A postulant is defined as an individual engaged in any stage of discernment, education, and preparation to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders within the Ordinariate. Postulancy consists of three phases.
2. Inquirers
The first stage of postulancy is that of an Inquirer.
A. Inquirers shall be baptized individuals who are at least eighteen years of age who are exploring a vocational calling to the diaconate or presbyterate.
B. Inquirers need to demonstrate a sincere desire to serve God, an understanding of the impact that a life with God should have on them and on those they may come one day to serve, and a capacity for learning.
C. During the period of inquiry and discernment, the individual will be assigned basic texts on the narrative of Scripture and ministerial spirituality. The individual must also make at least one spiritual retreat of no less than three days with an intention to consecrate the time specifically to discernment of one's vocational calling.
D. The inquirer will meet monthly with the vocations director, or the ordinary, as assigned.
E. The inquirer will endeavor to participate in the life of their local congregation each Sunday, and more often as possible, even if their current congregation is not a part of the Ordinariate.
1. When an individual does not live proximate to a ministry of the Ordinariate, and is unable to find a welcoming congregation in their local area, the vocations director and/or Ordinary shall work with the inquirer to develop an appropriate plan to address this challenge.
F. Ideally, the period of inquiry should last no longer than two years.
G. In consultation with the vocations director and the Ordinary, an inquirer who makes a positive decision to move forward with formation will need to select an academic pathway to pursue, and a means of personal financial support. These decisions will almost always be interrelated.
1. Younger inquirers should plan to attend college, university, vocational, or trade school with the intent of developing a skill-set that will permit gainful employment in the future. This may include pursuing a traditional seminary education if the individual is discerning a ministry role with the potential for financial remuneration. If the individual elects to study in a secular field, they may elect to carry out their postulancy studies through the Ordinariate's internal formation program.2. Inquirers who already have an educational background and a career that provides for the individual's financial needs may choose to further their education through a traditional seminary program, or through the Ordinariate's internal formation program.
H. Individuals electing not to proceed at the conclusion of an inquiry period may, after a break of eighteen months, revisit the process.
I. Before proceeding to the next stage in the Postulancy process, the individual must be confirmed and chrismated if they have not already been.
2. Seminarians
The second stage of postulancy is that of a Seminarian.
A. Seminarians shall be baptized, chrismated/confirmed individuals who are at least eighteen years and six months of age, who are enrolled in a traditional seminary program or in the Ordinariate's internal formation program.
1. The Ordinariate's internal formation program is governed by the document Norms for Internal Clerical Formation.
B. The seminarian will demonstrate regular progress in academics, a development of the internal life of prayer and meditation, and engagement in aspects of tangible ministry deemed appropriate.
C. The seminarian will meet at least quarterly with the vocations director and bi-annually with the Ordinary.
D. The length of seminarian status will vary from individual to individual, though it should not be unduly prolonged by considerations beyond academic, spiritual, and ministerial progress.
E. Seminarians shall be advanced through a series of minor orders, as provided for in Chapter 8, throughout their period of formation.
F. All seminarians will be required to take at least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from an institution approved by the Ordinariate. Those pursuing a career in professional chaplaincy must take at least two, and should take four.
G. At the conclusion of the formal educational process, the seminarian shall complete a standardized written and oral examination prepared for the Ordinariate. Successful completion of the examination will allow passage to the final stage of the postulancy process.
3. Candidates
The third and final stage of postulancy is that of Candidate.
A. Candidates shall have completed their academic studies, and have served for at least six months as a Subdeacon in order to qualify for ordination to the Diaconate.
B. Once admitted to candidate status, the candidate, vocations director, and the Ordinary shall establish an ordination date and location, in order to convey diaconal orders.
C. Unless finances or circumstances are prohibitive, the candidate should make a spiritual retreat during the candidacy period.
4. Adaptation for the Reception of Clergy Ordained outside of Apostolic Succession
The Ordinary (in consultation with the vocations director) may adapt this model to serve individuals who have completed the academic requirements to receive a degree and/or ordination in an ecclesial community which does not possess Apostolic Succession.
5. Adaptation for the Reception of Clergy Ordained in Apostolic Succession
If the Ordinary, upon review of an application for incardination, determines that some educational or formational area is lacking in a cleric's background, the candidate may be received with restrictions placed upon their ministry until such time as the area of development is fully addressed. In such an instance, aspects of the seminarian state would be revisited, and consistent completion of academic or spiritual goals must be demonstrated to retain faculties to function.