He will be assisted by Minor Seminary rectors and a team appointed by the respective Major Superiors. In each Province, Region and Mission there is a Vocation Promoter whose special task is to seek and find out suitable candidates for the Province. The mission of promoting vocations вЂњaims at presenting the attraction of the person of the Lord Jesus and the beauty of the total gift of self for the sake of the Gospel ( Vita Consecrata, n.64). Vocation to the Vincentian Congregation is a call to proclaim the Good news to the poor (Lk.4:18) and lead them to their total liberation. So they came to him and he appointed twelve they were to be his companions and to be sent out to preachвЂќ (Mk.3:13-14). вЂњHe now went up to the hills and summoned those he wanted. This love is absolutely gratuitous, personal and unique. The call of a Christian to embrace the Consecrated Priestly life comes from God and is the manifestation of GodвЂ™s love for that person.

The formation program begins with the selection of the candidates. Since we are preparing men for religious life, our programs also emphasize formation for community life and for the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Our formation programs incorporate the pillars set forth by Saint John Paul II in Pastores dabo vobis: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation. Continued discernment is an essential part of formation, since the process gives him the tools and experience he will need in order to discern well. Formation is the process by which the one called by God prepares to lead a life as a priest in the Vincentian Congregation.

The Vincentian Congregation has its specific formation program for the candidates and ongoing program of formation for its Priests. To devote oneself to make good priests and to cooperate to this end is to fulfill the very task of Jesus ChristвЂќ ( Common Rules, nn.10-11). It is impossible to conceive anything greater or more important. Vincent says: вЂњTo make good priests is the greatest achievement in the world. For him a Priest is the means to save the souls and an instrument of Christ to continue the mission of evangelizing the poor. The moving force of Vincent de Paul in undertaking diverse ministries for the poor was his realization of the greatness of priesthood. вЂњGo, therefore, and make disciples of all nationsвЂќ (Mt 28:19). The Church continues to place the highest value on the work of priestly formation, because it is linked to the very mission of the Church, especially the evangelization of humanity. He said to them, вЂњCome after me, and I will make you fishers of men.вЂќ At once, they left their nets and followed him (cf. What was vital and essential for that first community of disciples remains so today for those engaged in priestly formation: As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea they were fishermen. Priestly formation today continues the call of Jesus, the response of his first disciples, and their communion of life. John Paul II describes seminary formation as вЂњa continuation in the Church of the apostolic community gathered about Jesus, listening to his word, proceeding towards the Easter experience, awaiting the gift of the Spirit for the missionвЂќ ( Pastores dabo Vobis, n. PRIESTLY FORMATION IN VINCENTIAN CONGREGATION

Seminary formation council