Dioceses in the Philippines and around the world continuously intensify their priestly on-going formation. As an option, they may integrate it with our “Sabbatical sa Vatican” Program (Filipino for “Sabbatical at the Vatican”). The Collegio becomes the Priests’ “Home in Rome” as they join seminars or courses at the Vatican, Rome, and the rest of Italy and Europe. They may do so individually or in groups (batchmates, Vicariate, age brackets, anniversaries, etc.). At the same time, they learn about the realities of our overseas workers. Meanwhile, our Spiritual Director and other priests can guide them accordingly.
The programs listed below are given in English, unless specified as given only in Italian, or with simultaneous translation to English. Note that you may attend more than one program as long as they do not overlap too much. Please double check with the corresponding websites for current information, and contact them directly as needed.
1. Pontifical Atheneum Regina Apostolorum (Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum)
- Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation Course: one week every April or May; with simultaneous translation to English; https://sacerdos.org/en/exorcism-and-prayer-of-liberation/
- Course for Seminary Formators: whole month of July every year, with simultaneous translation to English; see https://sacerdos.org/en/seminary-formators-course/
2. Pontifical Gregorian University (Pontificia Università Greogriana)
- For-Mission Renewal Program for Missionaries, offered by the Faculty of Missiology; February to May 2020; see this flyer and https://www.unigre.it/struttura_didattica/fc/eventi_ua_en.php?adg_ua=5
- Diploma in Safeguarding of Minors, offered by the Center for Child Protection; one semester program held around January to June; see
http://childprotection.unigre.it/diploma-course
3. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Pontificia Università della Santa Croce).
- Program on Church Management, offered by the Markets, Culture and Ethics Research Centre: two-week intensive programs each February and September; focus on how to serve the poor effectively, and use the material assets of the Church honestly and according to Canon Law and good managerial practices in conformity with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching; see http://www.pusc.it/pcm
- The Church Up Close, offered by the School of Church Communications: one week on September every two years; since 2008; see http://en.pusc.it/csi/attivita/giornalisti
- Renewal Course of Marriage Law and Canonical Procedure, offered by the Faculty of Canon Law; one week every September; with simultaneous translations to English; see http://en.pusc.it/prossime-attivita
- Study Week for Seminary Formation Staff: “The Intellectual Dimension of the Formation of Candidates to the Priesthood”, Feb. 3-7, 2020; with simultaneous translations to English; see http://en.pusc.it/centri/centro-formazione-sacerdotale/sett20
- Meetings or workshops, offered by the School of Church Communications; help on different months, in English and other languages; see http://en.pusc.it/csi/attivita/altri-eventi
4. Courses given totally in Italian (mostly with no English translations):
- Roman Rota: miscellaneous courses on Canon Law topics on different months; see
http://www.rotaromana.va/content/rotaromana/it.html - Apostolic Penitentiary: one-week course on the Internal Forum every March; see
http://www.penitenzieria.va/content/penitenzieriaapostolica/it.html - Congregation for the Clergy: Course for Formators; every Thursday afternoon, October to May; see http://www.clerus.va/content/clerus/it/notizie/corso-per-formatori-presso-la-congregazione-per-il-clero–si-par.html
- Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Studium on the Theology, History and Canon Law of the Causes of Saints, held
January to May every year; see http://www.causesanti.va/content/causadeisanti/it/studium.html - Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Center for Priestly Formation: courses for Formators, Matrimonial Pastoral Care, Ars Predicandi, etc.; different days or weeks throughout the year; see http://en.pusc.it/centri/centro-formazione-sacerdotale
Every Priest deserves to visit Rome, the center of Catholicism, especially for some on-going formation. For those needing subsidy, kindly ask your Bishop permission to request for help from friends originally from your diocese and who are now successful professionals in the US. They may donate through Friends of the Collegio, a IRS 501c3 tax-deductible organization. The website explains how this way they would be helping not only a specific Priest, but the whole Diocese and the Church back home. It also contains draft letters for this purpose, that you may simply edit and show to your Bishop, possibly for his signature.
Please contact us for more information, weekly or monthly board and lodging, miscellaneous expenses such as bus pass, medical insurance requirements, and to suggest other programs that may possibly be added here. Thank you!