Personal Spiritual Directors
Seminarians should meet regularly with a priest spiritual director to aid them in acquiring the skills of spiritual discernment. The spiritual director assists the seminarian in his spiritual development and discernment of his vocation. He also helps the directee foster an integration of spiritual formation, human formation and character development consistent with priestly formation (PPF #127-129). Upon entering the seminary’s spiritual formation program, each seminarian chooses a personal spiritual director with the ultimate approval of the Director of Spiritual Formation. Usually the spiritual director is chosen from the list of directors approved by the seminary, which includes both resident and non-resident directors. By way of exception, a seminarian may be allowed to choose some other qualified and approved priest spiritual director who is familiar with and supportive of the seminary program and willing to work in harmony with its goals. Such permission is given by the Director of Spiritual Formation on a case-by-case basis. All personal spiritual directors, whether they are members of the Seminary faculty or from the outside, must agree to cooperate with the overall formation program. They do so by agreeing to the following:
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Confidentiality of Spiritual Direction
“The spiritual director is held to the strictest confidentiality concerning information received in spiritual direction. He may neither reveal it nor use it.” (PPF #134) Seminarians should avail themselves of this opportunity for growth by being as honest and transparent as possible with their spiritual director and should be trustful and responsive to their counsel. “Since spiritual direction takes place in the internal forum, the relationship of seminarians to their spiritual directors is a privileged and confidential one. Spiritual directors may not participate in the evaluation of those they presently direct or whom they directed in the past.” (PPF #333) |