Toward a More Human Seminary Family and Community: Ways Psychology Can Better Support Seminarians and Formators Through Attachment Theory

Recent updates in the Roman Catholic Church's program of seminary formation strive to respond to the current needs of the Church and seminarians in today's culture. A focus is emerging on how the Church can make use of the expertise of psychology to assist in forming men to become priests. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ sixth edition of the Program for Priestly Formation establishes an initial Propaedeutic stage of seminary specifically geared toward helping men grow in greater self-awareness and a solid sense of the spiritual life. More emphasis is being placed on creating smaller communities that are a “home and school of communion,” with attention to the bonds of fraternity and fatherhood: The seminary is intended to be a family and not simply an institution. This article proposes how attachment theory provides a useful framework for understanding psychological and relational development in seminarians and offers some principles for formators to be aware of as they embrace their roles in accompaniment and community building. It draws from personal experience and provides current examples of ways psychologists may contribute to the formation of formators, promote an environment of openness and trust in the seminary, and encourage a culture that is more human and fraternal.