Married Life

Religious Life

The Diaconate

Seminary life

Understanding Formation

The new Program for Priestly Formation in the U.S. was promulgated by the Vatican on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 24, 2022, and is currently being implemented in seminaries around the country. “While the 5th edition of the Program of Priestly Formation spoke of college seminary, pre-theology, and major seminary, the 6th edition, following the Ratio Fundamentalis, speaks of stages.” Beginning with the 2023-24 school year we will be using the following terms:

Propaedeutic Stage

The Propaedeutic Stage. This is a new stage of formation that is meant as an introduction to seminary life and an opportunity to go deeper in discerning the call to priesthood. While the new seminarian will take classes the focus is more on the human and spiritual dimensions, leaving ample time for prayer, spiritual direction, and growth in self-knowledge. Thus “the Propaedeutic Stage is an indispensable phase of formation with its own specific character” (Ratio, no. 59) This stage allows the seminarian to lay a foundation for a new way of life through prayer, study, fraternity, and appropriate docility to formation."

(Quotes from the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

Discipleship Stage

The Discipleship Stage. This stage involves philosophy studies and replaces the use of terms like College I, II, III, and IV or Pre-Theology I and II for those already with a college degree, to follow the progression of a seminarian's philosophy studies. This period of formation is now called the Discipleship Stage "which must not last less than two years, there is a systematic and rigorous formation that has at its core the goal of growing in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the life of meditation, contemplation, philosophical study, and the training of one’s character in Christian virtue." Upon completion of the Discipleship Stage, a seminarian’s focus shifts from discerning a call to priesthood to being formed for priesthood.

(Quotes from the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

Configuration Stage

The Configuration Stage. This stage in a seminarian's formation consists of theology studies (historically referred to as Theology I, II, III, IV). "In the Configuration Stage, the seminarian models his life on the self-donation of Jesus Christ, Shepherd and Servant, as he prepares more immediately for Holy Orders. “This configuration demands that the seminarian enter profoundly into the contemplation of the person of Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of the Father, sent as Shepherd of the People of God. It will make the relationship with Christ more intimate and personal and, at the same time, will lead to an awareness and an assumption of priestly identity” (Ratio Fundamentalis, no. 88). Reception of Candidacy, and conferral of the ministries of lector and acolyte occurs during this stage, marking the progressive deepening of this self configuration to Christ both liturgically and in catechesis, evangelization, and active service to the poor." Upon completion of this stage, a seminarian petitions for Orders and is ordained a Deacon.

(Quotes from the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

Vocational Synthesis Stage

The Vocational Synthesis Stage. This new stage of formation offers practical ministerial experience in a local parish, and serves as a “off-ramp” from seminary to a life of service. This stage "is the period of formation between diaconal and priestly ordinations. Since formal seminary formation has been completed, it is intended primarily as a time not of evaluation, but of integration and transition into one’s diocese or ecclesiastical entity in which the deacon is preparing to serve. This stage is a gradual realization of the cleric’s responsibility for the care of souls while he resides full-time in a pastoral setting." As a result, we will see deacons on their final step to priesthood in the coming years serving in the archdiocese.

(Quotes from the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

What is seminary?

Seminary is a college or university that prepares young men to be good, effective priests for the people of God. Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Seattle currently study at one of the following four seminaries: Bishop White Seminary, Mount Angel Seminary, Mundelein Seminary, and the Pontifical North American College (scroll down to learn more about each of these seminaries).

Studies combine the four primary areas of formation: spiritual, intellectual, pastoral and human. These are the basic tools of seminarian formation. All activities, classes, retreats, etc., stem from these four dimensions, all focus on Jesus.

Daily life

A typical day for a seminarian begins with morning prayer, Mass and attending classes. In the afternoon, there is time for recreation, study, communal dinner and evening prayer. Seminary life is a blend of study, prayer and community, and it is a fantastic environment for continued discernment of God's will. It is easy to think of discernment as something that happens before entering seminary, but the truth is the discernment of your vocation continues while you are in seminary.

Two dynamics are taking place in seminary. You as an individual are trying to discern God's will by being immersed in the seminary formation, while at the same time the Church is discerning with you to discover the fittingness of this vocation — your readiness and ability to grow into a man who would be a quality priest for the Church.

How long does it take to become a priest?

Usually between six and nine years, depending on when and where one starts. A young man who enters college seminary immediately or shortly after high school will spend the traditional four years there, getting a sound foundation in philosophy and the other liberal arts, then move on to the theological seminary (called a theologate) for four more years of specialized study in Scripture, theology, Church history and related fields. He would spend a total of eight years in the seminary after high school, comparable to law school, MBA or medical school.

Some men begin their preparations for the priesthood after already obtaining a college degree (and even graduate or professional degrees). Usually they need philosophy and preliminary-level theology before moving on to graduate-level theology. Therefore, they enter a one-year or, more often, two-year program called pre-theology, in which they earn a master's in philosophy. Once prepared in this way, they enter the usual four-year theologate. They spend a total of five or six years in the seminary.

Pastoral internships and summer assignments

Along with formal training in philosophy and theology, the spiritual life and practical skills for priesthood, some dioceses have seminarians spend a summer as pastoral interns in a parish, and sometimes this is extended for an entire year where it would be useful. In additional to these pastoral internships, seminarians of the Archdiocese of Seattle also participate in special summer programs to deepen their spiritual life and practical skills through programs such as clinical pastoral education (CPE) at local hospitals, spiritual formation through an Institute of Priestly Formation (IPF) program, and Spanish immersion through the Puebla Institute to increase proficiency with language and culture.

Formation and evaluation

Since the priesthood is not just a career but also a whole way of life and service, priestly formation takes in the entire person: spiritual, intellectual, human and pastoral. The specific needs of each candidate are continually evaluated and every effort is made to give him the assistance he needs. The candidate must also "take the reins" of his own priestly formation, rather than being a passive subject.

How do I apply to be a seminarian?

Talk to your pastor. If you are between the ages of 18 and 40, inform Father Justin Ryan, associate director of vocations, of your serious interest. Candidates must be able to complete the program of priestly formation by the age of 50.

In the initial meeting with the associate director of vocations, you will discuss your experience of parish life and sense of calling. Some of the basic qualifications will be reviewed, as well as a discussion about appropriate next steps, possibly including an invitation to complete an application.

The application for seminary includes a confidential information form, references, transcripts, an autobiographical essay, an essay describing why you feel called to the priesthood, a background check, a credit check and sacramental records.

Upon reviewing your application, the associate director of vocations will either recommend further discussion or assist you to schedule a psychological assessment.

If your psychological assessment suggests you are ready to begin seminary formation you will be scheduled for an interview with the Seminarian Admissions Board. If the board approves your acceptance, you will then meet with the archbishop.

If the archbishop approves your acceptance as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Seattle, you will then apply to the seminary chosen by the archbishop.

The application process takes about three months.

NOTE: We do not sponsor or accept anyone from outside the Archdiocese of Seattle. Applicants for seminary will be considered after living in the area on their own for at least two years.

Play Video

College Seminaries

Bishop White Seminary

The only college seminary in Washington state, Bishop White was founded in 1954 on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane. It provides an integral, initial formation for men discerning a vocation to diocesan priesthood.

Link to more info

Mount Angel Seminary

The oldest seminary in the western United States, Mount Angel Seminary, an apostolate of the Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey, is a school whose primary purpose is the human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation of men for the Roman Catholic priesthood. Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary is located in St. Benedict, Oregon.

Link to more info

Theology Seminaries

Mount Angel Seminary

In addition to their college program, Mount Angel Seminary offers a graduate school of theology and, for seminarians requiring additional preparation to enter the graduate school, a pre-theology program. The seminary's programs adhere to the norms established by the Holy See and the USCCB as stated in the Program of Priestly Formation.

Link to more info

Mundelein Seminary

University of St. Mary of the Lake, also known as Mundelein Seminary, is a major seminary and graduate school of theology in Mundelein, Illinois. Created in 1844, the seminary is the largest priesthood preparation program in the United States.

Link to more info

Pontifical North American College

Early in 1855, Pope Pius IX first expressed his interest in the establishment of a national seminary in Rome for the formation of candidates from the U.S., stressing the unique lessons to be learned in the ancient city: the unity and universality of the Church, the traditions of our faith, and the ministry of the successor of St. Peter. In this house of formation, seminarians deepen their awareness of the meaning and challenges of priesthood through their theological studies, prayerful reflection on the revealed word of God and the tradition of the Church and its meaning for the modern world, as well as through a variety of pastoral service opportunities.

Link to more info

“One does not become a priest on one's own. The 'community of disciples' is essential, the fellowship of those who desire to serve the greater Church.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI, Letter to Seminarians

*NOTE: We do not sponsor or accept anyone from outside the Archdiocese of Seattle. Applicants for seminary will be considered after living in the area on their own for at least two years.

Cover video clip from Heroic Priesthood, by Word On Fire and Spirit Juice Studios