Returning to the seminary after break has been bitter-sweet. On the one hand, I was happy to see all my friends here on the hill and get into the routine of life that is guided by the tolling of the bells every quarter hour but I did not want to give up my relaxing break and the quality time I spent with friends and family and still yet there were many people I unfortunately did not get to see. As of last week though, I am now fully unpacked and accustomed to the rhythm of life here once again. Last Sunday, the water main in the town broke and after we depleted the remains of the water tower we were on a mandatory water boil from Monday to Wednesday. You never know how much water you drink until it is on limited supply! Don’t worry, all the seminarians survived because of the awesome kitchen staff who kept a fresh supply of boiled water in the dining room.
I have noticed my lack of posting as of late and would like to update you on one of the big events that happened at the end of last semester. All 140 seminarians volunteered at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) which was held in Indianapolis at the end of November. This was an amazing experience because there were 24,000 youth there from around the nation. We all had various volunteering jobs from directing the lines of people going to confession to helping the youth find the rooms in the convention center but our most important job was to show the youth that seminarians are actually ordinary people. I ran into a few groups who didn’t know who/what a seminarian was and it was interesting to see the range of reactions they had when I explained that I was discerning to become a priest but it always led to good conversation.
Now I am currently in my second week of J-Term classes which are 2 week classes during January that are normally geared toward learning skills that a priest might not learn in his typical classes such as cooking, finances, and health/ fitness but they also have classes that are meant to deepen your understanding of pivotal parts of the priesthood such as spirituality and the celibate life. In 1st Philosophy we have spirituality in the morning for 2 hours and Chant/Sacred Music for 2 hours in the afternoon. The good part about J-Term is that there are no grades and minimal homework assignments so everyone is enjoying socializing during breaks and in the evening.
On Saturday morning we made a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, a small chapel on the top of a hill outside of the town. Here is the story from the Saint Meinrad Achabbey website that explains this pilgrimage that has been going on for over 130 years:
The dedication of the new chapel nurtured local piety. When an epidemic of smallpox threatened the area in the winter of 1871, the community was quick to turn to Our Lady of Monte Cassino. The first cases of smallpox broke out before Christmas. Several in the village had died and, during the holidays, four persons became infected at Saint Meinrad. As more cases of the disease were discovered, the worst was feared.
On January 5, all the students who could walk went on a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, where a solemn votive Mass was offered. The pilgrimage was repeated on the last day of the novena (January 13). Since the novena was begun, not a single case of smallpox broke out. In thanksgiving, Saint Meinrad students make a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino each year around January 13
This was a solemn walk in which we lined up in groups of two saying the rosary and walked the rest of the way in silence to Monte Cassino where we ended with Mass. The temperature starting out the walk was 22 degrees and the chapel, with the small heater on, was up to 44 degrees.
I am looking forward to a fun but trying semester but one in which I know will be full of blessings. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support for me I can’t explain how much it means to me. All I know is that each and every prayer sent my way is giving me that extra encouragement that I continually need. I am returning the favor by praying for you too!
Hope your 2012 is full of blessings, peace, and joy!
Much love,
William
