Conception
Seminary College
Conception, Missouri

Conception Seminary College
2006-2008 Catalog

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'The Work of God' - Prior's Journal

Conception Seminary
College

Philosophy of Purpose

Conception Seminary College is dedicated to the formation of young men in the qualities of intellect, spirituality and character that are appropriate for a future priest in the Roman Catholic Church. It welcomes men who, believing that they have been so called, are ready to undertake the task of learning and preparing.

Essential to Conception’s philosophy is the desire to integrate for each student the various elements of his formation in such a way to promote the religious ideals of community, generosity, and spiritual depth. Thus, every aspect of the program - whether spiritual, liturgical, academic, social, or apostolic - is directed toward the development of a Christ-like person who, when called, can accept the priesthood honestly and perform its functions with a notable degree of integrity and success.

True, not all students who choose a seminary education will one day be priests. Yet the type of learning which leads to creative and responsible ministry is no less valuable in other walks of life. By providing a solid education that is broad in outlook but structured in approach, Conception Seminary College believes it can help the seminarian not only discover whether he is being called to the priesthood, but also to develop his abilities for serving the people of God, whether as a priest or as a dedicated Catholic layman.

SOURCE OF DIRECTION

Conception Seminary College follows the Church’s directions for priestly formation as stated in the documents of the Second Vatican Council and implemented in the directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In addition, Conception’s academic program is also shaped by insights from the world of higher education.

The ideals and goals of Conception Seminary College owe much of its inspiration to the wisdom of the past. They are rooted in the Benedictine tradition and are animated, before all else, by the life, teaching and presence of Jesus Christ.

MISSION AND INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSES

The mission of Conception Seminary College is the preparation of candidates for the ordained ministry in the Roman Catholic Church through spiritual, intellectual, and character formation in the Benedictine tradition.

In order to fulfill its mission, Conception Seminary College seeks to:

provide a holistic approach to education, where academic, spiritual, and character formation programs complement one another;
respond to the needs of the Church in preparing its prospective ministers;
provide the human, financial, and learning resources essential to its formational endeavors; and
maintain a qualified faculty, a useful and supportive library, and effective administrative practices.

ACADEMIC FORMATION

The purpose of the Academic Formation Program is twofold: first to help each seminarian acquire a personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to develop the intellectual skills and curiosity that will sustain him on his lifelong faith journey; and, second, to equip him with the tools to share that knowledge in the community of faith. Acquisition of the necessary skills is evident through his development as an intellectually curious, disciplined, reflective, independent and responsible person.

The objectives of academic formation are realized when the seminarian becomes:

a person with a taste for learning and a desire for excellence
a person who respects truth: honest in discovering it and reasonable in defending it
a person with an open mind, willing to truly listen to and consider different points of view
a person who communicates ideas clearly, concisely, and responsibly
a person with a deep understanding of the rich history and beliefs of the Catholic faith.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

The purpose of the Spiritual Formation Program is to help the seminarian develop intimate companionship with Jesus Christ. The Church sees this companionship lived out in the life of the seminarian in three special places: Sacred Scripture, the Sacred Liturgy, and the needy in whom the Lord Jesus is mysteriously present.

The objectives of spiritual formation are realized when the seminarian becomes:

knowledgeable in a personal way of Jesus Christ through faithful meditation on the word of God, spiritual reading, private devotions and ascetical practices
active in living in communion with Christ by participating in the celebration of the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
a faithful servant of Christ through the exercise of pastoral charity and simplicity of life
aware of his vocation, particularly by growth in knowledge of, and appreciation for, his sexuality and the part it plays in living chaste, Christian love.

CHARACTER FORMATION

The purpose of the Character Formation Program is to assist the seminarian in developing his character and personality so that they become for others a bridge to Christ by a threefold progression of knowledge of self, acceptance of self and gift of self. In embracing his own humanity and conforming himself to the full humanity of Jesus Christ, the seminarian becomes more the person God has called him to be. In developing an integral and relational humanity, he becomes a persuasive, thoughtful, credible and generous minister in all that he says and does. Through this process he properly prepares himself for the priestly vocation and is able to offer his life in service to others.

The objectives of character formation are realized when a seminarian becomes:

a generous man of communion ready to engage with a diversity of persons
a prudent and discerning person of solid moral character
a person of affective maturity able to form mutually enriching friendships
one who exercises responsible stewardship, whether of his body, material possessions or the environment
a man of integrity comfortable in assuming a public profile and leadership roles.

Attainment of the objectives of each of these formation programs will be the principal criteria in assessing a seminarian’s success in undergraduate priestly formation and suitability for ordination to the priesthood.

According to the seminary’s philosophy and belief, the education of a man’s intellect is not enough, nor is a B.A. degree the sole measure of his worth to himself and to others.

Thus, from a religious point of view, Conception intends each graduate to be experienced in faith, persevering in prayer, committed to the practice of sound morality, aware of his own strengths and limitations and able to give himself to others.

Conception Seminary College desires its graduates to be men of the Church, ready to implement the Gospel message in constructive, apostolic-minded ways. Whether as priests, as religious, or as laymen, they should give substance to their belief that the Christian life is a call to untiring service.