Where there were 594 candidates in 2011, this has whittled to just 211 at present, says Heinrich Timmerevers, Bishop of Dresden-Meissen.

The decline in candidate numbers has had Germany's Catholic bishops considering ways of streamlining the formation of priests.

Timmerevers, who co-chairs the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) working group, proposes concentrating formation in only three cities: Mainz, Munich and Münster.

Preparatory courses would be held in Freiburg and Bamberg, and pastoral training would be divided between Paderborn, Erfurt, Rottenburg-Stuttgart and a city in Bavaria that has yet to be decided.

This would reduce the 20 places of instruction to nine.

"The reform would do away with long-established structures," Timmerevers says.

"But new approaches are needed to prepare priests for their future professional challenges. It will be difficult to satisfy everyone."

Discontent with the proposal has riled many, especially in dioceses that do not figure in the new set-up.

This is true for the city of Erfurt for instance, which was part of the old East Germany. Despite cooperating with five other dioceses, it's formation center would also be eliminated in the new plan.

Thirty years after the fall of the Wall, closing the formation centre in the former East German city of Erfurt is not an encouraging sign of solidarity for the former GDR," complained Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg.

"Moreover, the theological faculties would benefit from drawing inspiration from the curriculum of the Diocese of Erfurt."

"We are carrying out our mission of evangelization in the region of Germany where secularization is strongest, with more than 80% of the population having no connection with religion," said.

"Our experience is therefore important in helping priests to familiarize themselves with the development of society," argued the 68-year-old bishop, a former theology professor at Erfurt.

Universities also say they're concerned.They fear the loss of seminaries and houses of formation would impoverish all teaching of theology.

There are also teachers of religion courses, which contribute to strengthening inter-religious dialogue.

"Catholic theology must be kept present throughout the university landscape, in as many places and in as many regional and societal contexts as possible," one university professor says.

Meanwhile, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, head of the German bishops' conference, is pointing out the seminary proposal is only a prelude to discussion. No decision has yet been set in stone, he says.

Source

• La Croix
• Image: La Croix

At their spring assembly, the bishops heard from three married couples speaking about marriage and the family.

One of the couples, Ricardo and Lucia Luzondo, raised the issue of seminarian and priest formation.

"We understand the importance of the study of theology and philosophy, Mr Luzondo told the bishops.

"But we have noticed from our personal conversations with many priests and seminarians and from the many comments of couples that constantly approach them to seek their guidance and advice on how to face their marital challenges that many times, they don't feel competent or comfortable doing so," he said.

"And for these reasons, oftentimes they limit or avoid their pastoral care of couples or even offer spouses counselling and advice that is not in line with the many pastoral letters on marriage."

Spouses and couples in conflict "reach out to their churches for help when they face marital conflict", Mr Luzondo said, even if they have not been to church in a long time.

"This is a prime opportunity for evangelisation," he said.

The Luzondos, who have been married for 15 years, said there is a "great need" for more extensive formation and training for seminarians as well as enrichment for priests on attending to the pastoral needs of couples.

The Luzondos also questioned how well the Church helps engaged couples become active members of parish communities.

"Moreover, once they are married, it seems that we often fail to provide them with sufficient accompaniment and appropriate resources to maintain a happy and joyful marriage," Mrs Luzondo said.

Claire and John Grobowski, who have been married for 30 years, in their message to the bishops noted: "It is impossible to have a strong marriage without Christian community."

"The heart of how we grow in holiness in marriage is learning how to serve each other and ultimately to help each other get to heaven," Mrs Grobowski said.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: RGB stock