Relevant spiritual formation for future priests in the context of Vietnam today
Facing with realities of the changing world, the Church needs to renew eagerly herself and her mission received from God, primarily by forming her personnel, especially the future priests in spiritual area. Considered in the context of Vietnam today with its background, challenges and opportunities, and based on the teaching of the Church, this spiritual formation aims to build up a new generation of priests, who will respond accordingly to the needs of the Church and of the world. This Spiritual Formation will be contextualized in perspectives of ecclesiology of Vatican Council II, of Mission, of Collaboration with Laity and of Dialogue (with cultures, with inter-faiths, with the poor and, particularly, with Communists, in the special situation of Vietnamese Church). The model of priests remains always unchanging, while everything changes very fast and continues to change. Authentic model is Jesus of Nazareth, true God and true Man, yesterday, today and forever, to whom all priests and future priests must be configured identifiably. Therefore, the type of priests attempted to be formed must be a man of God, deeply spiritual and deeply human in harmonious, balanced and mature relationships with self, with God, with others (especially with women, both lay people and religious), and with nature, in ecclesial and eschatological perspectives of the Kingdom of God. This Spiritual Training, which stresses at the same time on formation and self-formation, will be done and developed in and through three proper and effective periods: pre-seminary, seminary and post-seminary. The foundation of the initial formation will be flowered and consolidated by the on-going formation, especially during the first five years of priesthood, the time of apprenticeship, assured by harmonious, balanced, and mature relationships. Hopefully, the priestly life and mission of future priests will be ensured especially by zealous devotions to the Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.