Formation - Religious Priests

The following is a general overview of the formation process for Religious Priests. Individual communities will vary.

Formation is something we allow God to do gently, truthfully, consistently. Our formation helps us become in all our humanity an instrument united to God in order to love the world and its people.

The average length of formation is about 10 years, depending on the man's background and course of studies.

The noviceship is the first stage of formation. The novice begins to live the life of the vows in community and learns the traditions, rules and expectations of the Society. At the end of this two-year period of prayer, work and study, he pronounces perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

With these vows begin a three-year period of philosophy and theology studies. If the man has not yet received a bachelor's degree, he studies for that at this time. He may also be asked to use this time to begin graduate work in a field of specialization.

Regency is the next period of formation. The priest candidate works for two or three years in a school or other approved apostolate and lives in an apostolic community.

After regency, men begin an intensive three-year study of theology which leads to priestly ordination. This may be followed either by full-time apostolic work or specialized studies.

After completing his theological studies and some further active ministry, the candidate continues his formation of prayer, guidance and study known as tertianship. After the tertianship period he is called to final vows.

Information on this page is courtesy:
www.jesuit.org/