The Nazareth House, situated across the street from Bishop O’Gorman High School, is the location for the Propaedeutic Formation Program for the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Seminarians for the Diocese of Sioux Falls spend their first year of seminary formation living in this house. Rooted in daily prayer, fraternity and intentional accompaniment, it provides a stable environment where seminarians come to know of God’s love for them and know more clearly his will for their life.

This house hosts the Propaedeutic Stage of priestly formation. The purpose of the Propaedeutic Stage is to help a man grow in human and spiritual formation before beginning the rigors of academic life. This stage includes daily Mass, adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, formation classes, Scripture and catechism classes, and pastoral ministry within the Diocese of Sioux Falls. This stage also includes a three-day and an eight-day silent retreat, all designed to help the man come to know more clearly whether or not he is called further on in seminary formation. This formation program at the Nazareth House also includes a tech fast designed to help the man know the voice of God.

The Diocese of Sioux Falls carries out the Propaedeutic Year within the diocese to root future priests in the life of their local Church from the very beginning. Formed close to the bishop, the vocations team and diocesan clergy, seminarians encounter the people, parishes, culture and pastoral needs they are discerning to serve. By beginning formation at home, the diocese helps men develop a missionary love for eastern South Dakota that will sustain their prayer, study and pastoral charity through seminary and into priestly ministry.

If you’d like to know more about the Nazareth House and the propaedeutic program, please contact the Vocations Office at 605-988-3772.