Abundantly Supported

we believe in forming explosively alive, thriving and healthy priests

by: Fr. Daniel Ramos, CC

What’s it like being a new ordinand knowing that your community is going to continue investing in your formation as a priest and a leader?

• As I look back at my first twelve months of priesthood, I can genuinely say that I have been abundantly supported and adequately stretched in learning the life of a priest. From day one, I’ve enjoyed the support of brother priests in all the new experiences and learnings involved in the life of a new priest. I have been challenged and stretched (in a positive way) to learn and grow in my priestly leadership. I have been stretched in a way that has accelerated my growth.
• I believe this balance between support and stretching is because of the direction that we, the Companions of the Cross, are taking towards the formation of priests. We believe formation doesn’t end at ordination. In fact, certain kinds of formation, such as leadership formation and pastoral formation, only begin post-ordination. Our community sees that these early years of priesthood are pivotal for my formation as a priest and leader.
• I am supported by a well-seasoned and gifted pastor and brother Companion of the Cross in Fr. Simon. I also minister alongside my fellow Companion of the Cross brother, Fr. Isaac, who was ordained with me. We’ve been able to learn together and grow together.
• It’s relieving, affirming and exciting to know that my community is going to continue investing in my formation—that I’m not simply thrown into the deep end and left to figure it out on my own. There is an intentional accompaniment between seasoned pastors and new priests that doesn’t err to either extremes of “thrown into the deep end” or “direct hand holding.”
• It is encouraging to know that this isn’t a one-off specific thing to my particular experience; this is the direction that we are taking as a wider community. We are being formed to be thriving priest leaders that is so desperately needed in our Church today.

Even though ongoing formation is in the development stage, may you speak to your experience working with Fr. Bryan and the other priests who are part of the program?

• Last year, a few Companions of the Cross brothers and I met regularly to discuss some aspect of priestly ministry. Being able to connect regularly has helped continue the formation process.
• In our small group meetings we have been studying priestly leadership material by Divine Renovation and facilitated by a Divine Renovation coach.
• As Companions of the Cross, we recognize the need for change. The status quo hasn’t been creating thriving priests. If anything, it has created priests that can survive well at best or, more often than not, priests that can delay ministry burnout.
• We are focusing on redefining what modern priesthood looks like. This is not about the theological and spiritual meaning of the priesthood. We want to redefine how modern priestly ministry and life looks.
• The Companions of the Cross are pursuing this direction because we believe forming explosively alive, thriving and healthy priests will lead to an explosively alive church.