Pope Benedict XVI has declared a Year for Priests to mark “the importance of the priest's role and mission in the Church and in contemporary society ever more clearly perceived.” The role and mission of the priest is in large part formed in the years of study for the priesthood in seminary.
These years are spent preparing and molding young men into priests through the proper intellectual, spiritual, pastoral and human formation. The work of the seminary to prepare future priests is among the most important ministries of the Church as it ensures the proper formation of the future spiritual leaders of the people of God.
However, the education and formation of future priests does not come without a cost. The cost of higher education continues to rise and tuition for educating seminarians in the Diocese of Providence is not immune to these escalating costs. Seminary education for our future priests can last as long as eight years and includes not only academic, spiritual and pastoral formation but also human formation. This complete education is needed to help produce priests who are committed, prayerful, joyful and generous in ministering to God’s people.
This weekend parishes throughout the state will participate in a second collection to benefit the Seminarian Education Fund, a resource that benefits those men who are studying to become Catholic Priests in this Diocese. As those costs of higher education continue to rise the Seminarian Education Fund is stretched to meet the needs of the future priests in Rhode Island. We encourage all Catholics to support your seminarians with prayers but also to contribute generously to the Seminarian Education Fund. Jesus said: “Come follow me.” Many young men have answered His call and during this Year for Priests these future priests need not only your pledge of prayer but your generous support for their formation.
