1. What is priestly formation about?

Often people think that seminary formation consists simply in studying the subject of theology. In reality priestly training encompasses many areas that go beyond academics. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, or USCCB, has released a document titled "The Program for Priestly Formation." Within this document is defined the criteria that are necessary to form priests. It takes root in the Apostolic Exhortation produced by Pope John Paul II titled "Pastores Dabo Vobis" in which is defined four major areas of formation called the "Pillars of Formation". These pillars are Human, Spiritual, Academic and Pastoral. At Assumption Seminary this call to excellence in each of the four major areas is taken seriously. The pre-theology students receive an excellent foundation in the philosophical principles of human thought and reasoning that is necessary for continuing onto their theological training at the Oblate School of Theology. Seminarians are expected to be men of prayer. As such the spiritual life of each seminarian takes immense importance within their formation. Each seminarian chooses a spiritual director among the faculty who is able to help him discern God's activity within his life and how better to respond to God's Will. Each student is also assigned a formation advisor who assists with the human and pastoral formation. The Priesthood is a life and an identity of service. Pastoral assignments will not only help individuals in need but will also aid the student as he progresses in his priestly identity. Examples of pastoral assignments are hospital visits, the feeding of the poor and helping the community in times of crisis, among others.

2. What is a day in the life of a Seminarian?

Life in the seminary is full. At Assumption Seminary the day begins at 6:30am with Morning Prayer and Mass followed by breakfast. Afterwards the seminarians leave the seminary and go to their respective places of study. The students in the seminary do the majority of their academic formation outside the seminary property at the local universities or schools of Theology. Within the seminary compound the men participate in weekly formation conferences, house jobs, spiritual direction, liturgical education and pastoral assignments. Often the pastoral assignments require the men to go outside the seminary campus to local hospitals or other institutions. Since their courses are set on a normal college schedule, students have classes throughout the day, and when not in class they are expected to study and participate in their other responsibilities. At 5:20pm everyone returns to the chapel to have communal Evening Prayer, and then if the men have night classes they return to their schools, otherwise they have time to themselves.

3. Why does Assumption Seminary put such an emphasis on multicultural formation?

It has been estimated that by the year 2020 persons of Hispanic descent will compose 50% of the Catholic Church's population in America. This statistic shows that the American Catholic Church needs priests who are not only devout and holy men, but who are comfortable within a variety of cultures. The city of San Antonio provides a unique position to assist the Catholic Church in that it is truly one city that uses two languages and whose identity comes from two cultural sources. Assumption Seminary trains American seminarians to be open to cultural differences by sharing with them the Hispanic culture as it finds expression within the American Catholic community, and likewise it provides those seminarians who come from Latin America an experience of the American culture that they will need in order to serve the people of God both in America and in their countries of origin. The men are trained liturgically not only to know and understand the rites in English, but also in Spanish. It is expected that men who graduate from Assumption Seminary be fluent in both English and Spanish. The training, however, does not consider only language skills. Here at Assumption there is available to the students the opportunity to engage in the current issues within the church. The issue of cultural immersion and different points of view is not something studied, but something experienced. As the Catholic community in both America and the entire world continues to grow and truly become Catholic, the Church too must grow in her ability to serve the needs of the people of God. This is exactly what Assumption Seminary has as her goal and it is why the seminary places such an importance on multiculturalism.