TRAINING PROGRAM – MAJOR SEMINAR (6 YEARS) 

Propedeutic Year (optional but highly recommended) 

• Objectives: vocational discernment, introduction to spiritual and community life.
• Contents:
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Introduction to prayer, Lectio Divina
  • History of personal vocation
  • Foundations of community and affective life
  • Initiatioin to study (basic Latin, methodology, logic)
  • Charitable and apostolic services 
    

Objectives:

• Initial vocational discernment  
  
• Transition to community life and seminary rhythms 
  
• Introduction to personal and liturgical prayer  
  

Human formation:

• Education in freedom and personal responsibility 
  
• Development of self-awareness and emotional maturity 

Spiritual formation:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (summary) 
  
• Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours 
  
• Ignatian Spiritual Exercises 
  
• Lectio Divina

Intellectual training:

• Logic and study methods  
  
• Elements of ecclesiastical Latin 
  
• Introduction to Sacred Scripture 
  
• History of salvation
  

Pastoral training:

• Service to the poor and sick  
  
• Animation in the parish or youth center  
  
• Witness of Christian life

PHILOSOPHICAL CYCLE (1st–2nd–3rd year)

General objective: to provide solid intellectual and anthropological foundations.

Degree type: Bachelor of Sacred Theology (abbreviated STB)

Optional double degree: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophical Studies ✠ (with 36 credits in General Education)*

Credits: 120 SCH (Semester Credit Hours)

1st Year – Foundations:

• Philosophy: History of ancient philosophy (presocratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)
• Logic and methodology of study
• Philosophical anthropology
• Latin I 
• Biblical Greek I
  
• Modern language (e.g. Spanish, French or Italian)
  
• Introduction to Sacred Scripture

Spiritual training: 

• Monthly retreat (or Monthly Online Meeting)
• Study and practice of personal prayer
• Spiritual life: Ignatian spiritual exercises, personal spiritual direction

Pastoral:

• Parish catechesis
• Introduction to youth pastoral care
• Participation in parish liturgical life

2nd Year – Philosophical Insights

• History of medieval and scholastic philosophy
• Philosophy: Metaphysics, philosophical anthropology, ethics
• History of modern philosophy
  
• Psychology and sociology
• General and developmental psychology
• Ancient languages: Latin II
• Ancient languages: Biblical Greek II
• Theory of Knowledge

Spirituality: 

• Short Ignatian Retreat
• ​Continuous reading, monthly retreat (or Monthly Online Meeting)
• Deepening of sacramental life

Pastoral care:

• Catechesis workshop for young people
• Assistance to the sick, youth groups (Service in hospitals or reception centers or alternative activities)

3rd Year – Synthesis and Transition

• History of contemporary philosophy 
  
• Epistemology, Aesthetics, Political Philosophy
  
• Elements of Natural Theology
• Ethics and bioethics
• Religious sociology
• Introduction to Theology
• Philosophy of religion

Spiritual: 

• Monthly retreat – deeper vocational discernment (or Monthly Online Meeting)
• Initiation to Ignatian spiritual discernment

Pastoral:

• Summer Apostolic Experience (parishes, disadvantaged parishes, mission, social camps or alternative activities)
• Support in charitable activities

End of cycle: 

• Final philosophy exam *
• Drafting of personal synthesis.

* If during the philosophical program, students have also completed 36 credits in general education, at the end of the cycle, they can also receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophical Studies ✠

THEOLOGICAL CYCLE (4th–5th–6th year)

General objective: theological, spiritual, and pastoral preparation for the priesthood.

4th Year – Foundations of Theology

Intellectual:

• Fundamental Theology
• Introduction to the Old Testament
• Introduction to the New Testament
• Sacred Scripture: Pentateuch and Synoptics
• Introduction to Liturgy
• Liturgy I (foundations)
• Patrology
• History of the Church I (Ancient Age)
• Hebrew language or advanced ancient Greek

Spiritual: 

• Monthly retreat (or Monthly Online Meeting) + spiritual exercises
• Intensified spiritual direction

Pastoral:

• Pastoral: liturgical animation
• Catechesis for adults
• Vocational milestone: admission among the candidates for holy orders.

5th Year – Ministry

Intellectual:

• Christology
• Trinity
• Ecclesiology
• Fundamental Moral Theology 
• Sacramental Studies I (Christian Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
• History of the Church II (medieval and modern age)

Spiritual: 

• Study of the writings of the Saints and Doctors of the Church
• Priestly Spirituality

Pastoral:

• Intensive Pastoral Internship (e.g. parishes during weekends, prisons)
• Pastoral care of charity  
  
• Ministries: Lectorship

6th Year – Summary and preparation for ministry

Intellectual:

• Special moral theology
• Eschatology
• Sacramentology II (marriage, penance, anointing, ordination)
  
• Canon law  
  
• Integrated pastoral theology
• Homiletics and the art of preaching
• History of the Church III (contemporary)

Spiritual:

• Deepening of liturgical and personal prayer
• Preparation directly for the sacred Order (Ordo Sacra)

Pastoral:

• Ongoing pastoral internship with responsibilities
• Supervision with a tutor
• Ministries: Acolyte
• End of cycle: Theological thesis – Final theology exam
  

• Ordinations: Diaconate at the end, subsequent presbyterate (read more details on the Holy Order page)

At the end of the cycle, students will receive a Master's degree in Sacred Theology (STM)

Cross-cutting elements

• Daily spiritual life: Mass, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, adoration, spiritual direction
• Human training: psychological support, emotional education, emotion management
• Community formation: fraternal life, shared responsibilities
• Pastoral formation: ongoing immersion and review with expert tutors

Human training:

• Psychological consultations (if necessary) 
  
• Courses on affectivity, celibacy, relationships 
  
• Education on teamwork and leadership 

Community formation:

• Brotherly life in the seminary 
  
• Responsibilities  
  
• Fraternal correction, community dialogue

Spiritual formation:

• Regular spiritual direction 
  
• Daily celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours 
  
• Annual spiritual exercises 
  
• Monthly retreat 
  
• Ongoing vocational accompaniment 

(in accordance with standards of Catholic seminaries)