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“Propaedeutic” means to “to teach beforehand.” Given the experiences in recent years, the universal Church sees the need for a period of time dedicated to prepare candidates for seminary life. It serves as a transition from a secular “fresh from the world” orientation and “without experience of seminary” to initial priestly formation. “The ‘propaedeutic stage’, with its own specific identity and formative purpose, is now presented as necessary and mandatory” for all men regardless of age.

The Vision of the Propaedeutic Stage

The Propaedeutic Stage is a “period of time to preparation of an introductory nature in view of priestly formation to follow or, alternatively of the decision to follow a different path.” Preparation here qualified as ‘introductory’ involves being equipped with skills and the orientation to begin formal priestly formation. It is, therefore, a time of being introduced and initiated into the entire priestly formation process.

The Objectives of the Propaedeutic Stage

The principal objective of the Propaedeutic Stage is to “provide a solid basis for spiritual life and to nurture a greater self-awareness for personal growth.”

 

The means of introducing a candidate to priestly life and to the formative process are the following: initiation to spiritual life; providing knowledge of the self for the first time; offering necessary knowledge to understand the fundamentals of the faith as gleaned from the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC); obtaining a more objective and universal understanding of the apostolate of the Church; and helping a candidate become aware of God’s call through prayerful listening to His word in the Scriptures, thereby assisting him in clarifying his motivation in entering the seminary.

ST. PETER COLLEGE SEMINARY FORMATION ITINERARY - PROPAEDEUTIC YEAR (SHIP)

Spiritual Formation

  • Meaningful liturgical celebrations (RSFN214)

  • visitations to blessed sacrament; consciousness examen

  • liturgical and communal prayers

  • devotion to BVM

  • vocation story sharing

  • retreat and recollections to be designed according to the levels and needs of seminarians.

  • bible sharing, stations of the cross, chaplet of divine mercy, regular holy rosary, and novenas

  • Triduum Masses to commemorate the patron saint of the Propaedeutic community

  • Marian Parishes pilgrimage

  • Monastery pilgrimage

Best practices

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  • RSFN 133 “The spiritual formation in the Propaedeutic Stage is designed to provide a solid foundation for one’s spiritual life and do some interior work.”

  • During this period, the candidate is assisted to acquire the discipline and habit of daily prayer, devotions, and spiritual reading

  • Being at home with silence and learning various forms and methods of prayer.

Focus

  • Initiation to prayer, active participation in Eucharistic celebrations, spiritual self awareness, understanding the image of God.

Growth Indicators

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Human Formation

Focus

GREATER SELF AWARENESS FOR PERSONAL GROWTH

BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF SELF AND FAMILY ORIGIN

  • The seminarian must be led to a calm acceptance of his giftedness and own poverty which he brings to the formation.

  • The candidate must also be made aware of his actual overall health condition as well as his personal interests like sports and hobbies, and also his skills and talents that he could further develop and enrich in the community.

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ADAPTABILITY, TOLERANCE, AND FLEXIBILITY

  • ​He must develop an openness and willingness to do things, follow the schedule, the norms and policies in formation and other community rules (both written and unwritten).

  • He must also learn the value of obedience and respect towards his authority figures.

  • As he lives in a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds, the candidate must also accept others’ legitimate differences.

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BASIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF PERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL ETIQUETTE

  • The Propaedeutic stage is a time to enhance one’s personality and demeanor especially in the presence of his community and the people he will be privileged to encounter through various apostolates and social interactions.

  • Courtesy, familiarization with social graces and a sense of gratefulness are basic dispositions that will prove beneficial for the new seminarian in his formation and future ministry.

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INITIAL FORMATION OF TRUST AND VALUES

  • The formand must look into himself and bring into consultation anything that indicates resistance and difficulty to those in-charge of his formation and peers in the same formative journey.

  • With a constant desire for improvement, the candidate must also possess an openness towards fraternal correction and sensitivity to the needs of others.

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EDUCATION IN THE PROPER USE OF MASS MEDIA

  • Formands described as “digital natives” must be initiated into the disciplined use of these communication devices, the responsible utilization as the stewards of these (undeserved) resources for interconnectivity and critical application of available social media platforms into their formative journey.​​

  • ​Monthly gaudeamus/organized joy

  • Monthly class/ministry meeting

  • Weekly groom checking

  • Symposiums/seminars

  • Invitational sports

  • ​Socio-cultural night

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  • Ability to express one’s self

  • Greater self-awareness

  • Development of healthy coping mechanisms

  • Development of manners and demeanor

  • Improved acceptance of others

  • ​Willingness to be formed

Growth Indicators

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Intellectual Formation

Focus

The Propaedeutic stage is distinct from philosophy studies, and targets, when necessary, studies that make up for anything missing in their general education. In the Philippine setting, the following materials must be included in the propaedeutic studies: proficiency in English communication skills both oral and written; personality development, introduction to prayer, “an introduction to the reading of Sacred Scripture, allowing an initial familiarity with the Bible in its various parts;” “elements of priestly spirituality, with particular attention to the principal school of spirituality, and to the Saints who have offered the witness of an exemplary priestly life;” “the lives of Saints and those beatified by the Diocese or the region;” and “elements of psychology that might help the self knowledge of the seminarians.”

1st Semester

  • Spirituality: Openness to God

  • English Language Arts

  • Speed Reading Apprehension

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Conference 101: Ratio Fundamentalis

  • Conference 101: Intro to Liturgy

  • Propaedeutic English

2nd Semester

  • Spirituality: Openness to God

  • Basic Catechism

  • Intro to Bible

  • English Language Arts

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Laudato Si

  • Seminary Formation

  • Propaedeutic English

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Growth

Seminarians get exposed to the discipline of intellectual life and develop a love for reading, writing, and critical thinking

  • Preparation for the study of philosophy and theology

  • Introduction to the reading of Sacred Scripture

Pastoral Formation

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Focus
 

Family and Self

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Family is the locus of vocation. It is the first seed bed of priestly vocation and the root of all vocations. Knowing one’s family is one way of becoming at home of oneself. This is the pastoral focus of this stage.

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There is a less emphasis of pastoral exposure on this stage. Nevertheless, they are slowly introduced to different pastoral areas of the Diocese namely; prison ministry and the house for the elderly (Por Cristo).

  • Internal apostolate

  • Gardening: individual, by ministry, by class

  • Labor of love (by BEC, one week)

  • Canteen marketing

  • Apostolate at Algon chapel

  • Christmas caroling for raising funds for Propaedeutic facilities development

  • Piso mula sa Puso

  • Calamity relief

  • Donation for hospital bill

  • Christmas party with the kids

  • Prisoner visitation

  • Por Cristo

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