A Ministry of Saint-Sulpice

Two weeks ago, June 1-5, 2015, the U.S. Province of Sulpicians sponsored the twelfth Institute for Formators at The Theological College of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The Institute is held every couple of years to assist with the formation of formators of Catholic priests. This year the Institute welcomed fifty enthusiastic participants from all around the United States, most of whom are already engaged in seminary ministry.

The program includes presentations on the four pillars of priestly formation (human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral) as expressed in the postsynodal apostolic exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis, promulgated by Saint John Paul II in 1992. The document continues to serve as the basis for the ratio fundamentalis on seminary formation, and is also at the heart of the Program of Priestly Formation (5th edition) approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Institute is designed to implement this vision of priestly formation, and its expressed goal of integration of all aspects of priestly formation. In addition to classroom presentations on various themes, the Institute includes experiences of prayer and liturgy, and an opportunity for informal sharing among the participants.

The Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice has been engaged for decades in the ministry of the formation of formators, and it views this program, which came into existence in 1993, as part of its essential ministry of priestly formation. We congratulate the U.S. Province on its accomplishment in this area.

Below are a few photos from the most recent Institute.