Human/Spiritual Formation

Human Formation
Kenrick is well aware that grace builds on nature. The seminary recognizes each student to be a gifted human being. Formation in Pre-Theology seeks to prepare the good ground for an intimate relationship with the Lord. For pre-theologians the operative norm is that they are fully integrated into the Kenrick program of formation.

Some Aspects of Human Formation
The Formation Contract
In September the student submits his formation goals using the formation contract outline (Formation contract in Human Formation Section of this catalog). This is developed in consultation with the Director of Pre-Theology and is reviewed by the Dean of Students. It becomes a helpful tool of self-evaluation at the annual evaluation time.

Community Living
The entering pre-theologian faces many adjustments during his first year in a seminary. His classmates can be an immense help in this time. The Director of the program is responsible for facilitating the growth in interdependence of each man in the cohort.

Monthly Formation Conference
Each student meets individually with the Director of Pre-Theology monthly. Their conversation covers the full range of formational issues: time management, grades, family, adjustment to seminary life, rapport with spiritual director, relationships with classmates, recreation, adequate time for personal prayer, full, conscious, and active participation in the Liturgy, etc.

Communication Week
A workshop bears considerably on human formation. It is the time spent with qualified facilitators whose goal is to help students communicate most effectively with each other and with Kenrick’s staff in communal living.

Spiritual Formation
Days of Recollection
Each month the student participates in an overnight retreat. The “day" consists of: two celebrations of Eucharist; four one-hour periods of silence; an inspirational video; meals; scheduled discussions concerning such topics as students’ adjustment to seminary; and key spiritual topics—especially daily formative issues surrounding Eucharist and Prayer.

Retreats
Labor Day Weekend—The student participates in a three day retreat which has three goals: 1) to learn about prayer; 2) to listen in the evenings to each other’s vocation story and 3) to relax after the first two weeks of Seminary/University living. In January each year Pre-Theology students join the Theology students for a five-day preached retreat.

Some Other Components of Spiritual Formation

• The Sacrament of Penance is available daily.
• Quiet time for ongoing personal prayer is the order of each day.
• Pre-Theology men attend the conferences given by the Rector, the Dean of Students or the Spiritual Director.

Spiritual Direction
The student, in his quest for an authentic relationship with God, is supported and challenged by this major component of the seminary’s program. The Spiritual Director is in the role of facilitator (animator) of this sacred relationship. Each student during September has a chance to meet with approved spiritual directors and then after prayer to choose one of them as his confidant (their conversations are privileged). They meet every two or three weeks.

Devotional Practice
In addition to the times scheduled for community prayer, there is ample chance for a student to nurture his personal prayer life. Groups gather throughout the year for optional devotions. These include the Rosary, Praise and Worship Prayer Group, Eucharistic Adoration, etc. Each student signs up for a weekly period of praying before the Blessed Sacrament as part of the Seminary’s daily period of Eucharistic Exposition. Students are welcome to set aside other times for Eucharistic Adoration as the schedule allows.

Kenrick’s program seeks to create an environment wherein these many programs of formation may with the Lord’s grace truly lead to an interior transformation in the heart of each pre-theologian.