Formation, as the Church understands it, is not equivalent to a secular sense of schooling or, even less, of job training. It begins for all Christians at Baptism and continues throughout life. God uses the entirety of one’s life experiences continually to invite the believer to draw closer to him. He is always at work in the soul as the master craftsman, shaping and molding us. So too, for those he has chosen to pursue the path of priesthood, whether in a diocesan or a consecrated vocation, his quiet yet constant presence is always at work. The formation of priests means following a singular ‘journey of discipleship,’ which begins at Baptism, is perfected through the other sacraments of Christian Initiation, comes to be appreciated as the center of one’s life at the beginning of Seminary formation, and continues through the whole of life. While formation is a lifelong journey, the time spent preparing for ordained ministry is a  privileged time of growth in self-knowledge and deepening intimacy with Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the seminary journey, the seminarian is a ‘mystery to himself,’ in which two aspects of his humanity, that need to be integrated, are intertwined and exist side by side. On the one hand he is characterized by talents and gifts that have been molded by grace; on the other he is marked by his limits and frailty. The task of formation is to help the person to integrate these aspects, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, in a journey of faith and of gradual and harmonious maturity, avoiding fragmentation, polarization, excesses, superficiality or partiality.

Each of the dimensions of formation is aimed at 'transforming' or 'assimilating' the heart in the image of the heart of Christ who was sent by the Father to fulfill his loving plan.  He was moved when faced with human suffering (cf. Mt 9:35-36), he went to seek out the lost sheep (cf. Mt 18:12-14), even to offering his life for them (cf. Jn 10:11).  He came not be served but to serve (cf. Mt 20:24-28).  As the Second Vatican Council indicates, the entire process of formation in preparation for priestly ministry, in fact, has as its aim the preparation of seminarians to 'enter into the communion with the charity of Christ the Good Shepherd.'

Formation in the seminary begins by focusing in a concentrated way on the seminarian's relationship with Jesus Christ.  The seminarian first became a disciple of Christ at his Baptism; formation in the seminary will enable him to grow as a disciple who is discerning and preparing for ordained ministry.  He is gradually formed into a shepherd who is call to make a gift of his life in pastoral charity for the People of God.  This graduall development of the future priest has as its goal growth in holiness, so as to become configured to Christ, Head and Shepherd, Servant and Spouse.

Excerpts from the Program for Priestly Formation in the United States of America, Sixth Edition, USCCB

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