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Discernment within the

Diocese of Columbus

​This is the normal flow of steps of one making their way to the seminary within the

Diocese of Columbus

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Step 1: A discerner should have at least three contacts with diocesan vocations discernment before proceeding to step 2. These contacts would include meetings with his Regional Vocation Promoter, Director of Vocations (DOV), Discernment Events (such as Melchizedek Projects, Quo Vadis, Come and Sees, etc.)​​​

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Step 2: A discerner interviews with the Director of Vocations. This is usually about 1 1/2 hours and covers one's family background, spiritual life, academics, work, and social life, etc. The DOV is trying to get a full sense of who the discerner is and their capability to live the life of a seminarian and priest.​

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Step 3: If the DOV, at the end of the interview, thinks the discerner would make a good fit with the diocese, he will invite him to apply for the diocese. If he thinks he's not a good fit, he will tell him. He might alternatively tell him he may be a good fit in the future and, if so, what things the discerner should work on in the meantime.​​

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​​Step 4:  If the DOV has invited the discerner to apply, the discerner contacts the psychologists to schedule psychological screening. This screening is paid for by the diocese. 

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​Step 5: If over the age of 18, the discerner schedules and completes a Diana Screening Session. This takes about 30 minutes and is conducted at the Diocese of Columbus offices. This must be completed at least one week in advance of the actual psychological screening. ​​​​

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​Step 6: The discerner fills out and returns the application that the DOV has sent him and returns it.​​​​​

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Step 7: The discerner completes his psychological screening. Once the DOV has the completed application from the discerner and psychological screening reports, he then meets with the Bishop to inquire if the Bishop will sponsor the man for one of the seminaries that we send seminarians to (listed below). If the Bishop agrees, then the discerner proceeds to these next steps:

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Step 8: Depending on which seminary the seminarian is being sent to, he will be given either a link to the application page of the seminary listing the requirements and forms, or he will be sent an email with those materials. The discerner would then work on those requirements.

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​​​​Step 9: Each seminary has a different application. Once all is complete and a discerner is accepted, the final step before starting seminary is to attend the Seminarian Summit, which is a three or four day event of prayer, conferences, workshops, and social time with all of the Columbus seminarians. The summit is usually held in the first full week of August.

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​Where do they study?

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​If they are entering the program without a college degree:

Pontifical College Josephinum > > > Mount St. Mary

A seminarian will start at the Pontifical College Josephinum. They will complete the Propaedeutic Stage there (normally one year), then their Discipleship Stage, during which they will earn their degree in Philosophy (normally 3-4 years).

 

Once they have completed their Discipleship Stage and their Philosophy degree, the normal route will be for them to then go on to Mount St. Mary's in Cincinnati to complete their Configuration Stage and Theological Studies (typically 3.5 - 4 years).

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​If they are entering the program with a college degree:

Mount St. Mary > > >Pontifical College Josephinum

A seminarian will start at Mount St. Mary in Cincinnati. They will complete the Propaedeutic Stage there (normally one year), then their Discipleship Stage and their Philosophical studies (normally 2 years).

 

Once they have completed their Discipleship Stage and their Philosophy studies, the normal route will be for them to then go to the Pontifical College Josephinum to complete their Configuration Stage and Theological Studies (typically 3.5 - 4 years).

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​If they are between 40-50 years hold, seminarians may be given the option to attend
Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Boston:

This seminary has different, often shorter, processes than above. This would be worked out on an individual basis. 

 

There may be exceptions in special circumstances but they are the exception, not the norm.

 

 

 

​Stages of Formation

Advancement in formation is now driven more by the achievement of human formation benchmarks as well as the other three pillars (spiritual, intellectual, pastoral) than academic progression.

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There are four stages that a seminarian advances through:

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Propaedeutic Stage

The beginning stage of seminary discernment and formation. This lays the foundation of a new way of life through prayer, study, fraternity, and appropriate docility to formation. This stage includes a disconnecting from technology. Academically, this stage has a maximum of nine (9) credit hours per semester, focused on the Catechism and Scripture.

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Discipleship Stage

The second stage of formation. Growth in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the life of meditation, contemplation, philosophical study, and the training of the men's character in Christian virtue. Latin and/or Spanish are usually studied as well.

This stage lasts a minimum of two (2) years, although may last up to four (4) for those

without a college degree.

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Configuration Stage

The third stage of formation. Modeling of his life on the self-donation of Jesus Christ, Shepherd and Servant. This stage includes the study of theology, pastoral formation, and the cultivation of virtues of leadership in preparation for ordination.

This stage begins when the seminarian receives candidacy and usually lasts

three and a half (3.5) to four (4) years.

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Vocational Synthesis Stage

This is the final stage of formation and most of it occurs outside of the seminary in a parish where the seminarian will live. It is a time of integration and transition to priestly ministry, beginning at one's ordination of the diaconate. Academically, this may include a few additional practica.

This last stage is a minimum of six (6) months.

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