In The Hospital

The Christmas break provides seminarians with some time away from the seminary to do many things. Taking a step away from the routine and rituals of the Seminary allows some seminarians to return to their local communities – to be nourished and strengthened and to also contribute as well.

Over the past number of years, I have had the privilege of working as a social worker at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip. (You can read more about the hospital by clicking on the link.).  Before coming to the Seminary, I would work as an “on-call” social worker during vacations from school (Christmas Recess, Winter Recess, summer, etc.). Since coming to the Seminary, I’m not able to be as present as I once was, but can still contribute during these extended times off.

Hospital social work is, at the same time, both challenging and exhilarating.   It is challenging because you are handling some of the most difficult issues of a patient’s life – his or her social issues. In a “typical” day, a hospital social worker may assist a family with placing a loved one in a nursing home, advocating for a patient without insurance, sitting with a family at the bedside of one who is dying, seeking services for someone with insurance, counseling someone with an alcohol or drug issue, providing emotional support to a grieving family, among many other issues.  Unfortunately, there aren’t always a lot of victories and there are times – even when you only work a few times a year -when you see some of the same people again and again, managing some of the same issues and problems.

It is exhilarating because, in some way, you seek to make a concrete difference in the life of another.  For the challenges listed above, each day usually brings a glimmer of hope. In the position of social worker you can sometimes help someone get to the “next step” or find resources for them they never knew about before or advocate for a person in light of some injustice. It may not be bringing closure to a long standing issue, but it might be listening to someone who hasn’t felt they’ve been listened to, it might be helping someone to see the potential within, or it might even be doing something to bring a smile to someone’s face who hasn’t found a reason to smile in a long time.    While it is not pastoral work in the same sense as hospital chaplaincy, it is pastoral in many, many ways.

It is also exhilarating because of who I am able to work with.  When studying in Social Work, I interned at Good Samaritan Hospital and many of the people who helped to train me as a social worker a few years ago are still present to support and encourage me – not only as a social worker, or a seminarian (which they’re excited about!), but as a person who is constantly seeking to answer God’s call in his life.  Again, as I ended last week, how blessed am I!

Christmas Recess - Coming Home

The Christmas Recess has been filled with many blessings – including reuniting with family and friends, returning to hospital ministry, praying with fellow seminarians in the Syro-Malankara Rite of the Church, a week of retreat at Mount Saviour Monastery near Elmira, NY and much more! 

The 2010 OLL Christmas Pageant!

 One of the highlights of the Christmas Recess for me is returning to my parish home – Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in West Islip.  It is this community, among others, that sent me forth to pursue the seminary and priestly formation. I have the chance to return, at times, for Daily Mass, Saturday evening Mass, some parish events, and on Home Weekends. I never fail to leave affirmed, encouraged and supported by the people of God in West Islip.

This year, because of our break and my schedule, I had the opportunity to spend time in a different way at OLL.  In many ways, this was the first time I went “public” since becoming an Acolyte in October.  My work in the past as Coordinator of Worship involved, primarily, “behind the scenes” work which I love.  This year, at the invitation of my pastor, Fr. Mike Vetrano, I served at some Christmas Masses and had the opportunity to offer a reflection on the Feast of the Holy Family (hours before the great blizzard).

It is very humbling, for me, to have the opportunity to serve in a parish community, most especially the one that has given so much to me.  Serving publicly brings with it new feelings and emotions.  First, it can be difficult to be “in front” at times. It’s necessary and it’s certainly something I’m more comfortable with as the years have gone by, but it’s an adjustment from much of the “behind the scenes” work.  Second, initially, it can be nerve wracking and it probably shows. I know this because one of the servers – who I trained when I worked in the parish said to me – “Relax, you’re too tense!” (As I said, humbling.) Third, it is, at the same time,  powerful to be part of the Church’s liturgy in this way.  I think I feared that serving as an acolyte and perhaps one days as a presider, would pull me away from the assembly. More and more I am realizing this is not the case. The “one body” still prays together.

In addition to these experiences, returning to the parish means a great deal to me, personally.  Most days, I pray at the 8 A.M. Mass. In the celebration of the Mass and the quiet time in the Church before, I am able to set a good direction for the day. And, I am automatically reminded that I do not journey alone.  Throughout these weeks, it has also been good for me to just be part of some of parish life – whether it be attending the Christmas Pageant (with some seminary friends), helping to prepare and some of the Christmas liturgies, talking and sharing life with members of the community or being one of many to put all those Christmas decorations away – to remember that this is what has, in large part, brought me to this point in my life and continues to encourage and strengthen me along the way. How blessed am I!

Have a great week!

Catching Up

Greetings from Long Island! I have much to tell you about the past few weeks in upcoming blogs.  For now, I invite you to check out a different blog - In the Footsteps of Jesus.  This blog follows the members of the Seminary community journeying throughout the Holy Land for the next two weeks.

Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in this pilgrimage and it was a life-changing experience. Try to follow their experiences and reflections in the days ahead!