The Discipleship Stage at St. Joseph's Seminary
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Forming Disciples. Cultivating Virtue. Building Foundations.
“He called them, and they left everything and followed Him.” — Luke 5:11
The Discipleship Stage is the second phase of initial priestly formation, following the Propaedeutic Stage. At Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, this stage is realized through the two-year program, deeply rooted in Catholic orthodoxy, the Thomistic intellectual tradition, and a personal, prayerful discernment of the priestly vocation.
Following the vision of the Church as set forth in the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (2016) and the Program of Priestly Formation (6th ed.), the seminarian in this stage learns to live as an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ.
“The seminarian is called to be a disciple, that is, one who has fallen in love with the Master, listens to him, follows him, shares his life and his destiny.”
— Ratio Fundamentalis, §59 -
A Clear Purpose: Vocational Permanence
At the heart of the Discipleship Stage is a sacred question: Is the Lord truly calling me to the priesthood of Jesus Christ?
This stage offers the necessary spiritual, intellectual, human, and pastoral support to help a man answer this question with freedom, clarity, and joy.
“The goal is to ensure that the seminarian develops a greater awareness of his vocational identity... so that he may arrive at the capacity to make a definitive choice.” — Ratio Fundamentalis, §61
By the end of the Discipleship Stage, the seminarian should be prepared to enter the Configuration Stage with a well-founded presumption of permanence in his priestly call. -
The Four Stages of Discipleship Formation
I. Human Formation
Strengthening the Man Who Will Be the Priest
Formation at Dunwoodie begins with the conviction that grace builds on nature. Human formation in the Discipleship Stage fosters affective maturity and moral integrity through the cultivation of the four cardinal virtues:- Prudence — discerning God’s will with sound judgment
- Justice — fulfilling responsibilities in right relationship with others
- Temperance — moderating desires in the freedom of self-mastery
- Fortitude — persevering in trials with Christian courage
Each seminarian receives individualized support from the Seminary Rector, his spiritual director, formation advisor, and the Coordinator of the Discipleship Stage. Weekly formation conferences focus on topics such as discernment, friendship, chastity, and asceticism. Psychological counseling is available when needed. -
II. Spiritual Formation
A Life Rooted in Prayer and Sacrament
Spiritual formation is the heart of priestly formation. Seminarians grow in intimacy with Christ through:- Daily Mass and communal Liturgy of the Hours, both with the larger seminary community and as a Discipleship cohort.
- Formation advising every three weeks and bi-weekly spiritual direction
- Eucharistic Adoration, Marian devotions, and silent prayer
- Annual retreats and seasonal days of recollection
- A personal horarium lived in community
The spiritual life of the Discipleship Stage nourishes a deepening freedom and discernment, as the seminarian seeks to conform his heart to that of the Good Shepherd. -
III. Intellectual Formation
Philosophy as the Handmaid of Theology
The academic core of this stage is the Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies (MACPS). This graduate-level program provides a rigorous education in the Catholic philosophical tradition and satisfies the Church’s requirements for philosophical formation prior to theological studies.
Areas of study include:- History of ancient, medieval, and modern philosophy
- Metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, and philosophical anthropology
- Thomistic thought and the synthesis of faith and reason
- Ecclesiastical Latin, Biblical Greek, and pastoral Spanish
“Philosophical doctrine... is brought into the service of sacred doctrine, not that sacred doctrine depends upon it, but to make sacred doctrine more intelligible.” — Summa Theologiae I, q. 1, a. 5, ad 2
The Ratio Fundamentalis affirms that philosophical formation enables seminarians “to allow them to proclaim the Gospel message to the people of our own day in a way that is credible and can be understood” (Ratio, §116). -
IV. Pastoral Formation
A Heart Formed for the Church’s Mission
The Discipleship Stage includes structured apostolic experiences designed to foster the seminarian’s pastoral identity and readiness to serve God’s people with humility and zeal.
“Pastoral knowledge and pastoral charity are meaningless if they are not accompanied by pastoral charity. To aid in the development of pastoral charity, it is necessary for the seminarian to demonstrate by the end of the discipleship stage a commitment to apostolic works of Christian charity and an awareness of issues surrounding global poverty.” (PPF 375).
Through direct experiences in parishes, schools, hospitals, and local communities, the seminarian begins to take on the mind and heart of Christ the Servant. -
Highlights of the Program
Why Choose the Discipleship Stage at Dunwoodie?
At Saint Joseph’s Seminary, the Discipleship Stage offers a distinctive blend of:1. Fidelity to the Magisterium
2. Thomistic philosophical rigor
3. Personalized priestly formation
4. Experienced and engaged formators
5. A deep rhythm of prayer, study, and fraternity
This is where men fall in love with Christ, embrace virtue, and prepare to proclaim the Gospel with joy.
For more information, contact:
Fr. John P. Cush, S.T.D.
Coordinator of the Discipleship Stage
[email protected]
(631) 546-7351 -
Saint Joseph’s Seminary, DunwoodieWhere Christ calls men to follow Him as faithful disciples, formed in heart, mind, and soul.
Seminarian Handbook and Rule of Life: Discipleship and Configuration Stages, 2024-2025
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