In spite of the best efforts of the seminary, as Archbishop Connell pointed out in a recent letter, it doesn't make sense to have a small number of students living in a building designed for much larger numbers. Following a process of consultation, initially with the Council of Priests, and more recently with the clergy of the diocese as a whole, the Archbishop has decided that, for the forseeable future Clonliffe College will not function as a seminary. It will, however, continue to be a vital resource for the diocese, particularly as a venue for pastoral meetings. The winding down of the formation process in Holy Cross College gives a new impetus to discussions about the longer-term future. The seminary structure as we know it is not carved in stone.
Alternative structures are possible.
In some dioceses, notably Paris, students for the priesthood live in smaller houses, each of which is linked to a parish, and they commute to their academic lectures at a central location. When we talk about a seminary, there is a natural tendency to think of a building. But a seminary is really about people and process , rather than about place . Another factor is that the men who are entering the formation process come from very varied backgrounds. Many have already completed third level studies, and some have degrees in philosophy or theology.