1. NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF DIOCESAN VOCATION DIRECTORS 2017
The USCCB and Vocations Ministry

2. Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations
Rev. Luke Ballman
Associate Director
Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations

3. USCCB and Vocations Ministry
PPF 101
Vocations & Admissions
Use of Psychology
International Candidates

4. USCCB 101 National Catholic War Council (1917)
National Catholic Welfare Council (1919)
National Catholic Welfare Conference (1922)
NCCB & USCC (1966)
NCCB (Committees of Bishops & Secretariats)
USCC (addressed issues as part of larger society)
USCCB (2001)

5. USCCB 101 2017-2020 Priority Initiatives
Evangelization
Family and marriage
Human life and dignity
Vocations and ongoing formation
Religious freedom

6. Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations (CCLV)
Committee
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Chairman
Archbishop Samuel Aquila
Archbishop John C. Wester
Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
Bishop Earl Boyea
Bishop Arturo Cepeda
Bishop James F. Checchio
Bishop Thomas Daly
Bishop Michael F. Olson
Secretariat
Fr. Ralph O’Donnell, Executive Director
Fr. Luke Ballman, Associate Director

7. The CCLV Committee Mandate

8. CCLV Annual CARA Studies
Ordination Class
Profession Class
Permanent Deacon Class

9. Seminary Enrollment 2016-2017 College: 1,395 1,248 (2004-2005)*
1,460 ( )**
Theology: 3,405
3,114 ( )*
3,723 ( )**
* = Lowest
** = Most recent higher enrollment

10. Seminary Enrollment Trends

11. The Program of Priestly Formation (PPF)

12. Program of Priestly Formation (PPF)
Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (Ratio) 1970, 1985, 2016)
PPF (1971, 1976, 1981, 1992, 2005)
Normative for all American (USA) seminaries

13. PPF Sources Vatican II Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Pastores dabo vobis
Seminary Visitations

14. Vocations & Admissions
Discernment of Vocations (not a contest)
A divine and ecclesial dialogue
Responsibility of bishop & vocation director
Thresholds for admission
Gradualism

15. Vocations and Admissions: Norms
Develop/review policy and follow it
Both the diocese and seminaries have admissions processes (n.39)
Benefit of doubt—Church (n.42)
Seminary not the place for therapy
Obligation of applicant to give evidence of a vocation
Confidential but shared information
Trust your gut

16. Vocations and Admissions: Norms
Pre-theology
Two years for all four dimensions of formation, not just philosophy (n. 60)
Screening process
Interviews
Letters of reference
Records (cf. 63, 64, 66)
Medical & Psych evals. (n.47, 52 & 65)
Criminal background checks

17. Vocations and Admissions: Norms
Get to know your psychologist
Confidential but shared information
Do your homework
Beware of men who “shop around for the best diocese”
Don’t rush the process (the vocation won’t go away)

18. Vocations and Admissions: Norms
Open & frank discussion of life experiences
Evidence of having lived in continence for two years
Evidence of or inclination toward criminal sexual activity with minor
Candidates with same-sex experiences and/or inclinations (PPF #)

19. Vocations and Admissions: Norms
Right to privacy & sharing of sensitive information with formation personnel
Debt, college and otherwise
Sense of entitlement
Recent converts

20. Readmission of Former Sems: Norms & Addendum A
Requirement to consult all previous formation programs (n. 61)
2-year period after dismissal from previous formation program (n. 62)
Purpose of these procedural norms:
Full disclosure
Confidential exchange
Consultation

21. CCLV Guidelines on the Use of Psychology in Seminary Admissions
Provides basic principles
Psychology
Canon Law
Civil Law
Webinar for psychologists (St. Luke’s)

22. USCC Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers
To assist with, developing, reviewing and implementing diocesan & seminary policies & procedures
Provides basic principles
Presentations available on line

23. Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations
Rev. Luke Ballman
Associate Director
Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations