Message from the Coordinator of Pastoral Formation | Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
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Archived: 2026-04-23 17:20
Message from the Coordinator of Pastoral Formation | Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
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Deacon John Nicholson
Message from the Coordinator of Pastoral Formation
Developing pastoral skills is an essential part of priestly formation, incorporating human, spiritual and intellectual growth into practical pastoral ministry. “Through pastoral formation, the seminarian learns how to express the other three in pastoral charity, the overall goal of priestly formation.” (Program of Priestly Formation No. 116).
The goal of the pastoral experience is to form priests who will be shepherds to God’s people. Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulder, and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples are two images that powerfully represent the goal of pastoral formation. “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13:15)
Through the pastoral experiences here at Pope St. John XXIII, the seminarian will gain an understanding of the key dimensions of priestly ministry, and by extension the work of Jesus as teacher, priest, and leader. These experiences align the seminarians with the mission of Christ, who came to serve and not to be served.
Varied opportunities during the four years will familiarize the seminarian with the work of the Church, with the goal of developing and honing ministerial skills. These experiences will provide an opportunity to observe and reflect on the life of priestly ministry, which in turn will assist in the seminarian’s vocational discernment. Examples of the various pastoral ministry experiences are included below:
Prison Ministry
Social Justice Outreach
Pro-Life Activities
Hospital/Nursing Home Visitation
Parish Religious Education
Campus Ministry
Parish Youth Ministry
Working with the Homeless
Parish Life
Sacramental Preparation
Year of Diaconate Parish Ministry
Through supervised pastoral assignments in parishes, hospitals, and other social service settings, seminarians learn to apply theological principles in real-world situations. This hands-on training helps seminarians build the confidence, empathy, and discernment needed to effectively lead and support their future parish communities.
Deacon John D. Nicholson
Coordinator of Pastoral Formation
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Skip to main content
Menu
Deacon John Nicholson
Message from the Coordinator of Pastoral Formation
Developing pastoral skills is an essential part of priestly formation, incorporating human, spiritual and intellectual growth into practical pastoral ministry. “Through pastoral formation, the seminarian learns how to express the other three in pastoral charity, the overall goal of priestly formation.” (Program of Priestly Formation No. 116).
The goal of the pastoral experience is to form priests who will be shepherds to God’s people. Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulder, and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples are two images that powerfully represent the goal of pastoral formation. “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13:15)
Through the pastoral experiences here at Pope St. John XXIII, the seminarian will gain an understanding of the key dimensions of priestly ministry, and by extension the work of Jesus as teacher, priest, and leader. These experiences align the seminarians with the mission of Christ, who came to serve and not to be served.
Varied opportunities during the four years will familiarize the seminarian with the work of the Church, with the goal of developing and honing ministerial skills. These experiences will provide an opportunity to observe and reflect on the life of priestly ministry, which in turn will assist in the seminarian’s vocational discernment. Examples of the various pastoral ministry experiences are included below:
Prison Ministry
Social Justice Outreach
Pro-Life Activities
Hospital/Nursing Home Visitation
Parish Religious Education
Campus Ministry
Parish Youth Ministry
Working with the Homeless
Parish Life
Sacramental Preparation
Year of Diaconate Parish Ministry
Through supervised pastoral assignments in parishes, hospitals, and other social service settings, seminarians learn to apply theological principles in real-world situations. This hands-on training helps seminarians build the confidence, empathy, and discernment needed to effectively lead and support their future parish communities.
Deacon John D. Nicholson
Coordinator of Pastoral Formation
Home
About Us
Welcome from the Rector
Mission Statement and History
Our Seminarians
Our Campus
Dioceses Served
Employment
Governance and Finance
CARES ACT-HEERF
Financial Statements and Management Summaries
Seminary by the Numbers
Chapel Livestream
Newsletters
Vocations
Message from the Director of the Seminary Vocation Team
Admissions
FAQ
First Friday Discernment Visits
Never Too Late - Podcast
Reflection: The Ministry of Presence to Our People
Request More Information
Formation
Human
Overview: The Seminarian Experience
Spiritual
Intellectual
Goals and Objectives
Indult
Course Listing
Formation Catalog
Academic Requirements/Grading
Learning Center
Academic Calendar
Pastoral
Our Faculty
Accreditation
Statement of Effectiveness
Alumni
Class Photos
Alumni News
Alumni - Submit News
Alumni Days
Directory
Events
Contact Us
Support Us
Fundraising Events
Donate Online
The Importance of Support
Ways to Give