At Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, first-year seminarians will experience a new formation program that emphasizes prayer and reducing screen time. This change is part of the sixth edition of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Program of Priestly Formation (PPF), which mandates a “propaedeutic” year for first-year seminarians nationwide.
The propaedeutic year at Sacred Heart Major Seminary is designed to help men entering seminary focus on personal and spiritual growth rather than academic work. The goal is to help students adjust to growing in human and spiritual formation by developing a sense of collegiality among peers and forming a strong spiritual life rooted in prayer.
Fr. Stephen Pullis, director of graduate pastoral formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, explained that the propaedeutic year will involve limited screen and device time and more focus on building a community among the seminarians. The aim is for students to discern their vocation while disconnecting from the busyness of the outside world.
The changes in the seminary program were influenced by recommendations from the Holy See, highlighting the importance of forming priests who are centered in prayer. Fr. Pullis emphasized that the adjustment from a technology-driven lifestyle to one focused on prayer can be challenging for new seminarians. However, the propaedeutic year at Sacred Heart Major Seminary has received positive feedback from students who appreciate the opportunity to unplug from technology and strengthen their relationships with their peers and community.
In conclusion, this new formation program at Sacred Heart Major Seminary aims to provide first-year seminarians with an opportunity to focus on personal and spiritual growth while disconnecting from technology. Through this program, students can develop strong relationships with their peers and form a spiritual life rooted in prayer, ultimately leading them closer to fulfilling their vocation as priests.
