Program of Priestly Formation (PPF)

In the United States, the Program for Priestly Formation is issued by the USCCB and updated regularly. The NRVC Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors references the Program for Priestly Formation (PPF) standards in the application process and in the guidelines for candidate issues in discernment. The Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy has approved new norms for the formation of seminarians, which were drafted by the U.S. bishops’ conference in 2019, and have been under discussion between Rome and the USCCB since that time. 

The PPF 6th edition is now available for purchase at the USSCB.

The following links contain weekly bulletins from the USCCB Committee for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations to provide information to all those responsible for priestly vocations and formation.

For example, the 5th edition of the PPF used an academic language of college seminary, pre-theology, and major seminary. The 6th edition shifts to a language of relationship, following the Ratio fundamentalis, using four stages of initial formation: Propaedeutic, Discipleship, Configuration, and Vocational Synthesis.   

USCCB CCLV March 8, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV March 15, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV March 22, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV March 29, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV April 5, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV April 12, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV April 19, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB CCLV April 26, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV May 3, 2022 Principles of the PPF pre-Confirmatio Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV May 10, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV May 17, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV May 24, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV May 31, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV June 7, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV June 14, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV June 21, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV June 28, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV July 5, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV July 12, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

USCCB-CCLV July 19, 2022 Principles of the PPF Bulletin

All bulletins and additional information can be accessed at the USCCB website.