CLASSES BEGIN ON JUNE 08, 2026

EVENTS

The Lorenzo Mission Institute offers a civil degree in Theology major in Missiology. Classes are enrolled at San Carlos Seminary. The academic life of the seminarian is just part of the intellectual formation of every candidate to the priesthood. The entirety of the intellectual formation comprises the maturity in studies which would include reading, meditating, reflection, critical thinking, sense of insight and the capacity for analysis. The intellectual life of a seminarian would include how they would be able to apply in concrete contexts the lessons they learn in classroom activities. The academic life plays a vital role in the shaping of the seminarian's intellectual formation.

The Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis enumerates some of the reasons for giving much attention to the Intellectual Formation of the seminarians: 

1) Intellectual formation is aimed at achieving for seminarians a solid competence in philosophy and theology, along with a more general educational preparation, enough to allow them to proclaim the Gospel message to the people of our own day in a way that is credible and can be understood. (RFIS 116)
2) It seeks to enable them to enter into fruitful dialogue with the contemporary world, and to uphold the truth of the faith by the light of reason, thereby revealing its beauty. (RFIS116)
3) Candidates for the priesthood must prepare themselves with diligent attention, by deepening their knowledge of the philosophical and theological sciences, with a good introduction to canon law, social sciences, and history. This preparation seeks to ‘give a reason for hope’ (cf. 1Pt 3:15), to allow Divine Revelation to become known, and to bring all peoples to the obedience of faith (cf. Rom 16:26)  (RFIS 116)
4) Reason, when open to the mystery of God and directed to Him, allows a solid acceptance of Revelation, seeks a deeper understanding of its contents, and offers instruments and language for its proclamation to the world. As already stated by the Second Vatican Council, the knowledge of philosophy and theology helps us “to hear, distinguish and interpret the many voices of our age, and to judge them in the light of the divine word, so that revealed truth can always be more deeply penetrated, better understood and set forth to greater advantage” (RFIS 116)
5) Intellectual formation is a part of the integral formation of the priest. Moreover, it serves his pastoral ministry and has an impact upon his human and spiritual formation, which draw rich nourishment from it. This means that the development of all the faculties and dimensions of the person, including the rational dimension, through the vast array of acquired knowledge, contributes to the growth of the priest as the servant and witness of the Word in the Church and in the world. (RFIS 117)
6) Far from being confined solely to the field of knowledge or being understood solely as a means of acquiring more information in the various disciplines, intellectual formation helps priests to listen profoundly to the Word, and also to the ecclesial community, in order to learn how to read the signs of the times. (RFIS 117)
7) The organic and serious study of philosophy and theology is the most suitable means of acquiring that forma mentis that enables one to address the questions and challenges that are encountered in the exercise of the sacred ministry, and to interpret them in the light of faith. (RFIS 118)
8) Yet, while it is necessary, on the one hand, not to neglect a solid and adequate intellectual formation, on the other hand, one needs to remember that the successful completion of the requirements of study cannot be the only criterion for determining the length of the formative iter of the candidate for the priesthood. This is because study, important thought it be, is but one aspect of integral formation in preparation for priesthood, even if it is by no means secondary. (RFIS 118)