About pastoral formation

In pastoral formation, we hope to prepare students for the realities of parish life and ministry. This formation looks at both theory and practice and gives students the opportunity to gain real pastoral experience through placements.

House groups

A significant part of the building up of our community and pastoral formation are the house groups. These groups mix up the seminarians across year groups and are designed to build fraternity throughout the college.

The house groups meet weekly to pray, socialise and serve others together. This looks different for every group. It could look like sharing their faith stories, doing Lectio Divina, cooking a meal together, playing a game or going to support a local parish or charitable work.

House groups are each given a local parish to join for Sunday Mass where they serve the parish, responding to their needs and bringing their own initiative. This could include being involved in parish groups, serving at RCIA (becoming a Catholic course), teaching catechesis, supporting works of evangelisation, or going out to visit the housebound.

Pastoral study days

On our pastoral study days, an external expert comes to the college to share their knowledge on a topic that our students will deal with in their ministry as priests. These days really help to prepare seminarians for the various realities of being the spiritual father of a parish.

Pastoral placements

Throughout their time in seminary, seminarians are allocated to pastoral placements alongside their other studies. Depending on their previous pastoral experiences, they are given placements that will broaden and develop their pastoral skills.

These usually take place one afternoon or evening a week in the local area, either doing general parish work or in specific ministries working with the youth, the elderly, RCIA, schools, hospitals and prisons. Each seminarian is required to keep a Pastoral Journal in preparation for theological reflection in seminars and tutorials.

What to expect

What is being at seminary actually like? Here’s what happens in a day, a year and over six years of formation here at Oscott College.

Discover more

How you can support us

Can you help us to form the next generation of priests? Whatever you can give really does make a difference.

Supporting the college