Spirituality | Cathedral Prep

Cathedral Preparatory Seminary

Spirituality @ Cathedral Prep

The Spiritual Program at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary is under the supervision of the Spiritual Directors. Participation in the spiritual program is expected of all students by the very nature of Cathedral as a seminary. It is a serious responsibility freely accepted by each student when he decides to come to a school that is directed toward the ministerial priesthood in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
What the spiritual program provides is a structure within which growth in the life of Christ can take place. It is the chief means by which Cathedral accomplishes its purpose: the discernment of a vocation to the priesthood. The program has six main parts:
1) Individual Direction: The Spiritual Directors will see each student periodically during the year in order to provide direction and guidance concerning growth and development in Christ. At the same time, all Cathedral faculty members are available to guide students as different needs arise. Cathedral‰s Spiritual Directors are available in their office each day for individual counseling as well.
2) Spiritual Conferences: The Spiritual Directors will conduct a conference for each class on prayer and the spiritual life twice during each semester. These conferences will usually take place in the Chapel during a Religion Period.
3) The Eucharist: The Eucharist is the center of all Christian life and growth. The people of God expect a young man who aspires toward the priesthood to grow in Christian piety and maturity. The Eucharist is the principal means for growing in Christ: for it is there that one hears the Word of God and is fed with the Bread of Life.
Daily participation at Mass at Cathedral is required for all students and faculty.
Each week a special Community Mass is celebrated.
Each grade level will participate in the Mass program so that students might become more directly involved in the preparation of liturgies.
All readers and servers at Mass are expected to carry out their service with responsibility and care.
4) The Sacrament of Reconciliation: The Lord instituted a special sacrament of penance for the pardon of sins committed after baptism, and the Church has faithfully celebrated the sacrament throughout the centuries. Penance services are celebrated during Lent and Advent. The Spiritual Directors are available for the Sacrament of Penance after school. Students should feel free to approach the Spiritual Directors or any of the Cathedral priests at any time for the Sacrament of Penance.

5) Annual Retreat and Day of Recollection: Spiritual life is an imitation of the Lord in His life, death and resurrection. We imitate Jesus in His practice of going off to a quiet place to be alone in prayer with His Father. Each class makes a retreat at one of the retreat houses in the metropolitan area during the first semester. In the Spring there is a Day of Recollection for the entire school.
Supportive Spiritual Exercises:
a) Visits to the Blessed Sacrament: Students are encouraged to make visits to the Blessed Sacrament frequently to grow in friendship with the Lord.
b) Eucharistic Devotion: Once each week, usually after Community Mass, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and continuing throughout the school day. Students from each class will be assigned a period of prayer and adoration during the day on a rotating basis. Immediately after the last period, the entire school community will assemble in the Chapel for a brief Prayer Service and Benediction.
c) The Way of the Cross: Meditating upon and uniting ourselves with the passion of Christ, we journey with Him on the road to Calvary. During the Season of Lent, Stations of the Cross are held on Friday in Chapel during the Assembly period.
d) Prayer Service: A seminary community gathers for prayer, not only at the Eucharist but also at other times, to be fed and strengthened by the Word of God. All students will participate in special prayer services during the year.
e) The Rosary: From the Cross Jesus entrusted His Mother to the Apostle John and to us as our Mother, our companion along the journey of Life, our intercessor, and our sign of hope. Mary is the Patroness of Cathedral and of all seminarians. Through the Rosary we meditate on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and on Mary‰s role in the work of redemption. The recitation of the Rosary is strongly recommended to all as a way of drawing closer to Christ through Mary.
Personal growth as well as spiritual and intellectual growth is a goal for the Cathedral Prep student. To assist the student in this endeavor Cathedral Prep offers the availability of counseling. Students may approach the counselor at any time. All information is held in strict confidence. The faculty at times recommends a student for counseling.
At the end of Sophomore year, each student will be expected to submit a Letter of Intention indicating he still wishes to participate in the Spiritual Program of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. This letter is on page 56 of the Student Handbook.

IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL PROGRAM
Consistent refusal to manifest a positive and cooperative attitude and participation in the Spiritual Program of the school may lead to a judgment on the part of the faculty that a particular student‰s continued presence is detrimental to the overall goals of the school and could result in dismissal from the school.

P: 718.592.6800 56-25 92nd Street Elmhurst, NY 11373 F: 718.592.5574

The Spiritual Program at Cathedral Preparatory Seminary is under the supervision of the Spiritual Directors. Participation in the spiritual program is expected of all students by the very nature of Cathedral as a seminary. It is a serious responsibility freely accepted by each student when he decides to come to a school that is directed toward the ministerial priesthood in the Diocese of Brooklyn. What the spiritual program provides is a structure within which growth in the life of Christ can take place. It is the chief means by which Cathedral accomplishes its purpose: the discernment of a vocation to the priesthood. The program has six main parts: 1) Individual Direction: The Spiritual Directors will see each student periodically during the year in order to provide direction and guidance concerning growth and development in Christ. At the same time, all Cathedral faculty members are available to guide students as different needs arise. Cathedral‰s Spiritual Directors are available in their office each day for individual counseling as well. 2) Spiritual Conferences: The Spiritual Directors will conduct a conference for each class on prayer and the spiritual life twice during each semester. These conferences will usually take place in the Chapel during a Religion Period. 3) The Eucharist: The Eucharist is the center of all Christian life and growth. The people of God expect a young man who aspires toward the priesthood to grow in Christian piety and maturity. The Eucharist is the principal means for growing in Christ: for it is there that one hears the Word of God and is fed with the Bread of Life. Daily participation at Mass at Cathedral is required for all students and faculty. Each week a special Community Mass is celebrated. Each grade level will participate in the Mass program so that students might become more directly involved in the preparation of liturgies. All readers and servers at Mass are expected to carry out their service with responsibility and care. 4) The Sacrament of Reconciliation: The Lord instituted a special sacrament of penance for the pardon of sins committed after baptism, and the Church has faithfully celebrated the sacrament throughout the centuries. Penance services are celebrated during Lent and Advent. The Spiritual Directors are available for the Sacrament of Penance after school. Students should feel free to approach the Spiritual Directors or any of the Cathedral priests at any time for the Sacrament of Penance.		5) Annual Retreat and Day of Recollection: Spiritual life is an imitation of the Lord in His life, death and resurrection. We imitate Jesus in His practice of going off to a quiet place to be alone in prayer with His Father. Each class makes a retreat at one of the retreat houses in the metropolitan area during the first semester. In the Spring there is a Day of Recollection for the entire school. Supportive Spiritual Exercises: a) Visits to the Blessed Sacrament: Students are encouraged to make visits to the Blessed Sacrament frequently to grow in friendship with the Lord. b) Eucharistic Devotion: Once each week, usually after Community Mass, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and continuing throughout the school day. Students from each class will be assigned a period of prayer and adoration during the day on a rotating basis. Immediately after the last period, the entire school community will assemble in the Chapel for a brief Prayer Service and Benediction. c) The Way of the Cross: Meditating upon and uniting ourselves with the passion of Christ, we journey with Him on the road to Calvary. During the Season of Lent, Stations of the Cross are held on Friday in Chapel during the Assembly period. d) Prayer Service: A seminary community gathers for prayer, not only at the Eucharist but also at other times, to be fed and strengthened by the Word of God. All students will participate in special prayer services during the year. e) The Rosary: From the Cross Jesus entrusted His Mother to the Apostle John and to us as our Mother, our companion along the journey of Life, our intercessor, and our sign of hope. Mary is the Patroness of Cathedral and of all seminarians. Through the Rosary we meditate on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and on Mary‰s role in the work of redemption. The recitation of the Rosary is strongly recommended to all as a way of drawing closer to Christ through Mary. Personal growth as well as spiritual and intellectual growth is a goal for the Cathedral Prep student. To assist the student in this endeavor Cathedral Prep offers the availability of counseling. Students may approach the counselor at any time. All information is held in strict confidence. The faculty at times recommends a student for counseling. At the end of Sophomore year, each student will be expected to submit a Letter of Intention indicating he still wishes to participate in the Spiritual Program of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. This letter is on page 56 of the Student Handbook.
IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL PROGRAM Consistent refusal to manifest a positive and cooperative attitude and participation in the Spiritual Program of the school may lead to a judgment on the part of the faculty that a particular student‰s continued presence is detrimental to the overall goals of the school and could result in dismissal from the school.


P: 718.592.6800	56-25 92nd Street Elmhurst, NY 11373	F: 718.592.5574