PRIESTLY FORMATION NOT TRAINING

Ị work in the vocations office in my Religious Institute and I often come across applications from young men expressing their desire to “be trained as priests.” Today, one such letter crossed my desk, and it made me smile. While I understand what the applicant meant, there is a significant distinction to be made. In the seminary, we do not “train” to become priests; rather, we are formed. This is not just a matter of semantics – it is about the heart of what it means to become a priest.

The difference is profound. Training implies a set of skills or tasks to be mastered, often with a measurable end result. You can be trained to perform a task or follow a procedure, but formation is a much deeper, more transformative process. Training tells you what to do; formation shapes who you are. In the seminary, or house of formation as we call it, we do not just focus on teaching seminarians how to celebrate the sacraments, preach homilies, or lead parish activities. While these are important, the goal of formation is to develop an identity that is rooted in Christ, transforming each man into an image of Christ the Good Shepherd, capable of giving his life entirely to God and to His people.

Formation is about molding hearts and minds. It involves deep spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral growth. The focus is not just on acquiring knowledge or honing skills; it is on cultivating virtues, embracing a life of prayer, and developing a heart like Christ’s. Priestly formation requires surrender and openness to God’s will, allowing Him to shape each candidate in His likeness. Unlike training, which has an end date, formation is ongoing. Even after ordination, priests continue this journey of growth, forever being formed by their life experiences and their relationship with God.

For example, learning to empathize with those who suffer or discern how best to guide others on their spiritual journeys - these are things that cannot simply be “taught.” They require experiences, personal reflection, and often difficult inner work. The purpose of the formation process is to deepen the seminarian’s relationship with God, foster compassion, and develop an awareness of others’ needs. It is about being fully immersed in community life, learning from others, and being accountable to them. To put it simply, training prepares you for tasks; formation prepares you for life.

As St. John Paul II emphasized in his apostolic exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis (I Will Give You Shepherds), true formation leads to “a configuration to Christ, the Head and Shepherd.” The focus is on allowing God’s grace to transform the whole person, making him capable of leading and loving with Christ’s heart. This process is slow, challenging, and sometimes painful, as it involves deep personal transformation. But this transformation is essential because a priest is not only a “doer” of tasks; he is an instrument of God’s presence.

Understanding this distinction makes all the difference for those discerning priesthood. The seminary is a sacred place where one’s heart, mind, and soul are slowly conformed to Christ’s own. Through prayer, study, community life, and pastoral work, each seminarian is shaped by God’s hands, readying him not just to “do,” but to “be” for others.

Every priest you meet is a product of long years of formation and that formation never comes to an end.

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch