The priest is a collaborator of the bishop, sharing the duties of Christ in developing, sanctifying, and governing the holy church. They serve the church by preaching the divine word, administering the sacraments, and shepherding God's people, in order to lead everyone to Christ.
The life in the seminary is a period of formation and discernment of vocation. The seminarians follow and imitate Christ as the apostles did.
According to Pope Benedict XVI, "The quality of clergy depends on formation." The Holy Seminary cultivates the seminarians from four aspects: personal formation, spiritual life, intellectual training, and pastoral experience.
To become a priest, you must first develop a healthy personality. Through community life and the assistance of formators, the seminarians know themselves better; community life helps to build an environment of mutual trust and communication. We practice Christ's humility and sacrificial spirit, moving towards a more mature personality.
In order to seek Christ and be united with him, the sacred liturgy has to be the source and summit of the Christian life, by approaching God through prayer life and living in the mystery of Christ’s Passover.
The seminarians have to be well-trained in philosophy and theology. They have to profoundly understand the purpose of life, the Divine Word, and the traditions of the Catholic Church. They also need to be capable of independent thinking in order to lead the faithful to reflect on issues happening in the church and society.
The seminarians imitate the love of the good shepherd, as Christ " came not to be served but to serve" (Mk 10:45). Through various pastoral experiences, such as caring for the elderly, visiting the prisoners, labor, and parish work, etc., the seminarians can acquire a better understanding and preparation for church service.
Throughout the period of formation, the pastoral training is arranged according to the individual needs of the seminarians.
Institution to the minstry of the acolyte