Milan Archbishop Overhauls Seminary Formation as Numbers Drop

The Pillar ^ | 4/11/23 | Luke Coppen

[marshmallow]

Milan Archbishop Mario Delpini has approved an overhaul of seminary formation amid plunging numbers of candidates in Europe’s largest Catholic archdiocese.

A seven-page document outlining the changes noted that in the five years from 2017 to 2022, the annual number of new entrants to priestly formation in the archdiocese fell from 24 to 6.

Delpini, who signed the document March 25, announced the “reconfiguration” of seminary training at a Chrism Mass in Milan Cathedral April 6.

“I would like to inform this particular assembly that I have approved, on a trial basis for a three-year period, a reconfiguration of the seminary path, according to what has been prepared by the seminary formators and discussed with the Milanese episcopal council,” he told archdiocesan clergy, referring to the new document.

Delpini, who succeeded Cardinal Angelo Scola at the archdiocese’s helm in 2017, said that seminarians will spend their third year living in small groups in parishes, while attending daily classes at the seminary. They will be connected with families, which will offer them support.

Delpini stressed that “the main motivation guiding any choice referring to the seminary is and will remain to foster, accompany, and instruct some young people in the archdiocese in discernment and docility to the Spirit.”

[nwrep]

Martin Luther proved right again.

[irishjuggler]

Right about what? Are the Lutheran seminaries bursting at the seams?

[PGR88]

The solution is simple - return to a traditional, conservative, Latin, orthodox Catholic theology

There will be no trouble finding candidates for the seminary.

[chopperk]

Thanks to Vatican II, the Church has turned into a Presbyterian Religion. Rescind Vatican II and re-institute TLM.