Modeling “fiat” in priestly formation
Fiat is Latin for “let it be done” according to Your will. In other words, “Yes, Lord.”
Seminarians arrive at Conception Seminary College because they have intentionally chosen to give God their fiat, to say yes to His call. To say “Yes, Lord, I will follow your call to discern the priesthood and to serve you.”
At such a young age in today’s world, these courageous men step away from all the world tells them, and they make great sacrifices to become men of God and learn what it means to serve the people of God as His holy priests. They give Him their fiat, and in turn, He guides them down their paths to holiness and lives of service.
Similarly, the monks of Conception Abbey have given their fiat, their “Yes, Lord” for 150 years to respond to the needs of the Catholic Church and of the world. Establishing and operating Conception Seminary College within the Benedictine tradition is a primary ministry of the monks. Even in today’s changing world, the monastic community has held strong their tradition while also adjusting and rising to the needs of the Church.
Specifically, the monks who lead Conception Seminary College have responded to the needs of priestly formation in the Catholic Church. In 2019, new leadership was assigned to run the seminary. One can find evidence of stepping up to serve the future of the Church through the addition of the Holy and Life-Giving Seminar and three-day Healing Retreat, the implementation of the new Propaedeutic and Discipleship stages of collegiate level formation, and the opening of a new student dormitory that poises the seminary for growth.
These new instruments in priestly formation, paired with nearly a century-and-a-half of stability, tradition, and experience provide our seminarians with a unique and fulfilling experience only found at Conception Seminary College. Through God’s guidance and grace, the monks and seminarians say “yes” day after day to His call in their lives.
– Kaity Holtman
Director of Communications
Holy & Life-Giving Seminar
Responding to the culture from which candidates arrive at seminary, a solid introduction into Catholic spirituality and prayer, and the Christian view of sexuality is conducted for all new students. This semester-long seminar helps the seminarian to recognize the gifts of nature and grace in his person and also makes use of chastity groups and counseling services.
Healing Retreat
The Holy and Life-Giving Seminar concludes with a three-day retreat that addresses wounds in coming to better mastery of chaste living and further assists seminarians to engage spiritual direction and Human Formation.
Good Shepherd Hall
Completed in 2022, the new seminarian dormitory, appropriately named Good Shepherd Hall, serves as an investment in our commitment to priestly formation. The seminarians now live the vision intended to enhance their experience through the deepening of fraternal bonds and supporting one another in serving as future generous priests, ready to lay down their lives in imitation of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Propaedeutic & Discipleship Stages
Responding to the call of Church leaders in the newest edition of Program of Priestly Formation, Conception has fully integrated the new Propaedeutic and Discipleship stages into our formation program. The Propaedeutic stage gives deliberate and intentional focus on human and spiritual formation without the undue burden of academic rigor. The Discipleship stage is the next stage for collegiate men and further prepares them in their education for ministry.
Benedictine Tradition
One thing that hasn’t changed is the stability of training diocesan priests with Benedictine spirituality and values. It is this Benedictine tradition that not only sets apart Conception Seminary College, but that also sets apart these seminarians. God has called the monks of Conception Abbey to this work since 1886, and they are confident in His call to this work long into the future.
