Training as a Marist Priest or Brother begins in Auckland, at the Marist Seminary and Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College, then continues at the Society of Mary’s English-speaking International Novitiate, and later at the Marist International Theologate in Rome.
The training, or “formation” process begins by joining the Marist Seminary community, generally for a period of 2 years. During this time Marist seminarians:
- live as part of the Marist Seminary Community
- are introduced to the Marist life and charism
- discern whether they would like to go to Novitiate and become a Marist
- study at Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College towards a Bachelor of Divinity degree
- undertake some pastoral work in the wider Auckland community
If a Marist Seminarian decides to continue his formation he applies to go to the Marist International Novitiate in the Philippines where, if accepted, he is joined by other English-speaking novices from around the world.
The novitiate is a spiritual year in which novices from different cultures and backgrounds focus on what it means to live as Marists together. This includes prayer and discernment, living community life and mission, and studying the Marist Constitutions and documents on Religious Life.
At the end of the Novitiate the Marist seminarian is professed as a Marist and is entitled to place SM (Society of Mary) after his name.
He then travels to Rome to study for four years with other Marist seminarians from around the world, at one of the big Roman theological colleges. During the summer holidays in Rome the seminarian will generally go on pastoral placement to one of the various Marist missions worldwide.
In his final year in Rome the seminarian will take his final vows as a Marist and, for priest students, be ordained as a deacon.
At the end of his formation in Rome, the Marist deacon returns to New Zealand for ordination as a Priest.
After ordination, a newly ordained priest can expect to be placed in a supportive Marist community and occasionally gather with other newly ordained Marists either in New Zealand or in an international English – speaking setting.