New beginnings in the world of clergy formation

Father Tom Hoar, SSE, is the Director of Vocations and Clergy Formation for the Diocese of Albany.

As we begin the new academic year, I am happy to report that there are 20 men in formation for the Diocese of Albany, preparing to serve the Church as priests and deacons.

There has been a lot going on in formation for the men who are preparing to serve the Diocese of Albany as priests and deacons. Hopefully you saw the article by Tom Fallati about the experience that six of our seminarians had this summer in Selma, Ala., at the Edmundite Southern Missions (June 22-29 Evangelist and see story below). We also had two of the seminarians spend time at the City Mission in Schenectady and one of the men went to an intensive language program for seminarians at the seminary in Mexico City. Two of our men who are finishing their undergraduate degrees and preparing for their theological studies next year spent the summer doing internships with Catholic Charities.

This summer we closed the House of Formation at 93 Eagle St., in Albany and opened a new House of Formation at the former rectory of Holy Trinity Parish in Cohoes. The Bishop has appointed Father Sam Bellafiore as the rector of the St. Isaac Jogues House of Formation; currently there are two seminarians in residence finishing their studies at Maria College. 

The three men who were ordained deacons in May spent the summer in pastoral settings where they were guided by pastors who helped them make the transition from students to ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament. They have returned for their fourth year of theological studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, St. Mary’s of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill., and St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif. Two men are assigned to parishes for pastoral experiences and will be ordained deacons this November.

This fall we have begun new relationships with St. Francis De Sales Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisc., and St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif. Five of our men are at St. Patrick’s and three are studying at St. Francis De Sales. We have made this move because of their strong human formation programs. It has become abundantly clear that human formation must be given more attention in the formation process. It is the foundation upon which the spiritual life is built and provides the stability for the development of the intellectual studies that will lead to the integration of the various aspects of formation and then is lived out in pastoral service to the People of God.

Our diaconate formation program will be following the same four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. Our deacon candidates will be pursuing a Master of Divinity degree through St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. We have five men entering the aspirant phase of diaconate formation. This would be equivalent to the propaedeutic year for seminarians; this phase of formation is for discernment and the development of a deeper spiritual life. The wives of these men will journey with them and also discern with their husbands if this is what they are being called to do. The role of the deacon requires a commitment not only of the man discerning his call, but it is also a commitment that the wife and family must also discern their role in this call. We have two deacon candidates who have gone through the process of discernment and are pursuing their studies at St. Bernard’s.

I will be writing again soon to share with you the work of the Clergy Formation Advisory Board, which Bishop Scharfenberger recently established. It is the Bishop’s intention to listen to the experience and wisdom from a wide and diverse group of folks from the Diocese to help prepare our men for ordained ministry for the Church.

Also ask a prayerful man or woman: “Has he or she ever considered a life of service in the Church as a priest, deacon or religious?” Please pray for all those in the various stages of formation and those who walk with them on their journey of formation.

Father Tom Hoar, SSE, is the Director of Vocations and Clergy Formation for the Diocese of Albany.