The distinguishing feature of a seminary is the  formation of  candidates for the priesthood.  This formation comes about, first and foremost, through a personal encounter with Christ, the High Priest, and secondarily through the example and teaching of His ministers...in other words, a true understanding of the priesthood itself. Although most people are able to observe the actions and apparent duties of the priest, few come into constant personal contact with the life of the priest with all its joys and sorrows. It is exactly this, that is offered to the minors through the daily attention and care of the priests present here and the yearly experience of visiting the major seminary in D.C. for ordinations to the priesthood.

For a high school seminary, this priestly formation also takes shape in the various forms of apostolate which the seminarians have a chance to participate in during the school year. This apostolate can be active — such as the training of altar boys for the parish — or passive in simply bearing public witness to the world their devotion for Christ and His Church through the attendance of daily mass and the public recitation of the rosary.