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Spirituality and Ongoing Formation
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The priest must not become isolated. Instead he should be supported and accompanied in spiritual and/or psychological areas. In every case, his relationship with his Spiritual Director will need to be deepened so as to draw positive lessons from the difficulties, learning to look truthfully at his own life and to understand it better in the light of the Gospel.Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, Congregation of the Clergy, Vatican City, December 18, 2016.
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Catholic priests who have been removed from ministry often lack spiritual support. For those that feel abandoned by their bishops and even brother priests, they fall into deep despair and eventually forsake even the most basic spiritual exercises including prayer. They live an empty life of lonesomeness. Through Men of Melchizedek’s Spirituality and Ongoing Formation Program, removed priests experience spiritual renewal and a sense that their priesthood, although limited, is useful for the greater good. They are reignited, as it were, in the fire of love for their priestly prayers and devotions.
The primary mission of MOM’s Spirituality and Ongoing Formation Program is our commitment to personal contact with removed priests especially those experiencing spiritual dryness. Every priest faces disillusionment at some point in their priesthood. But, for priests who have been cut off from the paternal encouragement of their bishops and in some cases the entire Church community, it can be deadly – literally. Men of Melchizedek’s Spirituality and Ongoing Formation Program reminds priest of their great value to the Church and to the Christian community. It restores their dignity as human beings by experiencing the love, support and respect of our staff towards them.
Men of Melchizedek’s Spirituality and Ongoing Formation Program provides personal, face-to-face, interaction with removed priests and recruits qualified priest spiritual directors to aid them in sanctifying their life. These directors provide a ministry of “presence”, offering friendship to priests who find it emotionally or psychologically difficult to stay connected with their priesthood. Perhaps most important of all, Men of Melchizedek’s Spirituality and Ongoing Formation Program assists removed priests in their discernment of what new form of priesthood they are to live now in their current circumstances.
MOM's Spirituality and Ongoing Formation Program also provides spiritual and formation materials, which help removed priests remain faithful to their sublime calling by understanding better the cultic aspect of their priesthood. This includes affirming the purpose and gift of celibacy, especially in a world hell-bent on rampant promiscuity, an unbridled drive for power, and greed. Disseminating aids for spiritual renewal and reflection in the form of spiritual books and pamphlets reinforce the authentic teaching of the Church, and combat these difficult worldly influences.
In addition, for those removed priest who are permitted to offer private Mass, Men of Melchizedek resources Mass intentions. An updated bibliography of spiritual and formational resources for priests to personalize their own recommitment to their vocation along with seasonal (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Assumption) reflections sets a removed priest on the track of developing a new sense of purpose in his life and once again awakens his heart’s desire to grow in holiness as priest.
If you are a Catholic priest who is in need of spiritual support and/or a priest spiritual director, please call our toll free number (800) 674-9693 and press 1, or email us at contact@menofmelchizedek.org.