SAN DIEGO — Bishop Michael Pham is familiar with the diocese’s priest formation program. He entered St. Francis Seminary at the University of San Diego in 1994, was ordained in 1999, and served as director of priestly vocations for two years, starting in 2001.
Twenty-five years later, now as the leader of the diocese, the bishop wants to strengthen that vocations program.
He formed a task force last December to review all aspects of the diocese’s priestly formation program, with an eye to identifying weaknesses and offering recommendations to address them. This includes a thorough evaluation of recruitment efforts, who is discerning a vocation, current admission policies, and every element of the program itself.
“This effort represents an important step forward as we seek to strengthen our diocesan Church at this challenging time and ensure that we are faithfully and effectively forming the priests our people need — now and in the future,” the bishop said in announcing the task force to the community.
The priestly formation task force hired a professional consulting firm, Philadelphia-based Avanti Advisors, to help gather data and assist with developing final recommendations.
The firm has spent this year gathering insights from all those involved in the program, including current seminarians and some who left the program, priests and deacons, and staff at parishes where seminarians were or will be assigned during their formation. This was done through a survey and interviews.
Father Peter McGuine, who co-chairs the task force, said the firm also sought input from the school that provides the program’s theological formation, the Franciscan School of Theology.
He said the task force also is studying what happens after ordination.
“Once a man is ordained a priest, is that the end of his formation?” he said in an interview. “And the actual answer is no. He continues to learn a lot, both officially and unofficially. So, we’re looking at how we provide that formation.”
The task force envisions its work will take about one more year to complete. Afterward, the members will present Bishop Pham their recommendations, and the data that was collected.
Meanwhile, the diocese’s Priestly Formation Program continues. Three seminarians recently joined the program, bringing the total currently in formation to 12.
Two are on track to be ordained transitional deacons on Dec. 5 at St. Michael Church in Poway, and as priests for the diocese on June 19, 2027, at The Immaculata Church.
The next Explorer Day will be Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., at St Francis Center. Those interested in exploring the vocation of priesthood are urged to speak with their pastor if they want to attend.
The event is held on the University of San Diego campus, where a young Michael Pham began the road to the priesthood, a road that would eventually take him to the summit of the diocese he has served for 27 years.
