Configuration Stage
Kenrick School of Theology
The Configuration Stage involves more immediate preparation for Holy Orders, in which a man models his life on the witness of Jesus Christ, Shepherd and Servant. A man’s interior formation in this stage should reveal a priestly spirituality that “involves a heartfelt dedication to his ecclesiastic entity in loving obedience.” (PPF, 135). With such dedication, a man’s priestly identity should become evident and his commitment to the Church as his Bride should be manifest through the Rites of Candidacy, Acolyte, and Lector.
While a man continues to become more aware and accepting of his own gifts and shortcomings, this period of formation gives greater attention to intellectual and pastoral formation, and the ways in which these dimensions are interrelated. A seminarian begins a lifelong embrace of the study of theology during this period of formation and seeks to apply his studies in his various apostolate settings.
In becoming configured to Christ, a seminarian should exhibit sound leadership of himself and of others. Doing so gives evidence to the Church of his ability to serve as a shepherd. Additionally, his skills in liturgy, catechesis, evangelization, and service to others should become readily evident.
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By the end of the Configuration stage, the seminarian “demonstrates interior freedom, self-possession, self-motivation, direction, and the capacity for self-donation” (PPF 6, no. 198). As a man growing in configuration to Christ, the seminarian’s human foundation gives way to pastoral charity which manifests fully in the life of the community as well as in the parish.
Components of Human Formation in the Configuration Stage include:
Community Living
Formation Meetings
Counseling and Groupwork
The Formation Agreement
Fraternity Days
Jesu Caritas Groups
Formation Conferences
Leadership and Mentoring
House Jobs
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Spiritual Formation in the Configuration stage is marked by a man’s deep friendship with Christ that allows a the seminarian to receive “the identity of the priesthood— Head and Shepherd, Servant and Spouse” (PPF 6, no. 242).
Components of Spiritual Formation in the Configuration Stage include:
Spiritual Direction
Days of Recollection
Annual Silent Directed Retreat
Annual Pilgrimage
Lectio Divina
Marian Devotion
Parish Assignments
Saturday Mass
Other Devotional Practices
Men in the Configuration stage at Kenrick are also invited and encouraged to participate in an extended silent directed, the 30-Day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, during one of the Summer breaks.
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By the end of the Configuration stage, the semiarian must be able to demonstrate “a well-established habit and desire to explore the Word of God and the theological Tradition” (PPF 6, no. 292).
The integration of academic understanding is integrated into the spiritual and pastoral dimension through contemplation of the mysteries to which the seminarian’s mind attends. As a man moves throughout the configuration stage, intellectual formation moves from theory into practice.
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As the human instrument of Jesus, a seminarian in the Configuration stage demonstrates his ability to articulate, listen, and speak publicly in his preparation to take on the role of a public person in the Church (PPR 6, no. 376).
His ministry must be characterized by reliance on the Holy Spirit, deep love for the People of God, and zeal for the Kingdom which can be summed up in pastoral charity.
Features of the Pastoral dimension of the Configuration Stage include:
Sunday Parish Assignments
Youth Ministry
Pastoral Care of the Sick and Homebound
The Pastoral Internship Program
Parish Small Group Ministry
Theological Discernments
Regular consultation with the Director of Pastoral Education
Formal evaluation by the pastor-supervisor