It's not the fact of the matter as such.
I mean, look, some of these men are still being formed. Could it possibly be justified to do this during Lent? Maybe, possibly probably, but why do it in the first place during Lent? Bad example for the priest that's being formed and the laity.
Unless maybe they did it on a first class feast, like St Joseph's feast day or something.
And then of course it sets a poor example for the laity too, for the same reason.