Parathazham (2009) did an extensive survey among the staff of all major seminaries and scholasticates, as well as among the novice mistresses and junior mistresses in India. He asked them to rate 16 aspects of formation according to the importance given to them in their formation programme. Formation to integrating sexuality and affectivity occupied the 15th place in the order of importance given! Based on the survey Parathazham concluded that although coping with celibacy is one of the toughest challenges that priests and religious face "little effort seems to be made in their formation years to give them the emotional and affective tools to deal with the problems and challenges that confront one who opts for singlehood as a way of life" (p. 2).
It is very important that positive steps be taken to remedy this situation. Formators must make every effort to create a climate of openness, and assist the formees to explore their sexual history, their understanding of and attitudes towards sexuality,
and their hopes and fears about living a happy celibate life. This applies not only to initial formation, but also to ongoing formation. Middle life is a particularly important time to visit issues of sexuality and intimacy (see Parappully, Ch. 13, volume 2)