"The institution of the major seminary, as the best place for formation, is to be certainly
reaffirmed as the normal place, in the material sense as well, for a community and hierarchical
life, indeed as the proper home for the formation of candidates for the priesthood, with
superiors who are truly dedicated to this service. This institution has produced many good
results down the ages and continues to do so all over the world. The seminary can be seen as a
place and a period in life. But it is above all an educational community in progress: It is a
community established by the bishop to offer to those called by the Lord to serve as apostles
the possibility of re - living the experience of formation which our Lord provided for the
Twelve. In fact, the Gospels present a prolonged and intimate sharing of life with Jesus as a
necessary premise for the apostolic ministry." Pastores dabo vobis, 60
For centuries the Church has developed and nurtured seminaries as the proper setting for the
preparation to the priesthood and these institutions continue to be of vital importance to the
life of the Church. The decree on priestly training of the Second Vatican Council Optatam
Totius, promulgated on the 28th of October 1965 by Pope St. Paul VI, refers to the seminary
"as
the heart of the diocese". (Optatam Totius, 5). The document goes on to make a most important
statement: "The duty of fostering vocations pertains to the whole Christian community." It is
thus incumbent on all the faithful not only to grow in awareness of the indispensable role that
seminaries have in the life of the Church but to also support them, each one in whatever way
possible.
