To make good priests is the greatest achievement in the world; it is impossible to conceive of anything greater.
St Vincent De Paul was a great saint. His words strike a cord. To make good priests - to form good priests - is a most wonderful and beautiful task.
A priest is someone who is sent by Christ. To be 'sent' is to be called by Jesus Christ. That is what a priest is: someone who is called by God and sent into the harvest to be a shepherd after the heart of Christ himself.
How do we form young men for this task? A young man submits himself to seven years formation at our seminary.
At Good Shepherd Seminary we follow closely the teaching of the Church.
For this reason the first year of the seminary formation is a spiritual year. This is a unique time for the seminarian to be with Christ in preparation for the journey ahead.
He receives input from the seminary staff on the Creed, Sacraments, Moral Life and Prayer. He is encouraged to read and meditate on Christ present in these four aspects of the Catholic faith and life.
The spiritual year begins with a three-day retreat.First years then do an eight-day retreat in the middle of the year. The year finishes with a thirty-day silent retreat according to the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius. At the end of the year staff and seminarian evaluate the progress that has been made.
In 1992 Pope John Paul II issued the Apostolic Exhortation called, "I Will Give You Shepherds" – In Latin, Pastores Dabo Vobis. It deals with the formation of priests.
The Pope taught clearly that the formation of priests should cover four key areas:
Human Formation
Spiritual Formation
Pastoral Formation
Academic Formation
Human Formation:
We focus on those human virtues that are necessary for human Christian maturity. We pay particular attention to the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice.
Because the priest is celibate, we play close attention to psychosexual development. Psychology helps, but does not replace our emphasis on "virtue based" human formation. Seminarians receive formal lectures on human virtues. They talk to an external personal advisor once a month. They receive constant feedback from the seminary formation team on their progress in human virtues.
Spiritual Formation:
The three theological virtues - faith, hope and love – are critical to spiritual formation. We focus on them throughout the formation process at Good Shepherd Seminary. We do this through regular input from the Spiritual Director, regular twice-monthly spiritual direction, and monthly days of solitude and silence.
Mass is celebrated daily in the college chapel. The Sacrament of Penance is offered daily. There is a daily holy-hour in the college chapel. Morning, evening and night prayer is also celebrated in the chapel. The rosary is encouraged, but said privately. Spiritual reading follows the same pattern. Each year seminarians do a silent retreat for eight days.
Academic Formation:
During the university year, seminarians study at the Catholic Institute of Sydney, attending classes in:
Philosophy, Biblical languages, Church History, Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, Pastoral Studies and Mission, Spirituality, Liturgy and Canon Law.
In the spiritual year, seminarians do one subject in each of the two semesters focusing on spirituality. Years two to seven focus on the subjects listed above.
Pastoral Formation:
During the seven years of formation, pastoral and apostolic work is structured according to the obligations that flow from the call of the Sacrament of Baptism (Discipleship) and then the Sacrament of Holy Orders (Apostleship).
The initial years are focused on apostolic work that is part of the ordinary call to holiness, while the later years of formation focus on preparing the seminarian to enter priestly life.
Year 1: Spiritual Year:
Visiting various works of mercy in the Archdiocese of Sydney; cultural and spiritual outings; pilgrimages; visiting the elderly, sick and infirmed in a Group Facility.
Year 2:
Theory and Practise of Catechism in Catholic Schools
Year 3:
Theory and Practise of Catechism in State Schools
Year 4:
Promoting Vocations in Schools and Youth Apostolates
Year 5:
Pastoral Placement in a Parish; Clinical Pastoral education
Year 6:
Practicums: Preaching and Sacraments
Year 7:
Practicums: Preaching and Sacraments
SEMINARY TIMETABLE
DAILY
Monday – Thursday
7.10am Morning Prayer
7.30am Celebration of Mass
8.15am Breakfast
9am-12.30pm Lectures/Study
1pm Lunch
2pm-5pm Study/Leisure
5pm-6pm Holy Hour & Evening Prayer
6pm Dinner
7pm-9pm Study
9.15pm Examen
9.20pm Night Prayer
9.30pm Preaching & Fraternity
10.30pm Retire & Silence
Friday
7.10am Morning Prayer
7.30am Celebration of Mass
8.15am Breakfast
9am-1pm Pastoral Work
1pm Lunch
2pm-5pm Study/Leisure
5pm-6pm Holy Hour & Evening Prayer
7pm Free Time
11pm Retire & Silence
Saturday
Free Day
11pm Return & Silence
Sunday
9.15am Morning Prayer
10am Celebration of Mass
11.30am Brunch
12noon-6pm Leisure/Study/Rest
6pm-7pm Holy Hour & Evening Prayer
10.30pm Retire & Silence
WEEKLY
Thursday
7pm-8pm Human & Spiritual Formation
8pm Fraternity in Main Lounge Room
9.15pm Examen
9.20pm Night Prayer
10.30pm Retire & Silence
MONTHLY
3rd Sunday
9am-1pm Morning of Solitude & Silence
1pm Lunch
2pm-5pm Leisure/Study/Rest
5.30pm Evening Prayer at St. Mary’s Cathedral
6pm Celebration of Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral
10.30pm Retire & Silence
YEARLY
January
Annual Vacation (5 weeks)
February
Three-Week Seminar Period – including annual retreat
March
Semester One Academic Year Begins
March/April
Holy Week – Non-Lecturing Week
April
1 Week Mid-Semester Vacation – Seminary Break
1 Week Non-Lecturing Study Week – Seminary Resumes
Mid-Year Vacation (4 weeks)
Annual Mission (1 week)
August
Semester Two Academic Year Continues
September/October
1 Week Mid-Semester Vacation – Seminary Break
1 Week Non-Lecturing Study Week – Seminary Resumes
November
Academic and Seminary Year Concludes
November/December
Work and/or Pastoral Placement in a Parish