FORMATION PROGRAMS

INTELLECTUAL FORMATION

The Seminary offers some liberal programs courses through EPUC aimed at objective and subjective intellectual growth and a personal understanding of people and the world in various disciplines. The Academic Program is intended to prepare each seminarian for future specialization, particularly in theology and sacred music. To achieve these goals, the curriculum:

  1. Provides an opportunity to gain insights appropriate to the initial stages of leadership formation.
  2. Allows each seminarian to have the experience of integrating various methods of intellectual inquiry, while making a vocational commitment with discernment and reasonable certitude.
  3. Provides an opportunity to study subjects chosen on the basis of the seminarian’s particular vocation preparation.
  4. Helps create an awareness of the contemporary world in which God’s saving presence is at work.

 

HUMAN FORMATION—Deuteronomy 23:14

In order that the student’s ministry may be as humanely credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the Christian ministry leader should mould his/her human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humanity (Pastores Dabo Vobis, §43).

The mandatory co-curricular activities are ordered in such a way that the seminarian learns to be well-oriented to truth, respectful of every person, compassionate and just, physical well-being and exercise, good nutrition, hygienic and healthy emotional life, and balanced in judgment and behaviour. DIAKONIA (ministry of love) by daily cleaning offered on the campus before morning devotion is seen as an honour and blessing. You do it with joy as unto the Lord and not humans. The Formation Spirit springs from the Human Virtues (Gal 5:22–23), which “make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life” which “disposes Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity”.

 

SPIRITUAL FORMATION-ACTS 17:28; ROM 8:5-14

The Spiritual Formation Program is an essential part of the overall formation program of this Seminary. Its purpose is to invite the seminarian to identify and establish attitudes, habits, and practices linking him/her to God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that will benefit his/her preparation for Christian leadership and will continue to do so after ordination/consecration. There are compulsory daily moral instructions, Morning devotions, Evening and Dawn Prayers, the Liturgy of Divine & Communion Services, and prescribed Fasting Days in addition to personal ones.

 

PASTORAL FORMATION

Pastoral Formation is an integral part of the overall Seminary life. The fundamental purpose of this activity is to enable each seminarian to experience a supervised ministry setting and to develop a habit of Diaconia (the Ministry of Love) to understand pastoral (shepherding) situations and to articulate pastoral/leadership practice. Each seminarian is required to fulfil his pastoral responsibilities weekly in an approved placement. The relationship of the seminarian with his supervisor is professional and mentorship in scope and is a vital force for learning and serving.