Dimensions of Priestly Formation

Dedicated to Priestly Formation

Saint Francis de Sales Seminary blends our rich history and solid foundation with new vigor in a priestly formation model designed to help form priests for the 21st century.

The priestly formation model has four dimensions:

• Human Formation: Gain self-knowledge

• Spiritual Formation: Grow in your faith

• Intellectual Formation: Deepen your understanding of Catholic theology

• Pastoral Formation: Build essential skills

Summer Formation

Formation at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary is a year-round program. Each summer, seminarians participate in various apostolates and formation programs which are determined in collaboration with an individual's local diocese. Seminarians are often involved in the following:

• Propaedeutic summer
• Parish internship
• Vocation office work
• Summer youth camps
• Parish mission trips
• Spanish immersion
• Institute of Priestly Formation
• The Rome Experience
• Lourdes service
• Clinical Pastoral Education
• Diaconal parish ministry

Formational Pilgrimages

Saint Francis de Sales Seminary leads theologians on an eight-day pilgrimage to Rome every four years. Highlights of this pilgrimage include:

• St. Peter's Basilica and the other three major basilicas
• Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
• Audience with the Holy Father
• Tour of the Pontifical North American College
• Trips to Assisi, Subiaco, and Orvieto

Saint Francis de Sales Seminary leads theologians on a ten-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land every four years. Highlights of this pilgrimage include:

• Jerusalem: Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa
• Nazareth: Church of the Annunciation
• River Jordan
• Sea of Galilee