This Sunday’s readings encourage us to pursue higher, spiritual goods. Jesus’ final words in our Gospel passage perfectly encapsulate this important Christian teaching: “But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:20-21).

This weekend, I am discussing seminary formation for two reasons. First, I find it to be an excellent lens through which we can explore this Sunday’s readings. Seminarians earnestly strive to conform themselves to Christ by cultivating a deep prayer life, relating well to others in community and in ministry, and working with formators to develop good life habits. We often talk about vocation as a pivot point, a point at which we decided to abandon earthly pursuits and follow Christ. Seminarian John and I, as well as our brothers, decided to enter because of a lingering discontent. “Something is missing”. Here, we can hear Saint Paul telling us to “put on the new self” (Col 3:10).

Second, you may wonder why John and I arrive, serve, and leave (and repeat). Who is sending us here and calling us back to school? In short, the seminary process looks like this:

Step 1 - Saint Paul Seminary (minor seminary) - Either 2 years of “pre-theology” (for those who have a college degree and, perhaps, work experience) or 1-4 years of college (to earn a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a preparation for theology)
Step 2 - Theology (major seminary) - Seminarians assigned to Saint Vincent Seminary (Latrobe), Saint Mary’s Seminary (Baltimore), or Theological College (Washington, D.C.) to study moral theology, Sacred Scripture, Church history, and other subjects for ministry.

Theology unfolds over 5 years:

• I (1st) theology
• II (2nd) theology
• Pastoral Year
• III (3rd) theology
• IV (4th) theology

Seminarians are ordained deacons after III theology, and priests after IV theology. The summer between I and II theology is a pre-pastoral year summer experience, intended to introduce a seminarian to a parish in anticipation of his pastoral year. Between III and IV theology, a seminarian exercises his diaconal ministry in his assigned parish.

The seminary process may seem long, but when a man takes formation seriously, he will begin to hear God’s voice more clearly and seek what is above.      - Seminarian Matt Selzer