Formators from Vietnam´s six major seminaries have highlighted deficiencies in the intellectual formation they provide to seminarians.

Bishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Lang Son told UCA News on July 18 that participants in the annual meeting of seminary formators discussed the intellectual development of seminarians and ways to help them achieve educational objectives. Bishop Kiet, 51, is also apostolic administrator of Ha Noi archdiocese and head of Ha Noi Major Seminary,

The bishop said that during the meeting July 8-9 in Ha Noi, he cited deficiencies in facilities, reference books and the curriculum that hinder the studies of his seminarians.

The Ha Noi seminary, with 170 seminarians from eight dioceses in northern Vietnam, needs more teachers and books as well as a formation program that identifies with people and society in the 21st century, he said. He asked other seminaries to help him with teachers, books and reference materials.

Bishop Paul Tinh Nguyen Binh Tinh of Da Nang told UCA News the shortage of teachers in seminaries, especially in Ha Noi Major Seminary, undermines intellectual formation. The bishop, head of the Episcopal Commission for Clergy and Seminarians, is based in Da Nang 760 kilometers south of Ha Noi.

According to Bishop Tinh, "The most common problems that all seminaries face and try to overcome are differences in education standards among seminarians and their lack of skill in foreign languages -- and even Vietnamese!"

Bishop Kiet said the meeting participants approved a core curriculum including courses on the Bible, canon law, philosophy and theology that are compulsory for all seminarians. However, counseling, ethics, sociology and other subjects are optional according to each seminary´s situation.

Bishop Tinh, 73, explained that due to varying situations, the goal of a common curriculum set by last year´s meeting could not be achieved. He pointed out, though, that canon law stipulates a seminarian´s formation should not be less than six years.

The seminary commission head said that about 900 seminarians are studying at the six major seminaries in Vietnam.

Besides Bishops Kiet and Bishop Tinh, two other bishops and 21 representatives from the six seminaries attended the meeting.

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