Seminaries Must Form ‘Artisans of Hope’ to Face AI and Changing Society, Says CMI Priest

Mysuru, November 7, 2026: Seminaries must move beyond uniform models of priestly formation and prepare candidates to listen, discern and respond to the changing realities of society, said Fr. Dr. Joshy George Pazhukkathara CMI, Finance Administrator of Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bengaluru.

Addressing the Pallottine Jubilee symposium in Mysuru, he spoke on the theme ‘From Babel to Jerusalem’, drawing on Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which addresses artificial intelligence and human dignity.

Warning against a standardised approach to priestly formation, Fr. Pazhukkathara said seminaries risk producing interchangeable priests when they impose uniform solutions and prioritise institutional reputation over preparing candidates for the complexities of pastoral life.

Contrasting the biblical image of Babel with the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Nehemiah, he stressed the importance of collaboration, shared responsibility and recognising individual abilities. He described a seminary as a “construction site, not a factory”, urging formators to listen to, understand and guide each seminarian according to his gifts and potential.

He identified artificial intelligence, the digital culture of Generation Z and Generation Alpha, and changing family structures as three major factors reshaping priestly formation.

He cautioned that excessive reliance on AI could lead the Church to assess individuals through efficiency and data rather than their human qualities. He also urged formators to understand the digital environment in which younger generations grow up and address their changing needs for belonging and community, particularly in the context of increasingly fragile family structures.

Presenting a six-stage model of formation inspired by the Emmaus journey, he outlined the process as Encounter, Listen, Interpret, Discern, Act and Reflect. He recommended pastoral portfolios, structured mentoring, community involvement, digital discernment and evaluations incorporating feedback from laypeople as practical ways to strengthen formation.

Concluding with a reflection on Mary's Magnificat, Fr. Pazhukkathara called for a formation approach that prepares priests to respond creatively and compassionately to contemporary challenges.

“The Church does not send standardized clergymen into a digital Babel. It sends artisans of hope formed not merely to know, but to love; not merely to answer, but to listen,” he said.

By Catholic Connect Reporter