Novitiate and College of Humanities
At the Legionaries of Christ Novitiate and College of Humanities (LC Cheshire) in Cheshire, Connecticut, young men begin their journey to the priesthood in the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ. While there the seminarians receive their first four years of formation in spiritual, human, intellectual, and apostolic formation. This is the foundation for their future as priests and apostles in the world.
BECOMING A LEGIONARY
Journey to the Priesthood
The candidacy program is a two-month summer program designed to discern whether God seems to be calling a man to be a priest with the Legionaries of Christ. Because community is so essential in the life of a Legionary of Christ, the candidates live together during this program in Cheshire, Connecticut.
They live like a Legionary: following a disciplined lifestyle and schedule, engaging in community life, attending courses, sports, and apostolate, and strengthening their prayer and sacramental life as a band of brothers seeking to follow God’s will.
The novitiate is traditionally known among Legionaries as “the University where you study Christ.” It is a period marked by a particular separation from the world as the novice has limited access to internet and no cellphone or use of social media. This atmosphere allows him to hear the Lord speaking within his soul in order to discern his vocation as well as lay the foundation of a solid interior life, without which his future apostolate will be fruitless. Novices study the spirituality of the Legionaries of Christ, the history of the Legion, human formation, and the theology of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. After two years, the novitiate ends with the first profession of vows which he makes for 2 years.
Humanities is the time when a Legionary studies the heart of man in order to engage culture. He continues to deepen his response to Christ, who calls him to live in the world but not be of the world. The humanities program in Cheshire, Connecticut, lasts for two years and includes Legionaries from 6 novitiates from around the world (The United States, Mexico, Europe, Venezuela, Brazil, and Colombia). At the end of humanities, the Legionary renews his vows for another three years before heading to Rome for the study of philosophy.
To evangelize society, a Legionary dedicates three years to developing a deeper understanding of the person and his relationship with the world and with God through the study of philosophy. In a world where information is readily available, these studies help us interpret reality and find the proper balance between God, the world, and humankind. In a polarized world, a solid intellectual formation allows our men to ground dialogue in reality.
At the end of Philosophy, a Legionary renews his vows for four years.
After philosophy, a Legionary begins his time of apostolic internship. He re-lives the experience of the seventy-two disciples of being sent. He dedicates two years of his formation fully to the apostolate. During this time, he lives in a Legionary community, getting to know more closely and practically the life of a Legionary priest. He takes advantage of these years to consolidate habits and form his heart to be like Christ.
Returning to Rome, a Legionary studies theology, integrating the Word of God and teaching of the Church to deepen his experience of the history of salvation, which he will communicate to society during his priestly ministry. After experiencing the range of facets of Legionary life, he commits definitively to Christ through religious life, making his perpetual vows.
After about 12 years a Legionary receives the grace of ordination to the temporary diaconate. He will remain a deacon for around a year while he also serves teh mission in what will be his first assignment as a priest.
After 13 years of formation, a Legionary receives the grace of ordination to the diaconate and then to the priesthood and is finally able to celebrate the Eucharist and administer the sacrament of reconciliation. For a Legionary, arriving at ordination is not the end of the story but the beginning of a new chapter.
Meet the Rector
Fr. Timothy Walsh
“As President-Rector, I thank you for your support and invite you to join us in this exciting task of evangelization. I ask you for your prayers that we might be faithful to our mission and always attentive to what the Lord is asking of us. Know that all the brothers are praying for you, and if you have any special intentions, please send them our way. We would love to get to know you and pray for you.”
LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST
Integral Formation
Integral Formation
For their human formation, all are required to cooperate in the cleanliness and maintenance of the house and the gardens, and to fulfill chores in the kitchen and in the dining room. Further, the house has a choir and a band. Team sports, individual exercise, and regular community outings for hikes apply the ancient formation principle: mens sana in corpore sano -a healthy mind and a healthy body belong together.
Readings during meals, special group presentations on academic subjects for the whole community (“academies”) several times a year, regular “Cheshire Lectures” given by faculty members or qualified outside speakers, and visits to museums, historical places, exhibitions, and classical music concerts are elements that enrich the ordinary formation program.
The academic program provided by the College is part of a comprehensive preparation for the Roman Catholic priesthood. According to the ancient tradition of religious life, the daily schedule is characterized by a healthy combination of prayer, work, study, and relaxation.
One of the main principles is personalized formation. Each member is encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for his growth in all areas, but he is also accompanied by a team of formators. In addition to receiving frequent spiritual and human guidance on an individual basis, the religious have an academic adviser who guides them individually in all aspects of their intellectual formation and academic work.
The internationality of the community contributes to avoid prejudices and to promote openness to other cultures and traditions by living a universal spirit characteristic of the Catholic Church. The community is divided up into teams where each individual listens and learns from others, collaborates with them, has initiatives, and exercises the skill of leadership and responsibility.
Opportunities to train in apostolic work by participating in youth groups, teaching Catechesis, giving talks in parishes, organizing events in the lay apostolate, and accompanying experienced priests in their ministry help the religious to see their studies within the context of their future mission. These moments lived outside of their ordinary environment contribute to the task of evangelization even from the early stages of their formation
The atmosphere of the seminary allows a young man to hear the Lord speaking within his soul in order to discern his vocation as well as lay the foundation of a solid interior life, without which his future apostolate will be fruitless. He continues to deepen his response to Christ, who calls him to live in the world but not be of the world.
Livestream from the seminary chapel
Livestream from the seminary chapel
Events at the Seminary
475 Oak avenue, CHESHIRE, CT
