Abstract

In 1999 the Congregation for Christian Education approved the document Ratio ¡iisiUutionis sacerdotalis pro Polonia prepared by the Polish Episcopal Conference, This fíitto begins a process of reviewing the formation of candidates for the priesthood throughout the village. It is an important process, very delicate and difficult to carry out, especially, in the religious communities to which the formation of future religious priests is entrusted. There Ratio polacca has been formulated according to the needs of diocesan seminaries, but it is mandatory to introduce it it is also up to the religious, who, by organizing the formation of their own confreres, must at the same time to introduce them into religious life lived according to the charism of their institute. In this sense, the document of the Polish Bishops' Conference marks the beginning of a challenge for those responsible for the formation of religious candidates for the priesthood. On October 14, 2000 the Salesians engaged in formation in the community of post-novitiate and theological studentate of [,ad have come together to look at how to respond to these new needs. This contribution was offered as a starting point for their discussion. Highlighting the problem of the Salesian context of the initial formation of Salesians aspiring to the priesthood, the author presents the oratorian origins of the Salesian formative community, the theological reasons for a formative ter that must take into account the salesian formation and the specific priestly one of future Salesian priests. Next, try to dive deeper into some dimensions the Salesian context of the initial formation of Salesians aspiring to the priesthood, including: le íinalilá of the formation process, the pastoral and intellectual formation, the formators and their qualities, the particular characteristics of the Salesian formative community. Finish your work, presenting some challenges to the Salesian formation communities caused by the need for updating of the formation of Salesian priests according to the norms of the Polish Ratio.