I wrote a couple times about singing in the choir at Mount Angel this year. Here is a rendition of Ave Maria from our graduation ceremony on May 11. (It's a Facebook video, so not all readers may be able to see it.)
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Rest
Summer began on May 11 at the end of the graduation ceremony at Mount Angel, and I am currently overlooking the Boise foothills from the perch of my parents' new house thinking about all the experiences that have passed since I last blogged. Perhaps because of spring burnout or perhaps for lack of ideas, I haven't been in the mood to write lately. Life in priestly formation isn't always exciting, but it is fruitful and worthy of reflection. I'll try to post more regularly this summer, even if the story is brief.
Many people have asked me how I am doing at this point in formation, especially now that the academic year is complete. I'm good, I usually say. Glad that the year is over, but good.
A better answer would be something like this: Seminary life challenges me. I enjoy parts of it certainly. Ultimately, the purpose is to help me become the best version of myself, and I think it's doing that. (Thank you, Matthew Kelly, for that pet phrase.)
As much as I loved my life in youth ministry at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, I reached a point of stagnation where I couldn't grow in the ways I needed any longer. This was the fault of no one, just a reality of the restless human situation I encountered. I needed to seek deeper, renewed modes of prayer, and I found some at seminary: Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, daily journaling, playing the piano and singing liturgical music. I needed to continue my education, and I did this too, discovering the foundations of Catholic philosophy in Aquinas, finding hope in the face of New Atheism, grappling with the realities of our world and how we fit into and explain it. I needed to discern a call to the priesthood more diligently, and this is ongoing. As long as the Lord asks me to continue this way, I will. Daily time in the classroom of silence clarifies and allows me to dream. Do my dreams match the need of the Church, the advice of my superiors, and the gifts I can offer? That's the ultimate vocational question. God will provide direction with time.
For now, I'm savoring time off. I spend much time with family, playing with my nieces and nephews, looking for good books to read, cooking tasty food, catching up with friends, and helping my parents settle into and clean up their new house. Nothing exciting, but just what I need.
Many people have asked me how I am doing at this point in formation, especially now that the academic year is complete. I'm good, I usually say. Glad that the year is over, but good.
A better answer would be something like this: Seminary life challenges me. I enjoy parts of it certainly. Ultimately, the purpose is to help me become the best version of myself, and I think it's doing that. (Thank you, Matthew Kelly, for that pet phrase.)
As much as I loved my life in youth ministry at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, I reached a point of stagnation where I couldn't grow in the ways I needed any longer. This was the fault of no one, just a reality of the restless human situation I encountered. I needed to seek deeper, renewed modes of prayer, and I found some at seminary: Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, daily journaling, playing the piano and singing liturgical music. I needed to continue my education, and I did this too, discovering the foundations of Catholic philosophy in Aquinas, finding hope in the face of New Atheism, grappling with the realities of our world and how we fit into and explain it. I needed to discern a call to the priesthood more diligently, and this is ongoing. As long as the Lord asks me to continue this way, I will. Daily time in the classroom of silence clarifies and allows me to dream. Do my dreams match the need of the Church, the advice of my superiors, and the gifts I can offer? That's the ultimate vocational question. God will provide direction with time.
For now, I'm savoring time off. I spend much time with family, playing with my nieces and nephews, looking for good books to read, cooking tasty food, catching up with friends, and helping my parents settle into and clean up their new house. Nothing exciting, but just what I need.
A couple views from my parents' new house:
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Climbing
One of my friends at seminary, Peter, formerly worked as a climbing coach. He arranged for a seminarian outing at the Multnomah Athletic Club in April. (I realize I'm extremely late posting this, but better now than never.) Here are a pair of pictures from the climb. For the full story and pictures courtesy of the Mount Angel Seminary Journalism Blog, click here or the link below.
To see more, click here.
To see more, click here.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Profile
For my final story of the year in journalism, I profiled a field education supervisor. Below is Emma Hare's story about her experience supervising seminarians as the youth minister at St. Mary's Church in the town of Mount Angel.
San Diego, California, 1990: Emma Hare is born.
Oxford, Michigan, July 2007: Hare graduates from high school, and in whirlwind manner applies for, is accepted into, and begins training for a year of service work with the Regnum Christi apostolic movement.
Wicklow, Ireland, May 2008: Having completed a demanding academic year at Woodlands Academy Boarding School as Dean of Discipline for 120 teenage girls she described as "sweet and spoiled," Hare is asked by her spiritual guide to take six weeks to discern a vocation to the religious life. After avoiding her spiritual guide upon her return to the United States, Hare obliges.
Wakefield, Rhode Island, December 2008: With consultation from her spiritual guide, Hare decides religious life is not her calling. She returns to Silverton.
Silverton, Oregon, August 2009: Prompted by the youth minister at St. Paul's Church, Hare becomes involved with teen ministry, leading her to coordinate the junior high program as a volunteer and later become certified through the Center for Ministry Development.
Mount Angel, Oregon, April 2012: Hare is hired as the Director of Youth Ministry for St. Mary's Church.
Like many seminarians, Emma Hare's vocational journey surprised and enlightened her. As part of her duties at St. Mary's Church, Hare is one of 64 field education, deacon, and pastoral intern supervisors that work with Mount Angel seminarians. In this role, she partners with the seminary in providing off-campus ministry opportunities that build skills and enhance personal development for those pursuing the priesthood.
This year she welcomed into youth ministry Br. John Paul Le, OSB, and Frankie Villanueva, seminarian for the Diocese of Honolulu. The two joined Hare and the youth of St. Mary's on Sunday mornings. With Hare's help, Br. Le and Villanueva built mentoring relationships with the high schoolers, taught catechetical lessons, facilitated small group discussion, participated in the confirmation retreat, and worked on interpersonal skills. Hare expressed gratitude for their service.
"I think the seminarians feed a lot of their supervisors," she said. "The reflections they write are refreshing and renewing to hear."
In her first year as a supervisor, Hare found that she was both giving and receiving instruction in her relationship to the seminarians.
"It has been a learning process as far as what's expected of me," Hare said. "I try to be a bridge between what the seminarians are feeling and what the kids need from them."
Hare appreciated the ideas, inspiration, role modeling, and personality that Br. Le and Villanueva offered. Taking part in the vocational growth of the seminarians produced moments of grace. Hare remembered a few in particular: After having been reserved much of the year, Br. Le broke out dancing during the confirmation retreat. The teens joined, laughing, cheering, and dancing along with him. She also recalled how Br. Le took the time to learn each teen's name and speak with each person. Villaneuva contributed his characteristic energy, she said, and that invited youth into activities and made for livelier gatherings.
For their part, Br. Le and Villaneuva valued Hare's ability to speak with the youth, show compassion, and engage young people with the Catholic faith.
"She loves the young people. She has a lot of energy for them and great compassion," Br. Le said.
Villaneuva echoed his ministry partner's sentiment: "One of the things I learned in this experience was how important it is as a leader in the church to go beyond the title of seminarian or youth minister. A lot of times to these kids Emma was a friend, confidant, aunt, and even a mother to some of them."
She also gave the teens and seminarians occasion to connect. Br. Le recalled counseling a teen struggling over whether to be confirmed. He told the teen the decision was an individual one over which to pray. The next week, the teen reported back to Br. Le: He was ready to receive the sacrament.
"It's beautiful to see a student make their own decision like that and to desire the sacraments and finish their Christian initiation," Br. Le said.
For Hare and many field education supervisors, the partnership with Mount Angel seminarians builds the vocational story of all persons involved. Constructive dialogue and collaboration are the fruits of the program.
"It's helpful to have them around and to be able to bounce ideas off of them," Hare said. "I love having other people involved with the mission and who are in love with Christ as much as we hope to be."
San Diego, California, 1990: Emma Hare is born.
Oxford, Michigan, July 2007: Hare graduates from high school, and in whirlwind manner applies for, is accepted into, and begins training for a year of service work with the Regnum Christi apostolic movement.
Wicklow, Ireland, May 2008: Having completed a demanding academic year at Woodlands Academy Boarding School as Dean of Discipline for 120 teenage girls she described as "sweet and spoiled," Hare is asked by her spiritual guide to take six weeks to discern a vocation to the religious life. After avoiding her spiritual guide upon her return to the United States, Hare obliges.
Wakefield, Rhode Island, December 2008: With consultation from her spiritual guide, Hare decides religious life is not her calling. She returns to Silverton.
Silverton, Oregon, August 2009: Prompted by the youth minister at St. Paul's Church, Hare becomes involved with teen ministry, leading her to coordinate the junior high program as a volunteer and later become certified through the Center for Ministry Development.
Mount Angel, Oregon, April 2012: Hare is hired as the Director of Youth Ministry for St. Mary's Church.
Like many seminarians, Emma Hare's vocational journey surprised and enlightened her. As part of her duties at St. Mary's Church, Hare is one of 64 field education, deacon, and pastoral intern supervisors that work with Mount Angel seminarians. In this role, she partners with the seminary in providing off-campus ministry opportunities that build skills and enhance personal development for those pursuing the priesthood.
This year she welcomed into youth ministry Br. John Paul Le, OSB, and Frankie Villanueva, seminarian for the Diocese of Honolulu. The two joined Hare and the youth of St. Mary's on Sunday mornings. With Hare's help, Br. Le and Villanueva built mentoring relationships with the high schoolers, taught catechetical lessons, facilitated small group discussion, participated in the confirmation retreat, and worked on interpersonal skills. Hare expressed gratitude for their service.
"I think the seminarians feed a lot of their supervisors," she said. "The reflections they write are refreshing and renewing to hear."
In her first year as a supervisor, Hare found that she was both giving and receiving instruction in her relationship to the seminarians.
"It has been a learning process as far as what's expected of me," Hare said. "I try to be a bridge between what the seminarians are feeling and what the kids need from them."
Hare appreciated the ideas, inspiration, role modeling, and personality that Br. Le and Villanueva offered. Taking part in the vocational growth of the seminarians produced moments of grace. Hare remembered a few in particular: After having been reserved much of the year, Br. Le broke out dancing during the confirmation retreat. The teens joined, laughing, cheering, and dancing along with him. She also recalled how Br. Le took the time to learn each teen's name and speak with each person. Villaneuva contributed his characteristic energy, she said, and that invited youth into activities and made for livelier gatherings.
For their part, Br. Le and Villaneuva valued Hare's ability to speak with the youth, show compassion, and engage young people with the Catholic faith.
"She loves the young people. She has a lot of energy for them and great compassion," Br. Le said.
Villaneuva echoed his ministry partner's sentiment: "One of the things I learned in this experience was how important it is as a leader in the church to go beyond the title of seminarian or youth minister. A lot of times to these kids Emma was a friend, confidant, aunt, and even a mother to some of them."
She also gave the teens and seminarians occasion to connect. Br. Le recalled counseling a teen struggling over whether to be confirmed. He told the teen the decision was an individual one over which to pray. The next week, the teen reported back to Br. Le: He was ready to receive the sacrament.
"It's beautiful to see a student make their own decision like that and to desire the sacraments and finish their Christian initiation," Br. Le said.
For Hare and many field education supervisors, the partnership with Mount Angel seminarians builds the vocational story of all persons involved. Constructive dialogue and collaboration are the fruits of the program.
"It's helpful to have them around and to be able to bounce ideas off of them," Hare said. "I love having other people involved with the mission and who are in love with Christ as much as we hope to be."
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