The first years of formation

By Thomas Piro

I cannot believe that I am finishing my fourth year of seminary! I still remember moving in on Aug. 22 to Saint Andrew’s Hall and thinking, “Let’s see how this goes.” Well, it came and went quicker than I thought it would.

At the end of every year, the seminary faculty asks each man to write a self-evaluation. This evaluation calls me to reflect on how I have grown this past year and find areas in need of improvement. For seniors, there is a special set of questions. These questions make us reflect on how we have grown as a person and our understanding of priestly life and ministry.

While praying over them, I learned the importance of prayer in priestly formation. If a seminarian ignores his prayer life or places it at the bottom of his “To Do” list for the day, his drive to be a priest and servant of the Church will be snuffed. He will not be as receptive to God’s grace moving within him to touch the hearts of those he will encounter in ministry. He will not hear the voice of the Lord in his heart. If he does not hear the Lord’s voice, he cannot respond to his vocation or calling. I can only imagine how much more important the prayer life of a priest must be.

Throughout my formation, I have been able to recognize my strengths and weaknesses. This is essential since it prepares us for our future lives as spiritual Fathers and dispensers of God’s grace through the sacraments.

Although I have had four years of formation, developed a healthy prayer life, and grown as an individual, I still have at least another four years of formation left. After four years of the college seminary, I will be moving onto the major seminary. The major seminary is where a candidate for the priesthood develops a more practical approach to formation.

In the college seminary, there is a heavy focus on being a disciple, learning more about yourself, developing a spiritual life, and receiving the essential theological and philosophical classes. The major seminary, which continues this formation, takes a much more practical approach to priestly training. Seminarians practice celebrating the sacraments and preaching, and take theology classes.

To use the words of one of my formation group leaders, “The priesthood becomes more real.” While in the major seminary, I will be wearing a Roman collar to class and will receive assignments during my summer breaks. There is a greater commitment to being a major seminarian.

I look forward to my next four years, and I appreciate the formation that I have received at Saint Andrew’s Hall. This August, I will move into a new house of formation. I am sure that these next four years will come and go just as my four years of the college seminary have, but I know that these next four years will help me configure my life to the Lord and His cross.

I ask that you continue to pray for my classmates and me as we begin this new stage in our lives, and please pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood.

Thomas Piro attends The College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Andrew’s Hall, Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.