Seminary Completes First Propaedeutic Stage
“It has been one of the best years of my life.” This statement from a seminarian completing the propaedeutic stage encapsulates the joy experienced by many at Conception this past year. We have worked hard to create a program that addresses the Church’s needs while also remaining attuned to each seminarian’s journey. By blending the Program of Priestly Formation (PPF) vision with our proven approach to formation, we have laid a strong foundation for the future. Witnessing each participant’s growth during this journey of self-discovery and faith has been incredibly rewarding.
The propaedeutic stage focuses on essential areas of human formation: individual development, Christian anthropology, spiritual literacy, discernment, and healthy habits. We also emphasize friendship and community engagement, fostering a well-rounded foundation for personal and communal growth. The depth of reflection and engagement throughout the year has been inspiring, with participants embracing their vulnerabilities and emerging stronger. To showcase this growth, highlighting a few areas is valuable.
This year’s small group sessions have fostered vulnerability and honesty. Seminarians find immense value in these gatherings, offering and receiving peer support in a safe environment. The connections have catalyzed personal growth and helped develop essential interpersonal skills for future ministries, creating an uplifting atmosphere.
Our formation conferences have enriched the experience, covering diverse topics like mental health, emotional maturity, and collaborative ministry. Seminarians leave these sessions inspired and equipped with insights that shape their understanding of faith and community roles.
Additionally, our poverty immersion experience, partnering with organizations like the Franciscan Sisters and The Shalom House, has deepened their awareness of the realities faced by the marginalized, igniting a passion for advocacy and justice.
Reflecting on this transformative year, we are grateful for the progress made. The foundation we have built will springboard continued growth, paving the way for more meaningful experiences in the future.
The propaedeutic seminarians sing together at seminarian social event in the Alumni Union.
To conclude the propaedeutic year, the seminarians embarked on an unforgettable wilderness trip with COR Expeditions in the Wind River Mountain range (pictured above), designed to promote adventure, teamwork, and personal growth. Nestled in nature, participants faced challenges that pushed them out of their comfort zones while fostering deep connections with God and one another.
We chose COR Expeditions because of their passion for spiritual encounters through wilderness experiences. Every significant biblical figure and many saints found renewal in nature, making it a perfect backdrop for self-discovery and growth. By stepping away from the distractions of the summer, the seminarians could reform their connections to themselves, their classmates, and their faith.
Throughout the trip, high-adventure activities encouraged personal resilience and teamwork and led to some profound spiritual transformations. Seminarians also learned to embrace the unknown, grapple with uncertainty in a supportive environment, and come out on top.
As the wilderness adventure ended, each seminarian returned with a deeper understanding of themselves and their mission, especially with leadership, identity as beloved sons, their capacity to endure, and an experience of nature and adventure, ready to carry their experiences back into the discipleship stage. It was a powerful conclusion to the propaedeutic stage that will hopefully resonate for years.
— Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB
Propaedeutic Formator
