JORAS - Nigerian Journal of Religion and Society

Seminary formation is intrinsically aimed at being holistic because of its import. Beginning from the early centuries, the personnel con?guration from this special institution has always received quality attention since its end product is often time expected to stand the taste of every ecclesiastical generation. The Papal documents such as Pastores Dabo Vobis of John Paul II in 1992, Presbyterorum Ordinisof Pope Paul VI in 1965, and Optatam totiusof Pope Paul VI in 1965 are exceptional on the formation of Catholic Priests and Religious. The Ratio Fundamentalis institutionis Sacerdotalis is also critical on the same subject matter. This article argues that every validly ordained priest of the post Vatican II dispensation has elements of a training that emits from the four cardinal pillars of formation. These carefully chosen pillars are deliberately tailored to classically direct the formation of future priests and Religious. They are the nucleus from and through which formation in seminaries and houses of formation take guidance. It should be kept in perspective that while the word 'Pastor' is used here to designate the priest to whom a Seminarian is sent as an apprentice, the word 'Formator' is used to mean the Priest saddled with the responsibility of training Seminarians in the Seminary.

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