Intellectual Formation

An essential area of formation for those to be ordained to priestly ministry is academic, professional training. Serving the People of God in a complex world requires an approach to theology and its disciplines that is grounded in history and, at the same time, sensitive to current pastoral needs.

The theological skills necessary in our Church are many and varied. According to the Program of Priestly Formation (5th edition), “intellectual formation culminates in a deepened understanding of the mysteries of faith that is pastorally oriented toward effective priestly ministry, especially preaching.”

Today’s priests need to know and be conversant in the sources of the tradition. A critical knowledge of Catholic teaching and tradition is the foundation upon which all theological study and pastoral ministry are based.

In addition, priests must be able to relate the intellectual heritage of Catholic teaching and tradition to the concrete situations of the people they are serving. This requires that seminarians study systematic theology to grasp the meaning of faith, dogmatic theology to connect with the tradition’s theological sources, and moral theology to wrestle with the complexities of conscience formation and decision-making.

Priests represent the Church Universal to the particular communities they are called to serve. Thus, they must be effective preachers and teachers, understand the laws and regulations that bind the community together, be skilled in the various techniques and theories of pastoral care and counseling, possess an understanding of leadership theory and practice, and be sensitive to the catechetical concerns present in their communities.

The academic degree programs at Saint Meinrad School of Theology encourage academic excellence, intellectual integrity and personal appropriation of the insights of theology. The curriculum of each of its programs builds systematically; thus, seminarians develop a well-grounded understanding of the disciplines of theology, while linking their classroom study with their personal experience of ministry.