Formacja ludzka fundamentem integralnej formacji przyszłych kapłanów

Abstract

It is not easy for priests to carry out their pastoral ministry today. The challenges of our times are many and varied. These include, among other, the following: secularisation, religious indifference, moral relativism, individualism, hedonism, delicate ethical questions surrounding the beginning and end of life, problems posed by scientifc progress, inter-religious dialogue, and complex socio-political situations. When faced with these challenges, many priests are unable to deal with them and experience a crisis of various kinds, in their life, resulting oftentimes in the dramatic decision to leave the priesthood. Experience shows that there is a pressing need for an adequate human formation for future priests, not only for the fruitful outcome of their pastoral ministry, but also in order that they can overcome various diffculties and crises in their lives. A formation of this kind must be integral, comprising four dimensions: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. The human dimension must be the foundation upon which the entire process of formation is built. By means of human formation, the formators must instil human virtues in the seminarians, educating them about the celibate life, forming them for obedience and the responsible use of freedom, moulding their moral conscience, their emotional maturity, the capacity to have mature contact with men and women and preparing them for the responsible use of social communications. A solid and complete human formation allows for the formation of missionary disciples “in love” with the Master, Pastors who “have the odour of the fock” and who want to live among them to serve them and to bring to them the mercy of God.