THE HEART OF A SEMINARIAN

A Roman Catholic Seminarian opens up his Heart and shares the Faith he Loves.

GIVING HIGH-FIVES TO EVERYONE I MEET

Catholic Times column “Seminarian considers giving high-fives to everyone he meets” (10/23/05) continued.  Click here to read this short column.

 

This post is a continuation of my column in the Catholic Times.  This is the opportunity to express my feelings on the subject, while allowing you to do the same for a fruitful discussion.  For those who are new to this site, you may leave anonymous or signed comments by clicking on the word “comments” below. 

 

In my column, I wrote about increasing vocations simply from people encouraging others to consider the priesthood or religious life.  Unbeknownst to me, the Bishops just launched a new vocations campaign with the idea that more men simply need to be invited to become priests by priests who are happy with their lives. Who would have thought that a simply invitation could make a world of difference in the lives of future priests and Catholics all across the world, but it is true.  The problem that faces many dioceses world-wide is largely due to the neglect of their own presbyterate to not only properly promote but just share the joys of the life of a priest. 

 

In the recent surveys, 78% of the men from the 2003 U.S. ordination class said that they were asked by a priest to consider the priesthood, 15 % of young adult Catholics have been encouraged to consider priesthood or religious life, and only 30% of priests actively invite men to consider the priesthood.  This is a sad but true reality among priests, but it offers so much hope for the future if changed.  Unfortunately, the priests that I bring this up too totally agree with me but continue to go about their priesthood without ever changing their ways.  Why is this?  What I find humorous is that many priests will spend every moment on promoting a fundraiser for the parish, but never once promote the priesthood.  What is more important in the long run?  As a challenge to all priests, encourage the consideration of the priesthood or religious life in someway everyday.  Also, share your life, your story, and your journey to the priesthood; let your parishioners know the joy the priesthood brings you.

 

As we have put our focus on promotion the priesthood by priest, we must not also forget the responsibility of seminarians.  Normally said in a joking manner, the solution to the lack of vocations is not allowing a priest to retire until he finds a replacement.  Even though this should be a minimal challenge to priests, I suggest a realistic expectation that seminarians should not be allowed to leave the seminary until they find a replacement for themselves.  Although many would scoff at the notion deeming it ridiculous, it does challenge the mindset of seminarians in their preparation for the priesthood.   The journey as a seminarian must not solely be focused on himself; it must include the practicing of the habits of caring for the needs of the people and the Church.  This means that promotion of the priesthood must be a priority in the life of a seminarian.  To all the seminarians reading this, take my challenge to find someone to replace you as a seminarian before your ordination.

 

Also, the finger of responsibility cannot be turned away from the lay person either.  Sadly, I have only come across a few people that actively encourage vocations.    Each person should make it a point to encourage someone to consider the priesthood or religious life.  No matter who you are or what’s your age, I challenge you to bring up to someone that you feel that they would make a great priest, nun, or brother. 

           If we only took an active role in the promotion of the priesthood and religious life, we would not only be out of a vocation crisis, but we would be helping others realize the plan God has for them.

posted by: muniz at 00:03 | link | comments (5) |
catholic times

NEWS AND NOTES

·        7,000 Hits: This has been a great 10 months and I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has read my blog.   I hope that we may continue in the future to grow and learn from each other. Thanks again.

 

·        Catholic Times: Last week, I was asked about my interest in writing a column for our diocesan newspaper, Catholic Times.  I gladly accepted the invitation and I look forward to sharing my journey and my life with a new audience.  Pray that God may have this work bear fruit for Him and His Church.

 

 ·        Basketball Coach: In my internship at St. Louis Catholic Church, somehow I found myself volunteering to help coach the 7^th grade basketball team.  The kids are great, but now I am racking my brain trying to think of the skills they need to learn.  Yep, just call this seminarian the Bobby Knight of 7^th Grade Catholic school basketball.  Well, minus the chair throwing.  Okay, okay, maybe not ‘minus the chair throwing’.

 

 ·        Nicolaus: As I was visiting my friends, I heard my Goddaughter, Olivia, crying loudly in the other room.  As our curiosity was peaking, the 2 year old Nicolaus comes walking in holding a crucifix with an angelic smile.  As he walked in, his mother yelled “Did you hit her with the crucifix?”  With an innocent nod of the head, he handed over the weapon.  That was one response that I have never heard before.

 ·        Cardinals: What can you do when you don’t hit, don’t have a bullpen, and the other team has dominate pitching?  Another great season with a disappointing ending.  So much for having tickets for Game 7.

 ·        Softball: Last game, we had to forfeit, because I was the only one to show up at 8:15.  Everyone else was at the bar, because they thought the game was at 9:15.  This Thursday night will be the final game of the fall season and hopefully we will all show up.  If anyone on the team is reading this, the game is at 8:15 again.

 ·        Next Sunday’s scripture.  Just click it.

 

 What else?  Any questions or comments?

posted by: muniz at 23:26 | link | comments |

PASSING THE BASKET

 

As money issues and thoughts come to head, I wanted to pose a question out of plain curiosity. 

1) What percent of your income do you give to the Church? 

2) What percent of your income do you give to charity? 

3) Why do you feel you should give money to the Church? 

4) Why do you do it or not? 

5) Finally, if you are a seminarian, do you give; if so what percent?

 

If you read this please make a quick response, because I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.  Again, comments can be anonymous.

posted by: muniz at 01:45 | link | comments (5) |

HOW DO YOU GET TO HEAVEN?

A couple weeks ago during the first session of PSR, the DRE of the parish began PSR with a review/discussion on Father’s Homily from the previous Sunday with all the students from K-8.  The review/discussion went well, but I noticed the Kindergarteners and 1^st Graders were not following the discussion.  Stupidly, I mentioned this to the DRE, which he interned, interpreted that as me volunteering to explain the Gospel to them.  This is humorous to me that my fellow seminarian interns in St. Louis and Des Moines are teaching their parish’s Confirmation class while I am explaining the Gospel to 5-6 year olds.  I am not complaining, because I truly enjoy it; I am just seeing the humor in it.

Anyway, I went to talk to the 5-6 year old kids about the Gospel and asked them if they remembered what it was about.  I knew they would not remember, but I wanted to give them a chance to impress me. So I asked them “What was the Gospel about?”  A 5 year old raised his hand and said “Jesus”, which I replied with “That’s a safe answer, but what else?”  Then another 5 year old raise her hand and said “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and God.” which I responded by yelling at her and calling her stupid (joking).  Realizing the question went nowhere, I asked another question “How do you get to Heaven?”  Another 5 year old raised his hand and said “You have to die.”  I said “Yes, but what does God say we must do in order to go to Heaven?”  Expecting an answer like “be good” or “help people”, instead a 6 year old answered the question of how to get to heaven by saying “You can get stabbed.”  As I exclaimed “Enough with the dying”, another hand went up and said “You can get sick”, then another raised her hand and said “You can get hit by a car.”  In my sarcastic way, I would say that lesson went well.  In the end, I told the Gospel again in my version using a stuffed pig, chicken, horse, and dog all with different voices.  Yep, there is a preview of one of my Sunday homilies.

posted by: muniz at 00:16 | link | comments (2) |

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