Fr. John Horn, S.J. and Deacon Thomas Pulickal join Dr. Mary Anne Urlakis on Episode 12 of “Vows, Vocations, & Promises: Discerning the Call of Love,” to discuss the new book, Spiritual Husbands- Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, co- edited by Bishop Felipe Estevez and Bishop Andrew Cozzens. The goal of this comprehensive book is to provide a spiritual and psychological resource that engenders affective maturity and fruitful chaste celibacy for a renewal of priestly formation, an aim which echoes the objectives expressed by the Church in the 2016 Ratio Fundementalis and the 6th edition of the Program for Priestly Formation.



Fr. John Horn, S.J., is a priest of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus who was ordained in 1985. Fr. Horn’s 25-year+ experience in priestly formation encompasses many roles including: Co-Founder of The Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University, Co-Founder of the Seminary Formation Council, former President and Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, as well as his current role as a spiritual director and Professor in Spiritual Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary. Two of Fr. Horn’s contributing works are included in the text. Deacon Thomas Pulickal just completed his seminary studies and Master of Divinity at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, in Florida and will be ordained to the ministerial priesthood on June 6th for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago. Deacon Thomas also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Fr. John Horn, S.J. and Deacon Thomas worked as managing editors for the text Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century.



The text has been hailed by bishops and formators as an essential guide which provides concrete tools that assist formation by taking into account the spiritual and humans needs of the candidates, while helping them determine whether those same candidates are capable of the self-gift required by priestly celibacy. In this episode, Fr. Horn and Deacon Thomas share their experience and insights regarding the development of this valuable text. Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century is published by Enroute Books and Media and can be purchased at https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/spiritualhusbands/ , as well as on Amazon.com.