Ongoing Formation of Clergy

Vicar for Clergy » Ongoing Formation of Clergy

Welcome to the Ongoing Formation page! Please, check this page regularly as we try to update its contents every month. Please click here, for information on policies and guidelines concerning ongoing formation for priests in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Summer 2023 Programs at St. John’s Seminary

Ongoing Formation Days: June 6-9, 2023 
(Tuesday dinner – Friday lunch)
“Becoming Eucharistic People”

Presenter: Dr. Timothy P. O’Malley 

  • Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame
  • Academic Director, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, Institute for Church Life
  • Author of Real Presence: What Does It Mean and Why Does it Matter? (2021) and Becoming Eucharistic People: The Hope and Promise of Parish Life (2022)

 

 

 

Priests’ Retreat Week: June 12-16, 2023 
(Monday dinner – Friday lunch)
“The Essence of Prayer and the Great Commandment”

Retreat Director: Msgr. Michael Muhr

  • Director of Ministry to Priests, Diocese of St. Peterburg, FL
  • Author of Podcast, “Seeds of Hope: Talks & Homilies by Fr. Mike Muhr.”
  • Was spiritual director and co-taught courses in pastoral ministry for 14 years at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL.

 

 

 

 

These programs will be presented in English, with simultaneous translation in Spanish.

For more information and/or to register, visit Ongoing Formation Weeks and Retreat for Priests.

Download the event flyer here.

Ongoing Formation Opportunities for Priests

The following have ongoing programs available throughout the year:

Continuing Education at CTU
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois

Continuing Education at FST
Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego, California

Institute for Continuing Theological Education (ICTE)
Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy

Institute for Ongoing Clergy Formation
The Seminaries of Saint Paul, Minnesota

Institute for Priests and Presbyterates
Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Indiana
For more information, click here.

Institute for Priestly Formation 
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska

Institute of Pastoral Studies
Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois

Jesuit School of Theology
Santa Clara University campus in Berkeley, California

John S. Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana

Centre for Biblical Formation
Jerusalem, Israel

Tantur Ecumenical Institute
Jerusalem, Israel

The Liturgical Institute – Online Courses
University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL

Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation
University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

See also a Bibliography on Priestly Life and Ministry

Retreat Opportunities for Priests

The following have retreats scheduled throughout the year:

Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests
Los Angeles, California

Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos
Los Altos, California

New Clairvaux Abbey
Vina, California

Redemptorist Renewal Center
Tucson, Arizona

Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House
Sedalia, Colorado

St. Andrew’s Abbey
Valyermo, California
For more information, click here.

You may also consider a retreat on your own, perhaps in the company of pre-planned reading material, a journal for reflection, and/or regular chats with a spiritual guide.

Language Acquisition/Accent Modification

English
Teachers and Preachers (TAP)
A program that allows priests to work individually with Sisters located throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with particular attention given to the Sunday homily.

For information, contact Louis Velasquez at 213-631-1485

Spanish

Year-round programs offered in Puebla, Mexico
LIVIT Spanish Immersion Center
For more information, click here.

An online article listing other good choices:
11 Great Spanish Schools in Mexico (2022)
https://www.secondhalftravels.com/spanish-schools-mexico/

Sabbaticals

The following sites contain information on sabbatical experiences offered around the country and around the world. (Please note that archdiocesan funds for sabbaticals do not cover travel expenses.)

Center for Continuing Formation: Sabbaticals
St. Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD

Ecce Homo Pilgrim House
Jerusalem, Israel

Hesburgh Renewal Program
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois

Jesuit School of Theology Renewal Program
Santa Clara University campus in Berkeley, California

Mercy Center Sabbatical Programs
Mercy Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Ministry to Ministers Sabbatical Program
Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas

Springbank Retreat Sabbaticals
Springbank Retreat Center, Kingstree, SC

Tantur Ecumenical Institute
Jerusalem, Israel

For an ‘out there’ sabbatical, read what one priest did.

Homiletic Resources

Daily and Sunday Readings, from the USCCB:

*Readings Calendar
*Readings Podcasts
*Reflection Videos

Sunday Homily Preparation Program, from the IDA

*English (weekly recordings uploaded by Tuesday, to help you prepare for the following Sunday)
*Español (grabaciones disponible los Martes, para preparar la homilía del siguiente Domingo)

Other Preaching Resources:

*Basic Steps for Biblical Preaching
*Resources for Preaching
*Bibliography for Lectionary – Based Preaching
*Bibliography for Lectionaries and Related Publications

Videos on YouTube by Msgr. Tom Welbers – Videos indicated as “Banquet of the Word” are 45min-1hr presentations on various elements of the indicated Sunday Mass (usually available mid-afternoon of Tuesday before), as well as some homiletic material. Click here to see his videos.

Rev. Felix Just, SJ
Coordinator of Ongoing Formation

Office of the Vicar for Clergy
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Boulevard, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2241

Phone: (213) 637-7041
Fax: (213) 637-6607
Email: FrFJust@la-archdiocese.org