The Beloved Disciple Seminary places high emphasis on the actual process of formation for ministry, rather than simply helping you to obtain extensive "book knowledge." We want to help you form your attitudes toward pastoral ministry, which is essentially the role of the priest "being present" with someone and assisting them on their spiritual journey. It is the role of the seminary to help strengthen your spiritual life and deepen your relationship with God and with Christ's Church.

If you don't already have one, develop a consistent daily personal prayer life. If you already have one, nurture it and keep it up, as you will draw life and sustenance from it. The Contemporary Catholic Church and the Beloved Disciple Seminary place prime importance on the power of prayer and encourage all seminarians to explore this gift to its fullest.

As a seminarian, you will be assigned a mentor. This person is usually an experienced Catholic priest. The mentor's role is to act as a sounding board and guide for problems --- whether or not they are procedural, academic, spiritual , and/or ministerial problems. The role of the mentor is that of a "big brother" or "big sister" in providing you with encouragement on an ongoing basis. The mentor's relationship with you is different than that of the Bishop as the mentor is not your spiritual head nor will he/she ordain you. You will need to communicate with your mentor at least once every other week. Please note that the role of mentor is changed throughout the course of your studies so that the seminarian experiences a wide range of spiritual and pastoral leadership styles.

Because the role of the spiritual community is vital to the formation process, all seminarians are required to attend the annual church synod. Instruction in certain topics provided at the synod can be used for partial seminary studies credit. Seminarians are also expected to contribute as active participants in the ongoing discussions that are conducted on-line with other members of the seminary and clergy of the Contemporary Catholic Church. This is an integral aspect of one's pastoral formation.

It is also important that you maintain an ongoing relationship with your Bishop. This is part of the Apostolic tradition and will bring you into fuller communion with your spiritual power. Accordingly, you will need to communicate with the Bishop at least once a month, either by letter, email, or by telephone

While the school attempts to prepare candidates for ordination, candidates should also know that the final decision about their suitability for ordination to the priesthood or ministry is made in consultation with the Dean of the school, the Presiding Bishop of the Contemporary Catholic Church, and the mentoring Bishop and parish priest of the diocese where the seminarian resides.

Seminarians wishing to pursue ordination to the priesthood will pursue their studies at the Divine Beloved Seminary. Ordination to both major and minor orders is done by a Bishop after dialogue with the seminarian, tutors, mentors and course instructors. Please note that the decision to ordain someone is not based entirely upon one's successful completion of courses, but upon the discernment of those individuals facilitating the formation of the candidate. Seminarians who are candidates for the priesthood move through minor and major orders as they progress in their course work and spiritual formation. Some seminarians may not choose to be ordained to the priesthood, or may elect to study to the level of the diaconate but may not desire to become ordained as priests. Should these individuals decide at a later time to pursue the priesthood, they may re-enroll and complete their studies for the priesthood, without loss of any credits accrued.

Each candidate is asked to contribute time in voluntary service within her or his own community. Community service is required to both understand the nature of serving and to understand the social dimensions of the Gospels. In volunteering, we have the opportunity to move from the abstract and theoretical study of religion into the practical world of day-to-day service to God.