Rationale of the Program

            The PRE-PHILOSOPHY SUNDAY REINFORCEMENT FORMATION PROGRAM is an assistance program for the institutional Pre-Philosophy program of St. Joseph Seminary College. It is not a separate program that builds up its own identity but is attached to the basic formation program for Pre-Philosophy seminarians. It is geared to complement and enrich the experiences of the Pre-philosophy seminarians in formation and at the same time process them so that direction and guidance may be forged. This program is given every Sunday except the Sundays devoted to home visitation, study during the examination week, or other pre-arranged schedules that require the presence of all the seminarians.

General objective

            The supervision of a reinforcement program for Pre-Philosophy seminarians on Sundays during the School Year through lectures and classroom conferences, group discussions and dynamics, individual reflections and projects, manual works, film showing, field exposures and educational trips such that a wholistic introduction to formation may be better understood, personally valued, and accepted as part of the formation system and of each person who prepares himself for a bigger scope of responsibility in the Seminary and the community in general.

Specific objectives

1. To provide a doable, concrete, and developmental support program for Pre-Philosophy seminarians given on Sundays during the School Year to reinforce the institutional program prepared for them;
2. To accompany and usher in the Pre-Philosophy seminarians to the awareness, full grasp, and ownership of their vocation in order to teach and inculcate in them the various mechanisms of growth and maturity in their life with God;
3. To enrich and process the Pre-Philosophy seminarians’ experiences by giving them varied opportunities where they can openly share their ideas, feelings, opinions, and views and direct or redirect them to a more Christian and Gospel-based learning and outlook.

Mechanics of the Program

            The program is given on all the Sundays (except on examinations week, pre-arranged schedule, home visitation, or for other reasons that may cancel the schedule) during the School Year to the Pre-Philosophy seminarians. They stay in the seminary while the rest of the College seminarians go for their apostolate. The program is given through lectures (with resource persons), conferences, group sharing and dynamics, film showing, individual reflections and projects, field trips and exposures. There is a developmental organization of topics outlined for the entire School Year. A simple journal of significant incidents or events is required. At the end of each Semester, an evaluation shall be conducted to determine the progress and development of the seminarians.

Expectations/agreement

1. The Pre-Philosophy seminarian is expected to have met all the requirements for admission to the St. Joseph Seminary College;
2. He is expected to report to the classroom on time (to be punctual) and follow classroom guidelines and regulations faithfully;
3. He is expected to attend all the activities outlined in the program with active participation and cooperation (unless otherwise a valid reason may exempt him from attending a session);
4. He is expected to submit his assignments and projects on time (on or before the deadline set by the instructor);
5. He is expected to have a separate notebook for the Sunday program from out of which inputs and lessons are recorded;
6. He is expected to keep a journal for his significant learnings and experiences;
7. He is expected to help himself and his classmates make use of the program positively so that growth and maturity may be forged and sustained for his formation;
8. He is expected to be open to the instructor by entrusting himself with utmost confidence and honesty so that he may be helped in breaking all the barriers for his personal and spiritual development;

Time Frame of the Program

Ten months (two semesters)

FIRST SEMESTER: from June to October

SECOND SEMESTER: from November to March

8:00 AM-12:00 NOON every Sunday

Place of delivery of the Program

            The Pre-Philosophy Sunday Reinforcement Program is given basically in the Pre-Philosophy classroom. However, certain activities may need other places like: the Seminary ground, Kiosk, Chapel, garden, Auditorium, Refectory, Lobby, Dormitory, others.

MODULES OF THE PROGRAM

MODULE ONE: PROGRAM PRELIMINARIES

Getting to Know. Introduction. Expectations. Alignment.  Focus of the program. Presentation of modules. Situationer: where am I right now?

Mechanics: Group dynamics, lecture, visual presentation

Time frame: one (1) Sunday

MODULE TWO: DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Creation: man as the image of God. Basic needs of the self as a human person.  Background and history of each person. Psychological build-up and personal dynamics. The vocation to love.

Mechanics: Group dynamics. Discussion. Sharing. Lecture.

Time frame: two (2) Sundays

MODULE THREE: BEFRIENDING THE HUMAN SELF

The wounds of childhood. Healing the wounds and coping with pressures. Coping mechanisms. Friendship and affirmation. Trust in relationship.

Mechanics: Group dynamics. Sharing. Lecture. Process.

Time frame: two (2) Sundays

MODULE FOUR: MY FAMILY, MY HOME

Parents. Family relationship. Home environment. Special concerns. Expressing self in family. Acceptance of self with family. Journeying with family. Joy in and with the family.

Mechanics: Group dynamics. Group/individual sharing. Film showing. Lecture input. Process.

Time frame: four (4) Sundays

MODULE FIVE: LIVING IN A COMMUNITY (I)

Good manners and right conduct

The practice of basic courtesy. Urbanidad (social graces). Good grooming and personal hygiene. Proper behavior in proper places. Prudence. Honesty and openness. Developing a positive outlook and self confidence.

Mechanics: Resource person. Lecture input. Workshop.

Time frame: one (1) Sunday

MODULE SIX: LIVING IN A COMMUNITY (II)

Dealing with peers and responding to peer-pressure

Establishing true friendship. Pakikisama and value formation. Setting the limits of friendship and personal convictions. Differentiating what I want to do from what is the right thing to do. Build own personal values: live and stand firm for them. Saying NO to destructive activities.

Mechanics: Group dynamics. Lecture input. Resource persons. Group sharing. Film showing. Exercises.

Time frame: three (3) Sundays

MODULE SEVEN: LIVING IN A COMMUNITY (III)

Living with superiors and authority figures

Finding a place in the community. Dealing with institutional demands. Dealing with superiors and authority figures.

Mechanics: Lecture input. Group sharing. Group dynamics. Exercises.

Time frame: two (2) Sundays

MODULE EIGHT: THE VALUE OF MANUAL LABOR

The dignity of manual work. Work as ingredient to human existence: I work therefore I exist. Work as doorway to personal development. Work and human progress: elevating life in the presence of God. St. Joseph the worker.

Mechanics: lecture and discussion. Resource person. Field work: organic gardening/farming.

Time frame: two (2) Sundays

Note: gardening will be an on-going activity of the class. The individual seminarian is expected to have his own plot to cultivate and where he plants his own crops and takes care of them.

MODULE NINE: THE DIOCESAN PRIESTHOOD

Elements of the Diocesan Priestly Spirituality.

Mechanics: lecture input. Group sharing. Film showing.

Time frame: one (1) Sunday