Life at the Seminary

Well, the exams are over If you are thinking about becoming a seminarian, I would not hesitate one moment to encourage you… but be aware of the crazy exam times ahead of you! To give you a clue as to the classes we took last term, here’s a list: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Music (theory and practice), Ancient Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Fundamental Theology, Religion Sciences, Religion Sociology, Incarnational Logic, Philosophy and Tragedy, Philosophical Reading, Patristics and History of the New Testament.

What can I say… it’s not been fun. Pretty much your entire life starts to revolve around your next exam, and the next moment that you are able to make yourself start studying again, and again, and again. I find I lose my focus during the liturgical hours and Holy Mass, although I also experienced a deeper bond with Jesus because I am doing all this for Him and that is the only reason anyone would probably do all this.

Being called is a great gift. I do not know what the ratio is, but probably fewer than one in 100,000 receive a vocation to the priesthood. It makes me so grateful to be able to do this. Last night I was looking through my pictures from last summer in Camperville (MB) and Winnipeg (MB) and all I could think of was how grateful I am that I was able to do the Lord’s work there. And second, what wonderful friends I have over there and what great times we have shared. All the rest slowly fades away, but only Love remains! This is one of these pictures taken in Duck Bay, where a small prayer group comes together to sing praise and worship songs for the Lord every other week. Kinda feels like a small family…

I am working on reading a small book called Seven Secrets of the Eucharist. If you are curious as to what those seven secrets are, come back early next week and find out!!

Hello readers,

It’s been a while since my last update, as there isn’t a lot to tell except that the exams are upon us again. Twice a year, the atmosphere in the seminary changes. The increased tension can lead to some hilarious moments, and as this week was only the ’study week’ before our two exam weeks, everyone is still ‘cool’. Thursday is our recreational evening, where we all come together to drink a beer or two and catch up, and I think we haven’t laughed as much together in months. Everyone seems to be able to remember something funny of the last year (or even longer ago). It’s a nice way to deal with the anticipation.

As for me, I think I have about 14 exams, of which I have finished two already. So, twelve more in the two weeks ahead. If there are folks praying out there for me, now is the time

“And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul” (Acts 4:32)

This is what Saint Lucas writes about the faithful in the first days of Christianity. And for the past few days I was able to experience some of that unity at the International Seminarians’ Congress in Castel Gandolfo. With a group of about eight seminarians and two priests we travelled to Italy for four days, to participate in the congress where about 500 seminarians from over 40 countries were present. The immense feeling of gratefulness which I felt is indescribable.  To be united with your brothers from all over the world is an amazing thing!

My friend and former boss Richard Osicki just got married in the Philippines this Christmas. He sent me an invitation, even though he knew I couldn’t make it. But I thought “What a hoot would it be, if I wouldindeed show up”, so I checked the price of a return ticket. It was 1900 euro, about 2500 dollar! It was clear to me that I would never get that kind of money together. And here I was sitting at the congress, when some seminarians from across the globe were introducing themselves. And there was this one guy from the Philippines. And I realized how large an obstacle he had to overcome to be here. I myself had a serious fever, but overcame that. And each seminarian there had given their precious holidays, their money and whatever other sacrifice they might have made to the congress. You understand that Jesus will not let such offerings be unanswered!!

The theme of the congress was There is a way…and we had several speakers come in, such as Professor Zhangi, a philosopher, who was not blind to the crisis in the European seminaries, but also sketched areas of growth because of authentic vocations. Prof. Michel Vandeleene, a theologian of the Teresianum, talked about God in our inter-personal relationships and also some Focolarino’s from the first hour, such as Dr. Bruna Tomasi, came to speak to us about the dream we all share together: to unite everyone in Jesus. Bruna’s talk was very inspiring. She is a sociologist who gave an accurate description of the world today and told us how we can really make a difference and communicate Christ: by loving. So, this is not the general ‘be nice to everyone’, but a deep and unique Christian love, in which we unite ourselves with the other, realize what their doubts and questions are, what makes them happy, and from this unity, react to them, love them.

One of my greatest joys was when His Eminience Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski took time to celebrate Holy Mass with us. He is the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and as such responsible for the seminaries. Having him there was really a sign that the entire Church was there. Now it wasn’t just all us seminarians, but it was like Jesus himself came to form one body with all of us.

Aside from the speakers there was time to reflect on the priesthood, what sort of priest we wanted to be, what challenges there were and what our fears and doubts were. Three priests, among who Fr. Ad Verest from the Netherlands, talked about how they lived their vocations and the spirituality of Unity. It was great to discern a similar source to the stories of these three priests: all of them had a deep desire to follow God and to Love. And yet all three had different apostolate. This made me real happy: all I have to do is Love, and God will do His work in me! I don’t have to focus on becoming like Fr. Paco from Madrid, or Fr. Ad from Eindhoven, or the Swiss Father who lived in an atmosphere of unity in his rectory with three other priests. No, God has given me my own charisma and task!

The theme song of the Congress was One Heart! One Home! And this really is the best summary of the congress. [Listen to it here!]

One heart!  One home! Let no one take the journey alone.
One heart!  One home! While on our way, we’re already home.
One heart!  One home! New life is born where love is sown;
Journeying together we are home!

It basically says that we go together, and love is the key to do this thing. When we love, we are. When we are, we are one. And when we are one, we can do everything. During the closing ceremonies, huge rolls of colored ribbons were unrolled from a ship, to interweave into one big net across the auditorium to ‘capture’ the 500 seminarian-fish. It was just one big feast!

Sunday 500 seminarians got in the bus to travel to Saint Peter’s Square where the Pope prayed the Angelus. After the prayer, he greeted us: “With great joy I greet the numerous seminarians who have come from various countries for a formative meeting of the Focolare Movement. Dear young people, from my heart I bless your way:  may the Virgin Mary always be with you”. Of course, we all went crazy and 500 handkerchiefs in all possible colors, which we received during the congress, went up in the air with a such a great noise that only seminarians can make!

Naturally, we stayed in Rome for the rest of the day. I was able to fulfill a promise made to a friend to pray for him at St. Peter’s tomb. Being there at the heart of the Church, we all renewed our Profession of Faith. All in all, it was a very moving encounter where the Holy Spirit was most certainly present, because all of us left transformed to our own countries to live the spirituality of Love and Unity!