Daily Eucharist: Daily celebration of the Eucharist is an essential component of the Church's life of prayer and conversion (PPF: 273). The community gathers for daily celebration of the Eucharist because of this conviction. Regular contact with the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the key formative experience for one seeking to be like Christ.

Communal Prayer: The community prays Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer several times a week in the theologate chapel or with the college students in the Main Chapel. Three evenings a week, Evening Prayer is prayed in small groups and privately. Students gradually pray the full Office as mandated for diocesan priests (Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer) by the time they are ordained deacons. "A loving knowledge of the word of God and a prayerful familiarity with it are specifically important for the prophetic ministry of the priest (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 47)." Regular praying of the Office assists the students to this "loving knowledge" and "prayerful familiarity" which foster their later ministry of the Word.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation: "Particular attention should be given to the meaning and practice of the Sacrament of Penance as a means of conversion." (PPF, 276). The seminarians are encouraged in spiritual direction sessions, rector's conferences, and in the Sacraments of Healing course to celebrate the sacrament frequently as part of their growing relationship with the Lord. Sacramental reconciliation is available on a weekly basis, and communal celebration with individual confession occurs seasonally.

Communal Devotional Prayer: The PPF (319) calls for opportunities for devotional prayer. Each week the entire community gathers for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration. All-night Eucharistic Adoration takes place monthly in the chapel. Each day the rosary is prayed in the main chapel. Seasonal and cultural devotions such as those appropriate for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe are observed with prayer. Other civil and cultural events such as the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are also celebrated with various forms of communal prayer.

Personal Prayer: "In the solitude of their own prayer, priests encounter in a special and personal way the Lord whom they proclaim and celebrate in public ministry (PPF 76)." The seminarians are encouraged to be "praying always" and to set aside a significant amount of time each day for personal prayer. The Decree on Priestly Formation describes the necessity of seeking the Lord in prayer, "Those who are to take on the likeness of Christ the high priest by sacred ordination should form the habit of drawing close to him as friends in every detail of their lives (n. 8)." This likeness is seen in a specific way as the young man grows in his commitment to loving Christ and His Spouse, the church, through celibacy, for which commitment personal prayer is essential. The Catechism of  the Catholic Church notes that when accepted with a joyous heart, "celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God (#1579).

The Desert Formation Experience: The Desert Formation Experience (DFE) is designed as an intensive introduction for the first year student to the rich tradition of spirituality in the Church. In response to the changing climate of our culture and the circumstances from which candidates come to the seminary, the DFE is an extended period dedicated to spiritual formation, prayer, and reflection, under the supervision of the SHMS Rector, Spiritual Director, and Faculty.

The six week program takes place away from the seminary in a setting appropriate for prayer and reflection. The rationale for the DFE is found in Optatum Totius, the document from the Second Vatican Council dealing with the formation of diocesan priests: "It belongs to the bishop to establish an appropriate period of time for more intense spiritual apprenticeship, so theological and spiritual training can rest upon a firmer basis and students can embrace their vocation with a decision maturely weighed" (No. 12). The DFE complements the goals of the personal formation topics for first year students who seek a deep understanding of their call to discipleship and the priesthood. In the course of the experience they will encounter styles of prayer and the roots of Roman Catholic spirituality.

Spiritual Direction: Each seminarian meets every two weeks with a priest spiritual director who offers his faith, training and skills as helps for the candidate's developing relationship with Christ. In spiritual direction, the principal focus is on the relationship with the Lord. The seminarian explores his call from God, and deepens that relationship which is at the heart of diocesan priesthood.

Retreats: The program of retreats is designed to meet the needs of the seminarians at the various stages of their formation. A week-long retreat at the beginning of the year helps set the tone for each year of formation. Each Holy Week, a retreat during the Easter Triduum is built around the Church's celebration of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. Fourth year candidates for the transitional diaconate make a week-long preparatory retreat in the fall semester. In the winter semester of the fourth year, candidates make an additional week-long retreat before priestly ordination.

Classes in Spirituality: In preparation for entrance into the Theologate, the seminarians take a course that is an introduction to Spirituality. In the theologate, the men explore Catholic spiritual classics in the History of Spirituality course. In one of their years, the men take a course on the Nature and Practice of Spiritual Direction.

Fraternities: Some students find that regular prayer and faith sharing in the context of fraternities assists their lives in Christ. The Spirituality Program encourages participation in such fraternal groups.

The SHMS Spiritual Formation Program assists men seeking to do God's will as people of faith who recognize their limitations and the limitless quality of God's grace. For such persons, the process of conversion is ongoing and rooted in hope and confidence that what cannot possibly be accomplished on one's own is entirely possible with God. "The whole training of the students should have as its object to make them true shepherds of souls after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, teacher, priest and shepherd" (Decree on Priestly Formation, No. 4). The spiritual program assists them in growing in their relationship with Christ who infuses their hearts with his love.