Priests for Life - Seminarian Life Link!

It's promotion time!!!!!

Last summer I attended a conference specifically designed to help the formation of seminarians in the area of pro-life. It was lead by Fr. Frank Pavone the Director of Priests for Life, a national/international organization to bolster the culture of life within the United States and beyond. It was a learning time, a blessed time of prayer, and an awakening for me of all the issues and details that surround and permeate the pro-life movement.

I would suggest that every seminarian should attend at least one of these conferences. You can learn more at Seminarian Life Link. I was personally sponsored by my local Knights of Columbus chapter and am sure there would be interest in your local chapters also.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the conference, send me an email.

God or the Girl - the sequel!

A group of seminarians watched the final installment of "God or the Girl" last night. I will not give the final decisions of the men so that you can watch for yourselves.

One of the things I learned as I did some research is that the producers of the show were Jewish, so going into this project they had no real concept of what the inner workings of the Catholic Church were, or of what the discernment process was - at least from an insiders perspective. I have to give them credit as I think they put together a somewhat balanced presentation on what these men were going through.

Another thing that surfaced was they (the producers) understood that discernment is a very internal and personal process, so they had to do something to make it external and film worthy. What they decided to do was to have the men, through the assistance of their pastors, friends, spiritual directors, and family look to externalize their decision making process in some way. Thus the suggestions for the pilgrimage, the mission trip, and carrying the cross. Since the input for this external representation came from Catholics and people who were close to the men, I suspect that the intent and motivation behind the choices were appropriate for the men involved. It did bring each to a heightened awareness of their faith walk and helped them to make a decision as to the advancement to Seminary or not.

I think on an overall basis this was good press for the Church and for vocations. These men were able to verbalize some of their personal struggles, externalize some of the decision making process, and made themselves visible to many Catholics and non-Catholics who were and will watch the show. I pray that each of these men are blessed in their continuing journey of walking in God's will for their lives.

God or the Girl!

Fr. Jewitt, Pastor at the Parish of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and I watched the first two segments of the A & E program, "God or the Girl" on Easter Sunday evening. It is a five-part "reality" show about four young men discerning their call to the priesthood. I watched the third and fourth segments with a bunch of fellow seminarians at St. Meinrad on Monday night. The final show is this next Sunday evening and I am sure there will be a group of us watching it together.

Overall I think the show is pretty good. One point that many of us agree is not brought out very clearly - that it is not an immediate decision needed to choose between God and the girl, it is a decision to discern the decision. In other words, it is a decision to enter the seminary and take their discernment to a new level. But, as in most media outlets, you must sensationalize it a little bit. That aside, these guys seem to be having very real emotions, thoughts, issues, discussions, etc., about their decision. I am pretty sure it is all real (of course it may be edited to make certain things stand out more or less than it did/does in reality).

One positive thing about the show is that it shows that there are people out there making these kinds of decisions. These men, along with all of us here at St. Meinrad and the many other seminaries across the world, are looking to serve God in the way He wants us to. I think it is a positive thing to put this out for all to see, and thus invite others to do the same. As I continue to walk my discernment path I think about how I could help others to also discern God's will for their lives. I believe God wants us to be in line with His will for our lives - whether we are married or single, young or old, male or female, white or black or yellow or brown or red or etc., rich or poor, Catholic or not. If we can understand what God wants for us, then I think our lives would be more personally fruitful. Let me expound on this a little.

As I am more aware of Christ in my life, of Christ in the people I meet, and of Christ in the situations I encounter, then I am more likely to respond and act in a way that is somewhat similar to what Christ may do. As I minister to the men at the correctional facility I can either see a criminal in front of me or I can see Christ. If I see a criminal I may be judgmental and fearful, but if I see Christ I may be humble and offer care and support. If I see just me in myself I may see doubt and fear, but if I see Christ in me I may see a caring and thoughtful man who wants to do his best to serve those in front of me. If I see just the four walls of the prison and the old and worn metal desk and chairs we sit at I may be discouraged and hopeless, but if I see Christ sitting in the room with us I may see a light at the end of the tunnel and hope for the hopeless. I think these types of things are being revealed to me because I am continually looking to Christ to lead my life, to the Holy Spirit to guide my steps, to God to conform my will to His will. There is a lot of peace that I am experiencing as I go through some very trying times, hectic schedules, and the major change of going back to school and studying for the priesthood. I truly feel I am doing God's will for my life, so He gives me strength and clarity of vision to fulfill my mission.

So how does that relate to helping others know God's will for their lives? If someone is just going through the motions in life, where is the hope and peace in that? If someone has blocked God out of their business life, and totally separate their beliefs from their work, where is the sense of accomplishment in that? If someone is wondering what path to take and don't turn to God in prayer, or worse, turn to God in prayer and then ignore the promptings that may be coming from the Holy Spirit, what comfort and reassurance comes from that? I think we, as Catholics and Christians, need to recognize that an essential part of our being is to continually turn to God for direction in our life.

As I grew up I don't remember anyone teaching me or showing me how to pray for guidance on my career, my mate, my vocation, my anything. We prayed for people who were sick, we prayed for relatives, we prayed before each meal, and we celebrated Mass on Sundays and many other days. I do not remember ever having anyone mention specifically that I should pray to find out what God's will for my life was and to ask for guidance in decisions like where I should go to school, what degree I should get, what town I should live in, what activities I should be involved in, etc., all things very important to who I would become as a man. I was raised in a very good Christian home with devoutly Catholic parents. I don't see a lot of evidence that it is happening with today's youth either. There are exceptions, I am sure, but the majority is probably not giving this kind of attention to God in their everyday life. It is in doing exactly that, giving God attention in my everyday life, that has opened up the rivers of blessings that have poured out on me in my walk with Christ. How to explain it, I am not sure, but I am sure that for me it is evident in the peace and contentment I feel and the doors of opportunity that continue to open up for me. I don't open these doors, God does, I just step through them.

So, as these four men on "God or the Girl" go through their decision making process, I hope that each of the people watching will catch a glimpse of what they might do in their own lives, no matter if they are married or not, and work to discern what God has in store for them. That is my hope and my prayer.

He is Risen!

Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

I spent all of my Easter break in Tulsa this year, at the Parish of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. This is the same parish where I spent my summer. Fr. Bernard Jewitt and Fr. Archie Fernandez were very welcoming and open to have me help during the different parish functions and Masses. Fr. Jewitt had surgery the week before Holy Week to install a port and he then began dialysis the day before Palm Sunday. I was able to serve him as both chauffeur and personal assistant as he was dealing with his medical and personal needs. It was very humbling to be able to be there and serve when he was in a place of need. I also was MC, server, thurifer and general "go to" guy during the Holy Week Masses. Being deeply involved in the litrugies through this liturgically rich week was awesome! I also served, with other seminarians, the Bishop at the Chrism Mass - another first for me. All in all, it was a very hectic and rewarding two weeks. When we were discussing all that happened over the two weeks and the change to my schedule so I could participate, Fr. Jewitt said, "This is just a small taste of what it means to be a priest."

I am thankful to all at St. Bernard's, to Fr. Jewitt and Fr. Archie, and to God for giving me a chance to use my gifts and talents to serve God's people in this way. Thank you Jesus!