat during the
year. There also can be small group or individual
retreats conducted during the year.
Mornings of Prayer and recollection are conducted
once each quarter. A Day of Prayer
marks our patronal feast of the Immaculate
Conception.
Seminarians are encouraged to dedicate
one hour to personal prayer each day, at
least some of that time before the
Blessed Sacrament. Attendance is required
by all at the Wednesday morning
holy hour before the exposed Blessed
Sacrament; Morning Prayer and Benediction
conclude the time. Each Sunday
evening, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed
for adoration between 7:00 p.m.
and 9:00 p.m. That time concludes with
Night Prayer and Benediction.
Each day every seminarian should spend
time in personal devotional prayer, in
reading scripture, praying in the presence
of the Blessed Sacrament and in cultivating
a devotion to Mary. Communal rosary
is available each Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday evening at 6:30
p.m.; these are led by the respective
cams.
Each of the six years has its own class
formation program into which are built
elements of prayer, reflection on the
Scriptures, presentations and small
group work. Faith sharing is encouraged
in many of these meetings.
Since the study and the incorporation of
Scripture is of primary importance for
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