All,
It is hard to believe that my first two years of seminary have come and gone. In some ways it feels like it has been a lifetime since I have entered seminary, yet the past two years have flown by. The time in seminary has been good for me. It has pushed me to grow more as an individual. Some of the changes are easy to identify while other changes are much harder to explain. It is easy to talk about the classes that I have taken and the daily prayer routines and all of the externals that make up my normal day. It is much tougher to explain the inner changes that I am having to face. I think that these past two years have helped me to see myself as I truly am, all of my strengths and all of my weaknesses. I am far from holy, but with God’s help I hope to continue to grow in holiness. I do not regret my choice to enter seminary. I have fallen more and more in love with the lifestyle. In spite of the challenges that come with it, I continue to see myself wanting to give my life to this calling.
It is hard to believe that my first two years of seminary have come and gone. In some ways it feels like it has been a lifetime since I have entered seminary, yet the past two years have flown by. The time in seminary has been good for me. It has pushed me to grow more as an individual. Some of the changes are easy to identify while other changes are much harder to explain. It is easy to talk about the classes that I have taken and the daily prayer routines and all of the externals that make up my normal day. It is much tougher to explain the inner changes that I am having to face. I think that these past two years have helped me to see myself as I truly am, all of my strengths and all of my weaknesses. I am far from holy, but with God’s help I hope to continue to grow in holiness. I do not regret my choice to enter seminary. I have fallen more and more in love with the lifestyle. In spite of the challenges that come with it, I continue to see myself wanting to give my life to this calling.
Over the past two years, I was completing what is called Pre-Theology. During this time, I took 33 hours of philosophy, 12 hours of theology, and 12 hours of foreign languages. All of these classes have prepared me to move on to Major Seminary as a Theologian. The next four years will be filled with classes focused directly on Theology and Priestly Ministry. God willing, I will be ordained as a Catholic Priest at the end of this next period of schooling. I have been asked by the diocese to complete all of my priestly training in Rome at the North American College. I am very excited about this amazing opportunity to study in Europe, but it will also be tough to be so far away from all of my friends and family. I know that many of you have had questions about this so here is the brief sketch of what will occur. Towards the end of July I will leave to go to an Italian Immersion Program in Assisi. After that I will return to Rome to being to prepare for classes. While in Rome, I will live at the Pontifical North American College which sits on a hill overlooking the Vatican. My classes will be held at the Gergorian University which is located near the Trevi Fountain. I can have visitors while in Rome, but I will not be able to provide you with lodgings. I hope that many of you can visit Italy during my time there. During my first two years, I will not be able to return to the United States. God willing, I will be ordained to the priesthood after four years. I will most probably be spending four to five years in Rome.
This web blog will hopefully be a good way for me to keep everyone updated on my journey. I am sure that I will have many other ways of being contacted, but all of that is pending my actual arrival in Rome. Until then, I want to thank all of you for your continued support. Please keep me in your prayers as I make this transition to Rome. I know that it will be tough at first, but I am also excited to see what God has in store for me.
May God Bless you,
May God Bless you,
Luke
Posts
