Mount Angel Seminary 2020
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MOUNT ANGEL SEMINARY RULE OF LIFE 2020 © Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary 2020-2021 | 1 Abbey Drive, Saint Benedict, OR 97373 | 503-845-3030 MOUNT ANGEL SEMINARY RULE OF LIFE TABLE OF CONTENTS EXPLANATION OF THE SEAL ............................................................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................................6 HUMAN FORMATION ......................................................................................................................................................6 School of Human Virtue ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Code of Ethics ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 The Identity of the Seminarian .................................................................................................................................... 11 A Formative Environment ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Cultural Diversity ......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Health and Personal Development .............................................................................................................................. 19 Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth .......................................................................................................... 24 Harassment ................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Sexual Harassment ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Simplicity of Life........................................................................................................................................................... 28 Disciplinary Action ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 SPIRITUAL FORMATION ................................................................................................................................................ 31 Growth in the Spiritual Life .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Personal Prayer ........................................................................................................................................................... 33 Spiritual Direction ........................................................................................................................................................ 36 Intensive Spirituality Program ..................................................................................................................................... 38 INTELLECTUAL FORMATION .......................................................................................................................................... 39 Graduate and Undergraduate Programs .................................................................................................................... 40 Learning Environment ................................................................................................................................................. 40 PASTORAL FORMATION ................................................................................................................................................ 41 FIELD EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Other Pastoral Formation Opportunities Clinical Pastoral Education ......................................................................... 44 Summer Assignments .................................................................................................................................................. 44 Spanish Language Ministry Training Program ............................................................................................................ 44 THE PASTORAL FORMATION HANDBOOKS ................................................................................................................................. 44 Supervisors .................................................................................................................................................................. 45 Travel ........................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Code of Ethics .............................................................................................................................................................. 45 THE EVALUATION PROCESS ........................................................................................................................................... 45 MINISTRIES, CANDIDACY, DIACONATE AND PRIESTHOOD ............................................................................................ 55 SEMINARY SERVICES ..................................................................................................................................................... 58 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES ............................................................................................................................ 62 3 HILLTOP FACILITIES ....................................................................................................................................................... 62 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................. 66 SEMINARY PROCEDURES............................................................................................................................................... 67 End-of-the-Year Procedures ........................................................................................................................................ 67 Grievance Procedure ................................................................................................................................................... 68 Emergency Procedures ................................................................................................................................................ 69 Student Code of Conduct ............................................................................................................................................. 70 MOUNT ANGEL SEMINARY DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM ....................................................... 72 In keeping with the State’s guidance, the Seminary is operating according to its approved operational plan for in-person instruction. That plan should be followed and may at times supersede the contents of the Rule of Life. 4 Explanation of the Seal The Mount Angel Seminary seal is comprised of a shield divided into three panels, each with a bearing. The shield connotes “protection, dignity and power.” The upper part of the shield is the American eagle with outstretched wings facing uncharacteristically eastward. Although no specific information can be found for this direction, it makes sense that the face of the eagle, symbolic of America, is oriented towards the direction of the rising sun, a cosmic symbol of the Resurrection and Second Coming. Such an explanation would make the point that America will find her ultimate destiny in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lower right part of the shield bears a section of the American flag. The lower left part contains the superimposed Greek letters X (chi) and P (rho), the first two letters in the Greek word for “Christ.” A cross tops the entire shield. The shield is flanked by two additional symbols: a sword and a pen. It is thought that these symbols are meant to express the proverb, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” With this seal Mount Angel Seminary wishes to impress on the student that on leaving his alma mater he enters the world with the symbols of the Gospel and the best traditions of American culture. From their time of formation at Mount Angel Seminary, graduates are formed by God in Christ and equipped with learning (the pen) to bring the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of the United States. It is thought that the seal was designed by Frs. Urban Fischer, OSB, and Dominic Waedenschwyler, OSB, and was in use by 1891. (cf. Catalogue of Mt. Angel College and Seminary, 1897; explanation by Fr. Maurus Snyder, OSB, in Pacific Star, 1941, Feb. 7, p. 6) 5 Introduction Mount Angel Seminary is a formative community where seminarians from many dioceses and religious communities carry out the important and vital task of discerning and being formed for the Lord’s call to ordained priestly ministry in the