Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary and the Saint John Vianney Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host the 2nd Biennial Joint Conference to further understanding of the Vatican document Guidelines on the Proper Use of Psychology in the Admission of Seminary and Religious Candidates to the Priesthood. The conference, A Necessary Conversation: A Gathering of Experts Part II, takes place June 10th-13th.

The faculty assembled for the four day meeting consists of nationally and internationally recognized experts in the fields of psychology, theology, religious leadership, vocation promotion, and formation. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Most Reverend Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles; Dr. Richard Dana, Honorary Research Professor at the Regional Research Institute of Portland State University; and Dr. Fernando Ortiz, Director of the Counseling Center at Gonzaga University. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate Mass for the participants on Monday, June 11th.

Keynote Address by Most Reverend José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles
(Open to Media Coverage with Advance Arrangements)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
6:15 p.m.
Philadelphia Marriott-West Conshohocken
111 Crawford Avenue
West Conshohocken, PA 19428 (Montgomery County)

Vocation directors and formation directors as well as assessing and treating psychologists from around the world will gather to engage in dialogue focused on ensuring that the candidates studying in today's seminaries are best equipped to meet the moral, spiritual, and mental demands of the priesthood and build on the work of the 1st Joint Biennial Conference, held in 2010. Their efforts reflect recognition of the value of integrating proper psychological assessments as part of the human formation process in seminaries.

Father Gerard McGlone, S.J., Executive Director of Consultation, Education, and Research at Saint John Vianney Center said, "Research has shown that the more we increase dialogue among vocation directors, formation directors, and psychologists the more we enhance the quality of the candidates studying in our seminaries.** Those houses of formation which properly integrate psychological assessment into their human formation programs will produce priests who understand how to appropriately interact with both young people and adults. The end result is a major contribution toward ensuring that the Catholic Church in all of its forms is a safe environment."

The theme of this year's conference is "Inter-Cultural Competency." It was chosen based on research indicating that approximately 15% of all clergy and seminarians come from culturally diverse backgrounds and a desire to effectively respond to their unique needs. Individual sessions will center on African-American, Asian, European and Hispanic candidates for seminary formation.


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Editor's Note: Media are welcome to attend the keynote address by Archbishop Gomez on Sunday, June 10, 2012 or other particular talks. Advance arrangements are required through the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747. For more information on the 2nd Biennial Joint Conference please visit http://sjvcenter.org/sjvc_scs_conference_anecessaryconversation2_061012.php.


**The research referenced by Father McGlone is contained in the report prepared for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010, by the John Jay College Research Team. The full report can be found at http://bit.ly/USCCBJohnJayStudy.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Director of Communications
215-587-3747