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Seminary Life |
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A Typical Day and Year at Mundelein Seminary
By David Hammond and Jay Atherton
Seminary life in general follows a pattern very similar to any college or university. We live on campus in dormitories, and have a dining hall, a library, exercise rooms and a gymnasium, classrooms, and common rooms/lounges. We have sports teams, social activities, a peer leadership committee, and work-study opportunities. Most seminaries follow similar schedules, and a typical day will always begin with prayer.
A typical day at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago begins at 7:15 with the community gathering in chapel for Morning Prayer.
Mass is celebrated after Morning Prayer at 7:40, and is followed by breakfast, then classes. Most semesters (or quarters) will have about 15 credit hours, or five classes scheduled twice a week. Just like any other university setting, a seminarian might have either morning or afternoon classes, or both (with a brief pause for lunch) totaling about 3-4½ hours of classes per day. Subjects range from Scripture studies and Church history, to Sacramental theology and the writings of great theologians. As the years progress, classes start becoming more practice-oriented. By their third year, seminarians have taken classes on preaching and counseling, and in the fourth year, they celebrate “practice Masses” and hear a practice confession. These classes prepare the seminarian for transition into the life and ministry of priesthood after ordination. Along with academic classes is a weekly “formation session” that can cover anything from devotional prayers to table manners–topics pertinent to living a happy, holy, and healthy life as a seminarian.
5:15 Evening Prayer rotates between the entire community and smaller groups, and is followed by dinner. During the evenings, there are meetings, study group sessions, and sometimes even lectures. It is also prime time for studying and prayer. Studying usually requires an average of 2 to 4 hours a day, and each seminarian is expected to spend one hour in personal prayer/meditation each day in addition to keeping the Liturgy of the Hours. Assignments consist mostly of reading, but also include things like research projects and papers. Part of the evening should also be time to relax, socialize, and unwind after a full day of studies. One of the great things about life in a dormitory is that your friends are never very far away!
Weekend schedules vary depending upon the year, though all will include significant time for studies. First year men are given a “field education” assignment that usually takes place during weekends (usually not longer than a few hours). Some assignment possibilities are RCIA instruction, teaching faith formation, or visiting a prison. After ordination to the diaconate, men will be assigned to local parishes where they will preach and minister during weekends. For those seminarians who aren’t at an assignment, the community Mass is at 8:00 am Saturday, and 9:00 am on Sunday. Weekends are also good opportunities for social time. Some men might go out for dinner, go to the movies, have a campfire, etc. Athletic activities usually take place on weekends as well, and some teams compete in tournaments against different seminaries. Staying active and healthy is part of anticipating a long life of ministry–and it’s also a great opportunity to build fraternity. There should also be some time set aside to pursue hobbies, which are great ways to relax and recharge for another week.
A typical year as a seminarian is, again, very similar to college or university life. There are breaks between semesters or quarters during which seminarians can go home or travel. Breaks also occur for major holydays. At Mundelein Seminary, the class schedule is on a 10 week quarter system, with the fourth quarter being optional summer classes. Between each quarter are two weeks of break time. Christmas is also a two week break, and Easter is one week. These breaks are opportunities to visit family and friends, travel to the homes of other seminarians, or other activities. During the Easter break, however, it is expected that the seminarian assists at a parish for Masses.
After the academic year finishes, seminarians have about two weeks off before beginning a summer pastoral assignment, usually beginning June first and ending August 15 (10 weeks). The summer placements allow each seminarian to experience rectory and parish life, experience the different areas of the diocese, and to work on ministry skills under the guidance of an experienced pastor. It’s a great opportunity to get a hands-on experience of how seminary formation prepares for parish ministry, and to discuss the joys and challenges of priesthood with the pastor. At the end of the assignment the seminarian is given about two weeks off before classes resume.
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Reflections on a Typical Year in the Seminary
by Deacon James Ebert
A new year of study begins the last week of August at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD. The new students are oriented to seminary life a week earlier. Orientation ends with the current students returning and having a Maryland Blue Crab feast on the patio of the seminary lounge. For four days the house is on silent retreat and the leaders vary from either professor to outside presenters. After the Labor Day holiday, classes begin. On average, each seminarian has five classes Monday through Friday with Wednesday as a study/conference day, Saturdays off and Sundays in assigned parishes. Parish assignments are arranged by the seminary and are groups of four guys including a deacon. The semester is pretty much scheduled like a typical college. We have Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter, and Easter/spring breaks. Classes are graduate level with papers and finals. Seminarians have mentors, who are your formation advisors. Every student has a spiritual director who is your spiritual advisor and confessor if you so choose. At St. Mary's, classes, Mass, prayer, and meals are all in the same building. The seminary has a lounge/bar for movie and game nights, Halloween and Super bowl parties, and other special events. During the year we have a bocce ball, soccer, baseball, and golf tournaments. Life in the seminary is very balanced between academics, social and spiritual. There are many opportunities to try out forms of prayer and devotions. Every Wednesday is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the community gathers together for morning and evening prayer and daily Mass. Prayer and discernment of priesthood remain the essential elements of seminary life.
Christmas break usually lasts from the middle of December until the first or second week of January. During this time, the expectation of the seminary is that you continue to keep up on your prayer life/daily Mass and you should be helping out in your home parish or another parish for the Christmas Masses. Other than this, your time is free to be with family and friends, travel, etc. When seminary finishes up in mid-May, you have about two weeks of vacation and then summer assignments begin. The diocese assigns you to a priest/mentor at a parish somewhere in the diocese for ten weeks. During this time, depending on what year you are in, you could be doing anything from leading a prayer service to serving as a deacon (after third year of theology and ordination). The main purpose of summer assignments is so you can get used to living rectory life and working in an office/parish. It is also a time to take what you have been learning in the classroom and put it into practice with the people of God. The summers home in the diocese are an excellent way to get to know other priests and spend time with your brother seminarians. There is a four-day seminarian retreat spent together in prayer, Mass, and fun activities. It’s a great way to get to know each other better. Also, at three different locations around the diocese, summer drop-ins are held. These are gatherings of priests and seminarians for prayer, dinner, and conversation. It is very important for priests and seminarians to bond, get to know each other, and share experiences in the parish. Also, another very important part of being home in the diocese is spending time with family and friends. A priest/seminarian needs this time to stay connected and foster these intimate relationships. It is true that your parishioners become your family, but your friends and family are the ones who knew you before you were called and they are the ones who help keep you grounded.
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Reflections of a Second-Career Seminarian
by Dan Ryan
"As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers Simon who is called Peter and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea. They were fishermen. He said to them: 'Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.' At once, they left their nets and followed him."-Matthew 4:18-20
This is life as it is here at Blessed John XXIII Seminary. Well, maybe we all didn't respond with such immediacy but the seminarians present here are like me, from all different walks of life. Some of us were never married. Others were married and are widowers; we’re blessed to meet their children and grandchildren. Still others are going further after numerous years of being a permanent deacon. As for backgrounds, there are about 65 men from over 30 dioceses who come from every type of employment. From teachers, to bankers, to engineers, to business professionals, to professors, to lawyers, to military personnel to accountants to social workers; all this and more are present here. Each one responded to that calling, dropped their nets and followed Him. Morning and Evening prayer are ever so inspiring with the full realization of the Gospel right here unfolding before our eyes. Each of the seminarians brings a depth of experience from their prior life and shares it with the community to enable others.
That’s where my story comes in. I remember those many days that were the beginnings of a new week at work. There were reports that needed an analysis to a regional manager ten minutes ago. Someone called in sick. The administrative assistant expressed a problem that had been observed in the staff morale. There was a pressing meeting with a boss on why your team wasn’t hitting their numbers, and it wasn’t even 9AM.
For many, the work world may be your calling, your place where you make your mark and bring the Gospel message to all those you interact with. For others, there may be that tugging that tells you there is something else for you. It’s something that is so strong that it forces you to acknowledge it, explore it, and hope to bring some resolution.
That was where I was at about seven years ago working in auto claims as a middle manager for a multi-billion dollar insurance company. While it was very rewarding, there was that something within me that seemed to be in flux. I heard that voice calling me to follow Him. I did eventually drop my net and now live with others who have done likewise here at Blessed John XXIII seminary. Together, we grow and we learn as we travel this road together in following Him who called us.
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