The programme for a seminarian’s formation is an integral part of his total formation and growth in pastoral charity. Hence the seminarian’s pastoral activity is to be planned, accompanied, supervised, and evaluated. The Pastoral Mentor will meet regularly with the different parish priests to foster co-operation and assess the experience acquired by the seminarians in the exercise of the pastoral responsibility assigned to him. Therefore, at least every semester, the Pastoral Mentor will meet the parish priest together with the seminarian concerned.
A seminarian’s pastoral programme is carried out during the weekend and holidays in the parish church to which he is assigned. During this pastoral outreach the seminarian is to be involved as much as possible in the various aspects of parish life with the aim of getting first-hand pastoral experience in strict collaboration with the parish priest.
Deacons follow a more intense pastoral programme attaining to their ministry. Besides preaching the homily and administering the sacraments proper to them, they spend the period of Lent in their assigned parish to work more closely with the parish priest and other priests residing at the parish house.