Seminary and Graduate School of Theology - Mundelein Seminary

priests, each seminarian is expected to
learn how to pray the Scriptures. Opportunities
for such prayer are built into class
formation sessions and seminary retreats.
2. To help the seminarian develop the necessary
HUMAN qualities and virtues in the
seminarian so that he is able to serve as a “a
bridge to Christ” (PDV 43) as a diocesan
priest, demonstrating in particular affective
and psycho-sexual maturity as well as the
ability to form positive relationships with a
wide range of people appropriate to one
called to live a chaste, celibate life. To help
men become men of COMMUNION, men of
PASTORAL CHARITY. Seminary community
life, “the matrix of formation,” should promote
this human growth.
While at Mundelein, each seminarian is
expected to volunteer for various tasks
and responsibilities in the community. At
times, he will be asked to take on specific
responsibilities by the rector or by members
of the faculty.
A seminarian must assume personal
responsibility for his formation. This
means that, while many opportunities for
individual and group formational experiences
are presented to him, ultimately he
alone determines how deeply he will allow
these experiences and these opportunities
to prepare him for priesthood.
The hope is that he will grow in this sincere
spirit of self-motivation which will be
very essential to his life as a diocesan
priest.
Each candidate for the priesthood has a
“formation advisor” from the formation
faculty during his years in the seminary.
The formation advisor works with the
man in the external forum. The two meet
together at least twice a quarter and
whenever necessary. The formation advisor
is both a helpful guide for the man
and also a person of accountability. Together
they work out an agreement or
covenant at the beginning of each year
outlining the expectations of the seminary
and a man’s personal goals for his formation.
This covenant and how it is carried
out is shared with those responsible
for the man’s training. To this end, the
formation advisor meets with the man’s
vocation director during the year. The
formation advisor also writes up a review
of the man’s progress towards priesthood
at the end of each year. This report is
shared with the rector, the man’s bishop,
his vocation director and the man himself.
There are a variety of accountability factors
during a man’s stay at the seminary.
Each man receives feedback from both
peers and faculty on a number of occasions
throughout his years here. He also
has an opportunity to offer feedback to
the seminary itself along the way.
In Pre-Theology I, at the end of the year,
men receive specific feedback from their
peers and from their field experience
ministry and are expected to evaluate
their own year as well in a written statement.
They share all this information
with their advisor.
In Pre-Theology II, the men receive
feedback from their field education supervisor,
from their mission trip supervisor,
from their cam director and four cam
brothers, and finally from a professor of
their choice. At the end of the year, the
men are also expected to write a year
end self-evaluation. All of the feedback is
shared with their advisor.
In First Theology, the men undergo endorsement,
a process by which peers
and faculty state whether they think the
men are fit to go on to Second Theology.
They also receive specific written feedback
from both peers and faculty, whom
they choose, as to how they are seen
and what they need to do to continue to
grow and develop. At the end of the
year, they write their own summary of
how the year has gone for them. They
are encouraged to share all of this with
their spiritual director and advisor.
In Second Theology, men also undergo
the endorsement process. In addition,
they are evaluated at the end of their
pastoral intensive by their work supervisor
and by those with whom they worked
in the parish.
In Third Theology, the men once again
go through the endorsement process in
the spring quarter. (If a man is to be ordained
to the diaconate prior to his return
in fourth year, he will also go through the
certification process in the spring quarter
of third year.) In addition, they receive
feedback from selected peers and faculty.
Each man prepares an end of the year
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