Main Article Content

Abstract

The seminary formation of Catholic aspirants to the priesthood is a complex journey that involves careful discernment of personal aspiration and motivation. Specific formation programs were designed and formulated to abet them in their vocation discernment. This study examines different motives that keep Propaedeutic seminarians in their initial formation phase. It is a case study investigating the other areas of seminary structure and personal motivation that impelled them to pursue seminary formation. The primary data for this study was obtained from the Holy Infant Seminary of the Diocese of Pagadian, a diocese in Zamboanga del Sur in the western hemisphere of Mindanao, Philippines. Employing the case study technique, the researchers conducted direct interviews with fourteen propaedeutic seminarians to evaluate and examine their motivation. The study's findings show three significant themes which help them cope with the demands of priestly formation: seminary activities or programs, strategies to nurture vocation, and personal motivation factors.

Keywords

Aspiration Discernment Motivation Propaedeutic Seminarians Vocation

Article Details

How to Cite
Canoy , M. ., Salinas , R. K. ., Genobesa , E. R. ., & Selgas, J. (2023). Towards the Altar: An In-depth Exploration of Seminarians’ Aspiration Towards Priestly Vocation . Millah: Journal of Religious Studies, 22(2), 641–672. https://doi.org/10.20885/millah.vol22.iss2.art13

References

  1. Adriance, M. (1991). Agents of change: The roles of priests, sisters, and lay workers in the grassroots Catholic church in Brazil. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 30(3), 292–305. https://doi.org/10.2307/1386974

  2. Baker, G. (2003). Music in the convents and monasteries of Colonial Cuzco. Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana, 24(1), 1–41. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3598711

  3. Baker, G. (2004). Music at Corpus Christi in Colonial Cuzco. Early Music, 32(3), 355–367. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3519336

  4. Baruth, M., Bopp, M., Webb, B. L., & Peterson, J. A. (2015). The role and influence of faith leaders on health-related issues and programs in their congregation. Journal of Religion and Health, 54(5), 1747–1759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9924-1

  5. Bopp, M., Baruth, M., Peterson, J. A., & Webb, B. L. (2013). Leading their flocks to health? Clergy health and the role of clergy in faith-based health promotion interventions. Family & Community Health, 36(3), 182. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0b013e31828e671c

  6. Brannen, B. A. (2010). To save a thousand souls: A guide for discerning a vocation to Diocesan priesthood. Ignatius Press.

  7. Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. (2019, July 8). Vocations & seminaries [HTML]. Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/offices/clergy-religious/vocations-seminaries

  8. Catholic News Agency. (2012, January 15). Pope stresses spiritual guidance in discerning religious vocation [HTML]. Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/24097/pope-stresses-spiritual-guidance-in-discerning-religious-vocation

  9. Chiarlitti, N. A., & Kolen, A. M. (2020). Exploring supports and barriers to physical activity in Catholic priests. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 41(4), 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-020-00596-y

  10. Congregation for the Clergy. (2017). The gift of the priestly vocation: Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis. Catholic Truth Society.

  11. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

  12. De Sisto, M., Huq, A., & Dickinson, G. (2022). Sense of belonging in second-year undergraduate students: The value of extracurricular activities. Higher Education Research & Development, 41(5), 1727–1742. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2021.1902951

  13. D’Eloia, M. H., & Price, P. (2018). Sense of belonging: Is inclusion the answer? Sport in Society, 21(1), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2016.1225819

  14. Drolet, M., & Arcand, I. (2013). Positive development, sense of belonging, and support of peers among early adolescents: Perspectives of different actors. International Education Studies, 6(4), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v6n4p29

  15. Fidler, B. W. (2020). Communion with God, self-differentiation, and spiritual maturity of master’s level counseling students at Christian institutions [Doctoral dissertation, Regent University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. https://www.proquest.com/openview/57ac36b5811f02fd48fb1ad9188f8d42/1

  16. Fowler, M. (2017, November 22). Fitness, camaraderie part of U.S. seminary life in Rome [HTML]. Arlington Catholic Herald. https://www.catholicherald.com/article/global/fitness-camaraderie-part-of-u-s-seminary-life-in-rome/

  17. Francis. (2022, November 10). Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to participants in the Course for Seminary Rectors and Formators of Latin America [HTML]. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/november/documents/20221110-corso-seminari-americalatina.html

  18. Hankle, D. D. (2010). The psychological processes of discerning the vocation to the Catholic priesthood: A qualitative study. Pastoral Psychology, 59(2), 201–219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-008-0190-6

  19. Hydinger, K. R., Sandage, S. J., Wu, X., Stein, L., & Wang, D. C. (2023). Compassion and humility as predictors of justice and diversity commitments among seminary faculty. Pastoral Psychology, 72(2), 169–185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-023-01058-y

  20. Jaskowak, M. M. (2019). Why I desire to be a Catholic Priest. Dominicana. https://www.dominicanajournal.org/why-i-desire-to-be-a-catholic-priest/

  21. John Paul II. (1992). Pastores dabo vobis [HTML]. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031992_pastores-dabo-vobis.html

  22. John Paul II. (1993). Catechism of the Catholic Church [HTM]. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4X.HTM

  23. Kelly, C. M. (2016). The role of the moral theologian in the Church: A proposal in light of Amoris Laetitia. Theological Studies, 77(4), 922–948. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040563916666824

  24. Knox, S., Virginia, S. G., Thull, J., & Lombardo, J. P. (2005). Depression and contributors to vocational satisfaction in Roman Catholic secular clergy. Pastoral Psychology, 54(2), 139–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-005-6199-1

  25. Legada, E. L., Madrigal, D. V., & Maravilla, M. W. M. (2020). Spiritual well-being and resiliency of the diocesan seminarians of antique. Philippine Social Science Journal, 3(1), 53–69. https://doi.org/10.52006/main.v3i1.124

  26. Livingston, B. E., Myers, K. M., Jordan, M. R., Jelinek, B. S., & Plumley, A. (2009). Pastoral formation process for seminarians a new model for developing psychologically healthy pastors. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 63(3–4), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1177/154230500906300309

  27. Loughlan, J., & Dierendonck, C. V. (2012). The impact of seminary socialization on the development of seminarians’ emotional intelligence. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 31(3), 264–276. https://doi.org/10.1177/073998631203100308

  28. Lount, M., & Hargie, O. D. W. (1997). The priest as counsellor: An investigation of critical incidents in the pastoral work of Catholic priests. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 10(3), 247–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515079708254177

  29. McClanahan, J. (2018). Pastoral self-care: Developing a burnout-resistant approach to life and ministry [Doctoral thesis, Liberty University]. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/1692

  30. Morse, J. B. (2011). Pastoral self-care: Maintaining a balance to serve others: A narrative inquiry into the experience of church-based clergy [Doctoral dissertation, Colorado State University]. https://mountainscholar.org/handle/10217/69332

  31. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995658

  32. Muth, C. (2013, August 22). Helping priests, seminarians maintain good health of concern to church [HTML]. Catholic Philly. https://catholicphilly.com/2013/08/news/national-news/helping-priests-seminarians-maintain-good-health-of-concern-to-church/

  33. Naparan, G., Canoy, M. R., Mahinay, F. D., & Villaflor, J. E. (2022). Walking on hot coals: A phenomenological study on dealing with temptations in the seminary. Millah: Journal of Religious Studies, 21(3), 613–638. https://doi.org/10.20885/millah.vol21.iss3.art1

  34. Okafor, F. N. (2019). The vocations director and the discernment of vocations: Some considerations for priestly formation. In F. E. Ikhianosime & G. E. Ogbenika (Eds.), Formation, the Catholic priesthood and the modern age: Festshrift in honour of Rev. Fr. Anselm Jimoh on his 25th priestly anniversary (pp. 53–66). Mindex Publishing Co. Ltd. https://acjol.org/index.php/ekpoma/article/view/1744

  35. Pang, L. (2016). Spiritual growth through authentic worship. Compass: A Review of Topical Theology, 50(3), 4–6. http://compassreview.org/spring16/3.pdf

  36. Paul IV. (1965). Optatam Totius [HTML]. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_optatam-totius_en.html

  37. Perrin, A. J. (2021). Called and chosen: Understanding and navigating the vocation to Diocesan priesthood. Ave Maria Press.

  38. Porter, S. L., Sandage, S. J., Wang, D. C., & Hill, P. C. (2019). Measuring the spiritual, character, and moral formation of seminarians: In search of a meta-theory of spiritual change. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 12(1), 5–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1939790918797481

  39. Prusak, J., Kwapis, K., Pilecka, B., Chemperek, A., Krawczyk, A., Jabłoński, M., & Nowakowski, K. (2021). The quality of life, meaning in life, positive orientation to life and gratitude of Catholic seminarians in Poland: A comparative analysis. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 43(1), 78–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0084672420983488

  40. Radillo, R. M. (2006). A model of formation in the multi-cultural urban context for the pastoral care specialist. American Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 8(3–4), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1300/J062v08n03_12

  41. Rossetti, S. J., & Rhoades, C. J. (2013). Burnout in Catholic clergy: A predictive model using psychological and spiritual variables. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5(4), 335–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033639

  42. Sarah, C. R., & Diat, N. (2015). God or nothing (Sew edition). Ignatius Press.

  43. Schnabel, J. F., & Koval, J. P. (1979). Loneliness and deprivation: The case of roman catholic priests. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 6, 410. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/jrlsasw6&id=421&div=&collection=

  44. Skinner, E., Pitzer, J., & Brule, H. (2014). The role of emotion in engagement, coping, and the development of motivational resilience. In R. Pekrun & L. Linnenbrink-Garcia (Eds.), International handbook of emotions in education. Routledge.

  45. Smith, J. A. (2007). Academic and music curricula in nineteenth-century American women’s education: A comparison of the Moravian Young Ladies’ Seminary and Nazareth Hall. The Musical Quarterly, 90(2), 275–306. https://doi.org/10.1093/musqtl/gdn011

  46. Tomlinson-Clarke, S. (2000). Assessing outcomes in a multicultural training course: A qualitative study. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 13(2), 221–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/713658487

  47. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2006). Program of priestly formation (5th edition). United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

  48. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2022). Discernment for men and women [HTML]. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/discernment-men-and-women

  49. Van Tongeren, D. R., Worthington Jr., E. L., Davis, D. E., Hook, J. N., Reid, C. A., & Garthe, R. C. (2018). Positive religious coping in relationships predicts spiritual growth through communication with the sacred. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 10(1), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000120

  50. Vîrgă, D., Pattusamy, M., & Kumar, D. P. (2022). How psychological capital is related to academic performance, burnout, and boredom? The mediating role of study engagement. Current Psychology, 41(10), 6731–6743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01162-9

  51. Wang, D. C., Reed, A., Greggo, S., Bowersox, L., Drennan, A., Strawn, B., King, P. E., Porter, S. L., & Hill, P. C. (2023). Spiritual formation in theological education: A multi-case exploration on seminaries and student development. Christian Education Journal, 20(1), 65–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/07398913231177722

  52. Weiss, J. W., Skelley, M. F., Haughey, J. C., & (Tim), H. D. (2003). Calling, new careers and spirituality a reflective perspective for organizational leaders and professionals. In M. L. Pava & P. Primeaux (Eds.), Spiritual Intelligence at Work: Meaning, Metaphor, and Morals (Vol. 5, pp. 175–201). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1529-2096(03)05009-0