Blessed Stanley Rother House of Formation

Promulgated in 2023, the sixth edition of the Program for Priestly Formation in the
United States of America serves as the principal guide for the formation of seminarians
as compassionate spiritual fathers in service of our local church communities. New
in this sixth iteration of the document is the implementation of a Propaedeutic Stage
of formation. As implied by the name, this initial stage of formation is introductory
in nature and is aimed to focus on development of the man in terms of prayer, trust,
and fraternity. It should last at least twelve consecutive months or longer based upon
the unique circumstances of each candidate. While all stages of formation focus on
the traditional dimensions of growth - namely human, intellectual, pastoral and
spiritual - the propaedeutic phase emphasizes human and spiritual formation
particularly. This stage envisions a distinct community with its own living space,
formators, horarium, scope and sequence so that new seminarians can build a firm
foundation for a Christ centered life.

To prepare seminarians in the Diocese of Baton Rouge for this new way of life
through involvement in parish ministry and in social and charitable outreach, and
all in communion with the bishop and presbyterate of Baton Rouge, in 2025, Bishop Duca established the new Blessed Stanley Rother House of Formation at Sacred Heart of
Jesus Church in Baton Rouge. 

Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Stanley Rother served as parochial vicar in their diocese before being assigned to the diocese's mission in Santiago Adrian, Guatemala. During civil war that broke out in Guatemala, Father Rother was executed in his rectory for his insistence in educating and catechizing the poor that he served. He was recognized as a martyr for the faith in 2016 and is the first martyr from the United States and the first US born priest to be beatified. His emphasis on commitment to his parishioners and his willingness to sacrifice his life for them provides a model of priesthood for men to follow.

Intellectual formation is an important element of all the movements of seminary
formation. According to the PPF, however, in this stage of formation, coursework is
permitted but should not be full time and should focus on scripture, catechesis, and
spirituality in addition to a maximum of nine general education credits per semester. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) in Baton Rouge has long been a partner to provide formation and education to deacon candidates, lay leaders, and new spiritual directors. It is only natural, then, that the Diocese of Baton Rouge would once again partner with FranU so that the University can offer its academic expertise while aiding in vocation discernment, the seminarian growth in self-knowledge, and his development of a relationship with Christ.

As the late Pope Francis once wrote, "A vocation is a precious gift that God sows in the heart. It is a call to go out of ourselves and begin a journey of love and service." 

May this plan for seminary formation in our local church of Baton Rouge help venerate and nourish this precious gift that lay in the hearts of many of the faithful!