During the spring after ordination, newly ordained priests from various dioceses meet at Saint Meinrad for four days. This holistic program of education, formation and relaxation focuses on “finding one’s way” and adjustment issues.
The program emphasizes group sharing, theological reflection and pastoral expertise. During this time, the new priests have access to professional assistance, such as spiritual directors, confessors, counselors, a wellness director and a nutritionist.
A goal of this workshop is for each priest to develop a personal growth plan in each of these areas: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral.
Sample Workshop Schedule
Day One
| 1:30 – 4:30 pm: |
Check-in, personal time |
| 5:00 pm: |
Evening Prayer with the monks (optional) |
| 5:30 pm: |
Dinner |
| 7:30 pm: |
Welcome and orientation |
| 8:00 – 8:45 pm: |
Structured Storytelling: How Is It Going So Far? (Final-year seminarians invited to listen) |
| 9:00 pm: |
UnStable campus pub (optional), Unstructured Storytelling |
Day Two
| 8:00 am: |
Morning Prayer with seminarians (optional) |
| 8:30 am: |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 9:45 am: |
Program Session 1: Revisiting Your Personal Growth Plan |
| 9:45 – 10:00 am: |
Break |
| 10:00 – 11:15 am: |
Program Session 2: Revisiting Your Personal Growth Plan |
| 11:30 am: |
Mass with seminarians |
| Noon: |
Lunch with seminarians |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm: |
Program Session 3: Revisiting Your Personal Growth Plan |
| 2:30 – 3:00 pm: |
Break |
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm: |
Program Session 4: Revisiting Your Personal Growth Plan |
| 5:00 pm: |
Evening Prayer with the monks (optional) |
| 5:30 pm: |
Social |
| 6:00 pm: |
Dinner |
| 6:30 pm: |
Eucharistic Adoration with seminarians (optional) |
| 8:00 pm: |
UnStable campus pub (optional) |
Day Three
| 8:00 am: |
Morning Prayer with seminarians (optional) |
| 8:30 am: |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 am: |
Spiritual Direction, Counseling, Reconciliation |
| 10:00 – 11:15 am: |
Program Session: Personal Finance |
| 11:30 am: |
Mass with seminarians |
| Noon: |
Lunch with seminarians |
| 1:00 – 3:30 pm: |
Personal time |
| 3:30 – 4:30 pm: |
Independent Program Session: Develop Your Personal Growth Plan |
| 5:00 pm: |
Evening Prayer with monks (optional) |
| 5:30 pm: |
Social |
| 6:00 pm: |
Dinner |
| 7:00 – 8:00 pm: |
Panel Discussion: Parish Staff on topics of finance, parish life, music, liturgy and education |
| 8:30 pm: |
Movie and Discussion: “The Ninth Day” |
Day Four
| 7:30 am: |
Concelebrated Monastery Mass (optional) |
| 8:00 am: |
Breakfast |
| 8:30 – 10:00 am: |
Lenten Homily Preparation (optional) |
| 10:30 am: |
Announcements/Wrap-up |
| 10:45 – Noon: |
Program Session: Simple Cooking |
| Noon: |
Lunch (optional) |