The priest is a collaborator of the bishop, sharing the duties of Christ in developing, sanctifying, and governing the holy church. They serve the church by preaching the divine word, administering the sacraments, and shepherding God's people, in order to lead everyone to Christ.

The life in the seminary is a period of formation and discernment of vocation. The seminarians follow and imitate Christ as the apostles did.

According to Pope Benedict XVI, "The quality of clergy depends on formation." The Holy Seminary cultivates the seminarians from four aspects: personal formation, spiritual life, intellectual training, and pastoral experience.

Personal Formation

To become a priest, you must first develop a healthy personality. Through community life and the assistance of formators, the seminarians know themselves better; community life helps to build an environment of mutual trust and communication. We practice Christ's humility and sacrificial spirit, moving towards a more mature personality.

Spiritual Life

In order to seek Christ and be united with him, the sacred liturgy has to be the source and summit of the Christian life, by approaching God through prayer life and living in the mystery of Christ’s Passover.

Intellectual Formation

The seminarians have to be well-trained in philosophy and theology. They have to profoundly understand the purpose of life, the Divine Word, and the traditions of the Catholic Church. They also need to be capable of independent thinking in order to lead the faithful to reflect on issues happening in the church and society.

Pastoral Experience

The seminarians imitate the love of the good shepherd, as Christ " came not to be served but to serve" (Mk 10:45). Through various pastoral experiences, such as caring for the elderly, visiting the prisoners, labor, and parish work, etc., the seminarians can acquire a better understanding and preparation for church service.

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Three stages of formation:

• Preparatory: The one-year period is mainly to consolidate the foundation of spirituality, to discern and affirm the vocation of the parish priest through study of church documents.
• Philosophy: For two years training in rational thinking and understanding about the ultimate questions of life and the universe. Pastoral training forms the heart of a shepherd while community life develops fraternal love and a concerned character so that we learn to get along with others.
• Theology: During the four years, the seminarians acquire a basic understanding of the Bible, doctrine, liturgy, and ethics through studying theology. Pastoral training is usually focused on parishes and church institutions, so that the seminarians can experience the life of the community they will serve in the future and understand better the life and duties of the parish priest.

Throughout the period of formation, the pastoral training is arranged according to the individual needs of the seminarians.