The Seminarian Road Show

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 Club 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?

From Alleluia's to Asceticism

“Live as though only God and yourself were in this world, so that your heart may not be detained by anything human.” -St. John of the Cross

Lent begins this Wednesday and there is much for each one of us to work on and reflect upon during the upcoming 40 days. In the prayer of the Church, Lent is a journey, one that calls for an exile, of sorts. The hope is that in this Lenten season we can prepare and renew ourselves in preparation for the great celebration of Easter! (We sing Alleluia, for the first time, at the Easter Vigil!)

At our Spring Semester Orientation and House Meeting, Msgr. Charles Fink, the Director of Spiritual Formation (and the topic of a future post) called us to a spirit of asceticism, particularly during the days of Lent. It involves a pulling away, a separation from many of the things to which we attach to and become distracted from our relationship with God and with one another. His words forced me to think about so many of the “things” to which I can become so easily attached.

Msgr. Fink’s call for Lent is one that applies to all, not only the seminarians and priests who live here in the Seminary. Over these next 40 days what can we detach from? Is it a relationship? Technology? Food? Drink? A certain behavior? (Or maybe all of them :)! Whatever it is –and there’s something for each of us –perhaps we can look at the ways to detach and to pull away in the hope that we can attach and push closer to God. Then, when we sing Alleluia again at Easter we will do so more aware and more present to our God and to one another!

Have a great week.

Spring Semester - School's Back in Session!

Last week, I wrote about the Pastoral Workshops offered here at the Seminary to ease us back into the Spring Semester. Well, the easing in is over as the Spring Semester is in full swing.

The courses, like those in many good programs, build on previous learning and experience and, it appears they will give us many relevant and applicable experiences for parish ministry. So here’s a look at the schedule with a little explanation of what’s involved…maybe you’ll want to take a few of these courses!

Pauline Literature: This course examines many of the Letters of Paul found in the New Testament. We hear from Paul on most Sundays at Mass so this will provide me, I hope, with a good foundation for the future.
Passion Narratives: This second Scripture course is an online or distance learning course. I am in this class with six other people who are involved in ministry and work throughout the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre. It promises to be interesting – not just for the knowledge I’ll gain – but for this unique way of learning.
Special Issues in Moral Theology: Here we will be focusing on issues related to health care and sexuality. I am not sure you can have enough information in these two areas but the course promises to leave me with a lot to think about.
Sacramental Theology: Working with others to prepare and celebrate the sacraments is important for any priest. This course will give not only the history of the sacraments but what the sacraments offer each of us.
Theology of Marriage: No I’m not getting married! Yet, working with married couples and the Sacrament of Marriage is important for all who work in the Church. This class will help us to look at the theological foundations of marriage as well as many of the practical issues that arise in today’s society.
John Henry Newman: I know next to nothing about him. This class, particularly as his canonization approaches, will give me some good insight into this man – who liked to write a lot (I know because I have to read most of it!)
Spanish: I am still working at this – we’ll see what happens as the semester progresses!

So are you signing up? Even though we are only a week in, it looks like it will be a pretty interesting semester! If you know anything about these topics, let me know!

Have a great week!

From Palestine to the Pastoral

Good evening everyone! Today begins the Spring semester here at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Peter celebrated Mass this afternoon and our first Orientation meeting just concluded.

The seminarians have actually been back here for a week. Last week, we attended Pastoral Workshops. These are organized by the Seminary for us to get a better and deeper sense of the pastoral work that is ongoing in many parishes and organizations through Long Island. Here is a sampling of the workshops we attended:
Long Island Center for Life – Lorraine and Frank Garibaldi
Evangelization in Today’s Parish – John Romanowski, Office of Faith Formation, DRVC
Marriage Preparation - Kathleen Logan, Office of Faith Formation, DRVC
Ministering to those with Special Needs – MaryAnne Russo, Office of Faith Formation, DRVC
Ministry to the Dying and Grieving – Good Shepherd Hospice
Ministry to the Deaf – Fr. Tom Costa and Sr. Joan Finn
Ministry to the Mentally Ill/Addicted – Catholic Charities Staff

The week concluded with a site visit to the Verdone Residence on the grounds of the St. Joseph’s Church in Babylon. This residence is home for nearly 12 individuals with special needs. They shared lunch with us, showed us where they live and provided a glimpse into their everyday lives. We also listened to some of residence’s administrators who spoke with us about the intricacies of organizing, maintaing and support such a program. This was a great way to end a week about ministry and outreach.

“All Are Welcome” is a popular gathering hymn in many parishes and communities. This past week, this song echoed in my mind as I participated in these workshops. The Church is calling all of us – lay women and men, religious women and men, and clergy – to reach out, even and especially beyond our comfort zones, in our work and ministry. A great message for today’s seminarians!

So with this “real-life” and “hands-on” experience we’re off to the beginning of another semester! More to come on that soon!

Walls, Gardens and Mountains – Thursday, January 14, 2010

Greetings from the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem! Our pilgrimage to the Holy Land is beginning to wind down yet each day continues to bring with it new opportunities, challenges and chances to reflect on the life of Jesus and its impact on each of our lives.

Most days in Jerusalem begin at 5:30 A.M. – yes A.M.! For those who are up for it, literally, we walk to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. This is a time for quiet prayer and reflection for all who take part in this part of the pilgrimage.

Today, after breakfast, we visited another archeological site that provided information about the roads that Jesus walked and the walls that surrounded the city of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time. The most popular place we visited was the Western Wall. Rest assured, if you gave one of us a prayer intention it was placed in the wall as we carried your intentions with us these past seven days.

The remainder of the day found us, in one way or another, on the Mount of Olives. We visited and prayed by the Garden of Gethsemane in the Church of All Nations as we were able to touch and be near the stone that is believed to be the stone Jesus prayed at after the Last Supper. We visited the Church of the Ascension, a small area believed to be one of the places where Jesus may have ascended from after the Resurrection. Following, we prayed at the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus was believed to have taught the disciples (and all of us!) how to prayer. We concluded our journey on the Mount of Olives with Mass at Dominus Flevit, the place “where Jesus wept” over Jerusalem. Fr. Peter, our Rector, called on each of us to be aware of the moments when Jesus is visiting us. His tears then were for the people of Jerusalem who missed the presence of God in their midst. We cannot allow the same to happen especially in the midst of our own brokenness and struggles.

The day concluded with a lecture and discussion led by Fr. Jerome Murphy-O’Connor. Fr. Jerome is a noted Scripture scholar, teacher and author. His years of study, knowledge and wisdom challenged some of the conventional ways we see Jesus. Getting in touch with the humanity of Jesus is the key to a deeper and Spirit prayer life and relationship with God, Fr. Jerome asserted. He left us with much to think about, for sure!

I think Fr. Jerome captured a large part of what our day and this pilgrimage has been about. We must come in contact with the human Jesus – based in history, archaeology and research – as it will ground everything else we do and become, most especially our relationship with God. Perhaps, according to him, we’re afraid to come in contact with that humanity because it will call us to live life the way he did – a self-sacrificing love for others. That is something for all of us to think about – seminarian or not. Let us not be afraid!

Greetings from Galilee

Greetings from Galilee!

Good evening everyone! Tonight is the first night I am able to get to the computer. I am writing to you from the Mount of Beatitudes Hospice (Hotel). Our experiences so far have been challenging, enriching, overwhelming, enlightening and hope-filled – all at the same time.

We arrive in the Holy Land on Wednesday evening and journeyed to the Chapel of Our Lady of Palestine for our first Mass. We spent the night in Tel Aviv and from there journeyed to Jaffa, Caesarea, Akko and Mt. Carmel and then arrived here on Thursday evening. Friday brought saw us to Magdala where we were part of a 1st century archeological dig. After, we took a tour along the Sea of Galilee which was one of the more powerful moments of the experience so far. We a;so visited a seminary in Galilee which provided an interesting contrast to our experiences in the United States.

Today, much of our day was spent in Nazareth, after a small stop at a Church in Cana. We celebrated Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation and had some time to just experience the space where it is believed that Mary lived and was met by the angel Gabriel. The afternoon brought us to Mt. Tabor (the site of the Transfiguration) and to another historical site which gave archaeological and historical background to the hidden years of Jesus – from his birth to the beginning of his public ministry.

As you can see from this quick entry, there’s a lot happening and it is good. We are learning a lot about the historical, archaeological, and theological times of Jesus and perhaps, most importantly, getting a chance to bring those experiences and moments in our own spiritual lives. There is much more to write about – certainly too much to write here. A few other seminarians are updating a blog regularly so if you’d like the “latest up to date” info about the trip go to this site http://seminariansintheholyland.blogspot.com/

Thanks, again, for all your support and encouragement. Talk to you soon.

Coming Home for Christmas

As we begin the New Year, it has been a unique few weeks and given me much to think about. The first semester of my seminary life ended on December 17th and from that point, the seminarians are expected to return home – and in many ways to come home for Christmas! And what a great few weeks it has been…and an adjustment as well.

What has been so wonderful and overwhelming for me is the tremendous welcome and affirmation I have received. This is the first time since leaving in August that I have been home for an extended amount of time. The pace of life outside of the Seminary has taken some time get used to, yet it has been good to approach prayer, life, ministry and study in a different way over the past few weeks.

Celebrating Christmas is a good example of the adjustment of returning home in a bit of a different capacity yet finding comfort and support in many of the familiar and foundational places that have brought me to this place in my life. On Christmas Eve, I worked in Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center. It was a different way to be present, particularly for those who not feeling so well around the holidays. I volunteered at Our Lady of Lourdes, the parish I worked in for the past eight years and have been part of for my entire life, and meet so many people at the Christmas Eve and Day Masses. I spent time with family at times and moments, that in the past I would have been working so that, too, was a wonderful opportunity. I prayed Hope House at the Christmas Eve Mass held at the Pax Christi Hospitality Center. I have even had the chance to share Christmas with a few families I have come to know and love from my life in this local community. All things I probably would not have been able to do in the past. What a way to be welcomed and included and what a way to celebrate Christmas!

The weeks since have allowed me to be present in the parish community, visit with many family and to work and volunteer in the hospital and at Hope House (and to catch a bit of a break too!). Now many of the seminarians prepare for the interterm. Some will go on retreat in New Jersey and Jamaica (Queens, not the island) while the pastoral year, third year and fourth year theologians (including me) will leave today for the Holy Land for a two week pilgrimage. I’ve listed the itinerary and some relevant readings in the column to the right. Follow along if you’d like and please keep me and all who will be on this journey in your thoughts and prayers. If I’m able, I’ll try to post an entry or two from the Holy Land.

Peace!