First, I apologize for the late post. We have been having some Internet server problems here so it has taken me a little while to get online. The lack of the Internet is a good reminder of the aesthetical spirit of the season (see previous post).
This week, seminarians from our seminary went “on tour” to parishes throughout the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre as well as to college campus ministries and eventually parish schools. This is a new endeavor called for by Bishop Murphy in his recent pastoral letter on vocations.
It changes the rhythm of the seminary a bit. Sunday has traditionally been a community day – a time when we gather for Morning Prayer and Mass in the morning and Evening Prayer and a community dinner in the evening. For a majority of weekends in the Spring Semester we will spending our weekends (Saturday nights and Sundays) in parishes speaking with local communities about vocations, the seminary and how they can be an even more active support and presence here.
The loss of the community day here is overshadowed by the opportunities and experiences that spending time with the parishioners and parish leaders brings. How wonderful it is to see other parishes “in action”, learn about the various traditions of parish communities and gain a better understanding of how different and unique life as a parish priest can be. Hopefully, it is a positive experience for the parishes that we are able to visit as well. I remember when I let people know I was coming here, the word “seminary” had a mysterious sense to it. People were not sure what it was and had tons of great questions (Can you ever leave? Do you have to shave your head? Is it true you go to bed when it’s sun down? The answers are Yes, No and No, by the way!). This allows parish communities to meet men considering the priesthood and to learn about the process and journey involved in making a decision to come here. It might even inspire thers to think about their own vocation – to priesthood, religious life, married life or the single life.
Last night, Evan Jules (a fellow seminarian) and I journeyed to the Newman Clu
b meeting at Adelphi University. If that is any indication of what these visits entail, we’re in great shape. There we met over thirty college students excited about their faith, open to listening to Evans and I speak and receptive to all our suggestions and ideas for ways to increase vocations in the life of the Church.
The hope, too, is that this experience will call each of us to look around, as well as within, our own lives. Who are the family members, friends, parishioners, neighbors, and acquaintances who needs to be asked about considering their own vocation. Who else needs to be sent forth?
This week, seminarians from our seminary went “on tour” to parishes throughout the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre as well as to college campus ministries and eventually parish schools. This is a new endeavor called for by Bishop Murphy in his recent pastoral letter on vocations.
It changes the rhythm of the seminary a bit. Sunday has traditionally been a community day – a time when we gather for Morning Prayer and Mass in the morning and Evening Prayer and a community dinner in the evening. For a majority of weekends in the Spring Semester we will spending our weekends (Saturday nights and Sundays) in parishes speaking with local communities about vocations, the seminary and how they can be an even more active support and presence here.
The loss of the community day here is overshadowed by the opportunities and experiences that spending time with the parishioners and parish leaders brings. How wonderful it is to see other parishes “in action”, learn about the various traditions of parish communities and gain a better understanding of how different and unique life as a parish priest can be. Hopefully, it is a positive experience for the parishes that we are able to visit as well. I remember when I let people know I was coming here, the word “seminary” had a mysterious sense to it. People were not sure what it was and had tons of great questions (Can you ever leave? Do you have to shave your head? Is it true you go to bed when it’s sun down? The answers are Yes, No and No, by the way!). This allows parish communities to meet men considering the priesthood and to learn about the process and journey involved in making a decision to come here. It might even inspire thers to think about their own vocation – to priesthood, religious life, married life or the single life.
Last night, Evan Jules (a fellow seminarian) and I journeyed to the Newman Clu
b meeting at Adelphi University. If that is any indication of what these visits entail, we’re in great shape. There we met over thirty college students excited about their faith, open to listening to Evans and I speak and receptive to all our suggestions and ideas for ways to increase vocations in the life of the Church.The hope, too, is that this experience will call each of us to look around, as well as within, our own lives. Who are the family members, friends, parishioners, neighbors, and acquaintances who needs to be asked about considering their own vocation. Who else needs to be sent forth?
No comments:
Post a Comment