The Redemptor Hominis Center for Holistic Health

"The basic principle of human formation is found in Pastores Dabo Vobis: the human personality of the priest is to be a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the human race. As the humanity of the Word made flesh was the instrumentum salutis, so the humanity of the priest is instrumental in mediating the redemptive gifts of Christ to people today." (PPF §182)

The Redemptor Hominis Center for Holistic Health (RHC) is a grant-supported initiative to strengthen St. Joseph’s Seminary’s ability to prepare and support priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers as envisioned by the Seminary’s 2030 Strategic Plan. The goals of the center are to improve:

1. Seminarian wellness holistically (mental, physical, and spiritual) through Individualized Wellness Plans (IWP's) formulated with the help of the Director of the Center. These plans are intended to address proactively each seminarian's health needs across multiple domains. The Center seeks to help seminarians thrive both in the seminary and as future priests.

2. New priest satisfaction and success through workshops during Formation Days and by fostering fraternity groups. The Center seeks to help priests who have graduated from Dunwoodie and have been ordained less than 5 years.

3. Deacon and lay leader ability to meet parishioner needs through periodic workshops and conferences. The grant also provides funding for a new Master of Arts elective course on personal wellness, leadership, and ministry sustainability. This course will be available in future years of the grant.

The Redemptor Hominis Center blends Thomistic anthropology with modern medical science so that the ordained and lay ministers of the Church may be “apt instruments” for bringing the salvation offered by Christ to the world. (cf PPF §183)