Office for Priestly Formation
St. Francis Center for Priestly Formation, located on the University of San Diego campus, comprises both the Office for Priestly Formation of the Diocese of San Diego and a house of formation for men preparing for admission to a seminary school of theology.
The office administers the diocesan program of priestly formation for both pre-seminarian and seminarian candidates, according to the norms set forth by the Program of Priestly Formation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Admissions Criteria
Acceptance into the Program of Priestly Formation for the Diocese of San Diego requires the
prospective candidate to meet certain criteria. According to the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, the candidate “must give evidence of an overall personal balance, good moral
character, a love for the truth, and proper motivation,” which includes “the requisite human,
moral, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and psychological qualities for priestly ministry.”
The candidate must be an unmarried and confirmed Catholic man at least 18 years of age, have no criminal background, and be free from any impediment to receiving orders. Candidates must be no older than 50 years of age by the time they are ordained to
the priesthood.
The candidate must give witness to his conviction that God has brought him to the House of
Priestly Formation to discern whether or not he is really called to the priesthood and he is
committed to carrying out that discernment.
The candidate must also give evidence of his capacity to live out chaste celibacy, which includes living chastely for at least two years prior to entering the priestly formation program.
If the candidate has personal or student loan debt, he is expected to be responsible for the repayment or deferment of the debt while in the program. The candidate must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States, and have an adequate command of the English language. He should have actual experience in the Diocese, with residency at some point for at least three years.
Process and Timeline
Although the actual time frame from initial meeting with a prospective candidate and acceptance into the Program of Priestly Formation varies depending on different factors and circumstances, the basic progression is as follows:
Aspirancy Phase
During this phase the prospective candidate may:
- Attend an Explorer Day at St. Francis Center House of Priestly Formation.
- Begin to attend monthly Mass and Breakfast for discerners.
- Meet one-on-one with the Director of Priestly Vocations.
- Be referred to a spiritual director by the Director of Priestly Vocations.
Pre-Application Phase
If, as a result of the aspirancy phase, the prospective candidate continues to feel called to enter the Program of Formation, the candidate:
- Meets with the Rector of the Program of Priestly Formation.
- With the Rector’s approval, is referred back to the Director of Priestly Vocations for an in-depth interview covering the candidate's life history and verifying the absence of any impediments to orders.
- Upon successful completion of the in-depth interview, is referred to a psychologist for a psychological assessment.
- After receiving a positive evaluation from the psychologist, is invited to apply for the Program of Priestly Formation.
Application Phase
The application packet requires the following:
- Completed application form
- Sacramental records
- Letters of recommendation from his pastor and another priest
- Letters of recommendation from two laypersons to include one employer and one ministry supervisor, if applicable
- Records and evaluations from a previous seminary or religious community, if applicable
- Records of previous military service, if applicable
- Physical/medical evaluation report
- Autobiography
- Two copies of high school transcripts
- Two copies of college transcripts from all colleges attended
- Certificate of completion of Safe Environment training
- Criminal background check
Once the application packet is complete, the prospective candidate is instructed to meet with one clergy member and one lay member of the Admissions Board.
The formation faculty meets with the Admissions Board, who makes the recommendation to accept, reject, or delay entrance into the program.
The prospective candidate who receives a favorable evaluation from the Admissions Board receives a letter of acceptance from the Bishop of San Diego. The candidate receives further instructions regarding transition
into the program.