The Propaedeutic Stage at St. Joseph's Seminary

The Propaedeutic Stage

St. Joseph’s Seminary & College in Yonkers, New York, offers a dedicated Propaedeutic Year Program designed to provide men discerning a priestly vocation with the foundational formation necessary to enter priestly formation. This program emphasizes integrative growth in the four dimensions of formation: Human, Spiritual, Intellectual, and Pastoral. It aligns with the directives of the Program of Priestly Formation (PPF) Sixth Edition (2022), the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (2016), and the teachings of our pontiffs.

Human Formation

The human dimension focuses on nurturing self-awareness and personal growth. As stated in the Ratio Fundamentalis, “The propaedeutic stage is an indispensable phase of formation with its own specific character. Its principal objective is to provide a solid basis for the spiritual life and to nurture a greater self-awareness for personal growth” (Ratio Fundamentalis, no. 59). This stage enables seminarians to reflect upon their personal history, including family of origin, use of technology, and personal habits, to identify areas for growth (PPF, §191).
At St. Joseph’s Seminary, this dimension is fostered through:

• Media fasts and formation seminars
• Individual Formation meetings ensuring a holistic approach to personal growth that aligns with the seminarian’s vocational discernment journey
• Community meetings and common work
• Exercise and sports activities
• Fraternity and communal living experiences

These practices aim to develop relational skills, self-discipline, and healthy habits of self-care, preparing seminarians for the challenges of priestly life.

Spiritual Formation

Spiritual formation aims to lead seminarians into a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and the sacramental life. The Ratio Fundamentalis emphasizes that this stage should provide a solid basis for a spiritual life, guiding seminarians to prayer through the sacramental life, the Liturgy of the Hours, familiarity with the Word of God, silence, mental prayer, and spiritual reading (Ratio Fundamentalis, no. 59).
At St. Joseph’s Seminary, spiritual formation includes:

• Daily Mass and Lectio Divina
• Spiritual direction and accompaniment
• Retreats and days of recollection
• Pilgrimages and vocational discernment activities

These practices aim to cultivate a deeper relationship with Christ and to discern God's call in the life of each seminarian.

Intellectual Formation

Intellectual formation in the propaedeutic stage provides seminarians with an initial and overall familiarity with Christian doctrine. According to the PPF, this stage is an ideal opportunity to acquire an initial and overall familiarity with Christian doctrine by studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church (PPF, §268). Additionally, seminarians should obtain an introductory knowledge of the Bible that equips them to thoughtfully read and pray with Sacred Scripture (PPF, §268).
At St. Joseph’s Seminary, intellectual formation includes:

• Engagement with Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Study of church history and the lives of the saints
• Introduction to Christian art and literature
• Language study (Spanish or ESL)

These courses aim to develop good habits of study, intellectual curiosity, and a love of learning, preparing seminarians for the academic challenges of future stages of formation.

Pastoral Formation

Pastoral formation in the propaedeutic stage focuses on developing the dynamic of self-giving through experiences in the parish setting and charitable works. The PPF states that seminarians should develop the dynamic of self-giving through experiences in the parish setting and charitable works (PPF, §373). This stage also emphasizes the importance of intercultural competency, including beginning to learn a new language to meet the pastoral needs of the diocese (PPF, §268).
At St. Joseph’s Seminary, pastoral formation includes:

• Regular apostolic work and reflection
• Diocesan immersion experiences
• Engagement with the poor and marginalized
• Development of a habit of self-donation and spirit of generosity

These experiences aim to foster a spirit of generosity and a developing habit of self-donation, preparing seminarians for the pastoral challenges of priestly ministry.

Conclusion

The Propaedeutic Stage at St. Joseph’s Seminary & College provides a comprehensive foundation for seminarians, integrating human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation. This stage aligns with the directives of the Program of Priestly Formation Sixth Edition, the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, and the teachings of recent pontiffs, preparing seminarians for the subsequent stages of priestly formation. 

The Seminarian Handbook and Rule of Life: Propaedeutic Stage, 2024-2025

For more information, or to begin the application process, please contact: 
Fr. Joseph Holcomb, L.M.S.W., M.Div.
Director of the Propaedeutic Stage
[email protected]