Life at the Seminary

As promised, a little update on pastoral placements.

In seminary, there are four different kinds of formation. Spiritual, Human, Intellectual and Pastoral formation. This means that prayer, community life, study and pastoral work are part of our daily lives. While I’ve done some internships here and there, more or less on my own, it’s the first time – now that I have moved to my new seminary – that I received a pastoral placement in a seminary context. Praise the Lord

This year I will be working at *drum roll* St. James Catholic School. I went in last week with Sr. Anne Rajotte, of the Sisters of St. Joseph. She’s been working at the nearby parish for almost twenty years now, and for quite some time she has been visiting the school regularly to speak with the children about religion. We’re talking about an elementary school, so kids are anywhere between like 6 and 12 years old. It’s so awesome… I met with a few grades, and was introduced as a seminarian. We explained to them what it meant and they could ask me questions. It really does relativate stuff when the first question you are asked is “What is your favorite food?” 

Today I went in for the first time on my own. I will be helping out one afternoon a week in grade 5, and maybe I will continue to come in with the Sister or do some other work. I’m not going to get ahead of myself there. Today I helped a couple of kids with their math. A few kids just moved to Edmonton and this school, and they are really struggling with math. I just really want to help them get on the right track, as they deserve a good start in life, eh? What a sign of providence that I can use all the years I’ve taught math to high school students here…

At the same time I will be able to learn how to interact with children a lot younger than I am used to teach. The time in class was extremely cool, as all the kids seem to want to get to know you and share things with you. I could barey go back home in time for my next appointment they didn’t want me to leave. What a great gift! Hopefully in the future, I will be able to do some catechesis with them, but for now it is just my presence there that will be the first step in my apostolate. Please continue to pray for my work here, and especially for my time at St. James School!

I remember the first time I was in Winnipeg. I had just moved into the Oblates’ house and in the room next to mine lived the cousin of their provincial, Andrew. Andrew asked me the first or second day if I played hockey. So I said, “Sure thing! We used to play all the time at school.”

“Great,” he said, “You have any skates with you?” So I was thinking… skates? Does he mean rollerblades? Like in street hockey? So I told him, “no, they were sort of too large to bring over.” And he was like, “Too bad, cause there’s an rink right next to our house.” Only then it dawned on me that he was talking about ICE hockey.

Now, Holland claims a certain fame in the FIELD hockey world and it’s actually played by a lot of people (at least, I know a few dozen…) but I don’t know of anyone playing ice hockey. So, lesson to all my fellow foreigners, when a Canadian is talking about hockey, he’s definitely talking about ICE hockey.

That said, today I had my first taste. Of floor hockey. Which is basically indoor hockey without skates. It gives me some idea of how to handle a stick and I had an incredible time just playing, even though I have to learn pretty much everything from the start. After two hours of playing, I realize I might need a slightly longer stick, as my back’s pretty sore :> Other than that, it’s been an amazing night.

Every Monday and Wednesday there’s sports night for us seminarians and quite a few turn out, so it’s very enjoyable. And I might lose some of those extra pounds in the process!

More news on my pastoral placement for the year to follow soon, so check back

It’s been a while now and I have had some time to settle here at my new seminary. Today a bit more about life at the seminary here. What does a week look like?

Every day we show up at the chapel at 6:30 for morning prayer and H. Mass. We are 27 seminarians and have the pleasure to live with 5 priests on our formation team. Since our internship year comes after our second year of theology studies, it means that our diaconate year is spent back at the seminary. It’s a great joy to see your fellow deacon-seminarians here. They serve at the altar during Mass and at times preside over our morning prayer.

At 7:30 it’s time for breakfast. There are several excellent cooks working here who manage to sometimes even prepare something for breakfast, like a nice boiled egg or even pancakes.

Since the college we go to is a ways off, at 8:00 we drive down to the college to start classes at 8:30. Most guys are taking five three-hour classes (one every day) so we’re there until about 11:30 when we drive back home for lunch at 12:00.

Most of the afternoons and evenings are off, until 17:15 when we pray evening prayer together, after which supper follows. Then at 21:00 there is some time for adoration and night prayer.

Four times a semester there are human formation sessions on Monday afternoon.

Tuesday afternoon there is either a rector’s conference or music practice.

Thursday there is an hour of adoration (including evening prayer)

Friday there is a community meeting for practical things and a group meeting where we talk about a spiritual topic.

Monday and Wednesday there are optional sport nights. Yesterday about 12 guys came out to play Ultimate Frisbee. I’m already being inducted in the various sports here, by the way. Last week we went to an Eskimos game, and I have also decided to explore the joys of ice hockey while here and bought some equipment to that effect. God knows what is going to happen to me this year!!

In other good news: at the start of the year party, during the lottery, I won a $75 gift card for Joey Tomatoes. The first one from Holland to visit me is offered a free meal there

I also put some additional pictures online where you can see some of the neighborhood I live in. It’s really a nice place for walking, especially with the 25-or-so degree weather we’ve been having. Jealous yet? Good! Come to seminary!! :>

My first post from Canada. I seem to have arrived just well. Me and my two suitcases. The first week was spent in Winnipeg, meeting as many of my friends there as I could. Everyone seems to have survived well enough without me, but it felt good to meet up with these wonderful people, most of whom have seen many years in ministry already.

I spent my time in Winnipeg at my vocation’s director’s rectory. The people in the parish were very welcoming as I was introduced to them at several Masses during the week(end). I feel very much humbled by their warm reception and it was great to have many come up to me and talk to me in German. Most of them have come over here in the years after World War II, maybe with just two suitcases as well (although they probably took a lot longer to get here, instead of my measly 12 hours by plain).

After my first week in Winnipeg, trying to enjoy my last ‘vacation’ days as much as I could, another seminarian picked me up at 6am for the drive to Edmonton. Thirteen hours. And we were speeding, a little. But he drove us all the way there, across half of Manitoba, all of Saskatchewan and some of Alberta.

As I explained in the post below, the new seminary building is currently being constructed and we have taken up residence in a former nursing home. Everyone on the formation team, the staff and employees have really worked hard to make this place – a lot smaller than the old building, apparently – as nice and welcoming as possible. Those of you that are curious can look on my Photo Gallery where I have added some new pictures.

The last few days we have had some introduction days. It was so good to get to know the almost 30 guys that live here. Things about our daily schedule and the year programme are reviewed, and we’ve sorted out which community duties each of us will fulfill this year. I am going to help produce the seminary newsletter as well as help plan the community evenings. More about my schedule this year is to come…

We also drove out to the new location of the Newman Theological College, after which we all went out for ice cream. It’s been a fun couple of days in a very relaxed atmosphere as everyone is getting settled in. As for me, I have a few additional things to take care of, such as getting a Canadian driver’s license and car insurance for my new car! (Photos will follow one of these days as I keep you updated). I can’t ask you guys often enough to please keep me in your prayers. For you folks back in the Netherlands, be assured I think of you often and really feel united with you as I think of you in mine.