Propaedeutic Stage

Kenrick School of Theology

The Propaedeutic Stage is a one-year program focused on human and spiritual foundations for priestly formation. It establishes the seminary as a school of healing alongside the man’s learning. The program is truly distinctive, without being separate from the rest of the community for the sake of sharing in the resources of the Seminary (for example, spiritual directors, counselors, teachers, ministerial relationships).

The Propaedeutic Stage will help a man grow in:

• self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-possession, as a preparation for self-gift in later stages of formation

• deeper intimacy with the Holy Trinity

• self-revelation to others and to God

• vulnerability and transparency.

This growth will help show whether the man is ready for the discipleship stage, and provide foundations on which the discipleship stage will build.  

Some key highlights of the propaedeutic program are:

• Human: the technology fast, the Healing the Whole Person Retreat (alongside individual and group counseling)

• Spiritual: formation in relational prayer (through the “prayer experience” class); more time for silence and prayer

• Intellectual: mini-courses – in a contemplative learning style – on Salvation History, the Gospels, the Catechism, and Catholic culture (literature, music, theater, art, etc.)

• Pastoral: a 3-week Poverty Immersion, weekly work with the poor and vulnerable (nursing homes, L’Arche, etc.) 

In the end, the propaedeutic program is only meant to provide space and time for God to act on a man’s good will. God does the work; the program helps the man to let God into all the details of his life and history.