It's just three weeks away and the school year will finally come to an end. This season is the busiest of all. Students will be very busy attending to the so-many activities in the seminary that will gradually unfold infront of them.
Students will get so deeply buried from writing their project papers and research papers as final requirements in their courses.
Everybody will get very busy. No time for hanging around, relaxing amidst the busing deadlines and unfolding school activities.
Yesterday afternoon, I attended a session of my year-end evaluation at St. Gregory Conference Room. Those who were present at the conference room were members of the Formation Team who were composed of Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB (the chair), Fr. Bede Cisco, OSB, Fr. Patrick Cooney, OSB, Fr Dennis Robinson, OSB (the seminary Rector), Fr. Guerric De Bona, OSB (the monastery's Sub-Prior), Dr. Tom Walters (the seminary's Academic Dean) and Dom Zachary Wilberding, OSB (my academic advisor).
They took turns in their pronouncements of their evaluations, comments and advice on my status at the seminary and towards the end, they all voted for me to move on to second year with my seminary studies. It is just so sad that they will not be able to witness the ongoing process and growth of my seminary formation as I will move on literally to another seminary in Pennsylvania by Fall semester. St Vincent seminary is awaiting for me in August.
The 20-minute session was successfully conducted. It was heartwarming. They applauded on the process of transformation that I achieved and attained in the course of the year. The members of the team affirmed on my responses to issues that I addressed in the following...
HUMAN FORMATION
When I came to Saint Meinrad to study for priesthood, I was totally unaware of the rudiments of a seminary. I was filled with confusion just thinking of what will unfold infront of me in the next five months of stay at the seminary. I remember during my first two weeks in the seminary how I had to find my way to the sessions during the orientation period in the beginning of Fall semester. I had to go out of the seminary building in order to figure out where I was and be able to find my way back to my room in the monastery. For me, the process of adjustment that I underwent was considered difficult.
When I came to Saint Meinrad to study for priesthood, I was totally unaware of the rudiments of a seminary. I was filled with confusion just thinking of what will unfold infront of me in the next five months of stay at the seminary. I remember during my first two weeks in the seminary how I had to find my way to the sessions during the orientation period in the beginning of Fall semester. I had to go out of the seminary building in order to figure out where I was and be able to find my way back to my room in the monastery. For me, the process of adjustment that I underwent was considered difficult.
Coming from a contemplative community of Benedictine monks who spend days and nights in prayers and doing nothing but manual work in complete silence, the adjustment that I needed to achieve was not easy. The shift of lifestyle from being silent to a talking one all day long was challenging. Making conversation during receptions and after school assemblies and colloquies was the most challenging part in the process of my adjustment.
The seminary policy that required me to be present in receptions to socialize with people who I must get to know and exchange pleasantries with was not easy to achieve. It required guts to be able to accomplish a good conversation and exchange pleasantries with guests and seminarians. Getting used to the ambience of a talking community of monks and seminarians was, for me, the most difficult part in my adjustment period. It took me a couple of months before I finally got accustomed to the atmosphere of talking.
The experience, however, gave me a different outlook in my life as seminarian who will be dealing with the seminary’s social and academic challenges for years. The process of adjustment brought me real confidence. It enabled me to deal with my inadequacy in social and interpersonal relations with the communities of monks and seminarians of Saint Meinrad.
In the course of the semester, I totally gained the needed buoyancy and self-confidence that made my academic life much easier to deal with than what I had thought of at the beginning of the year. The adjustment period has also given me an opportunity to become more flexible and resilient to the seminary’s academic demands and challenges. Likewise, I have become more at ease with myself during activities that require social and interpersonal interactions with the communities of monks and seminarians at the seminary.
As for my physical health, the process of adjustment at the beginning of the school year has affected my physical wellness. The shift from a monastic day of prayers in my own community to a day of academic classes has made it hard for me to attend to my usual physical exercises. During the first semester, I practically neglected my regular physical exercises.
This shift has greatly affected my physical health. Because of this, I sustained fluctuations in my blood pressure prompting me to bring to mind my regular routine of physical work-out and exercises. I had to incorporate a schedule of physical exercises in the monastery’s gym to my schedule of reading my assignments and writing my papers. Before the end of the first semester, my efforts were productive because my blood pressure became stable. I attained sound physical health.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
My spiritual and prayerlife as contemplative monk has always been manifested in my day-to-day encounters at the seminary. As student visiting-monk of Saint Meinrad seminary who’s expected to participate in the daily Horarium at the Abbey Church of the Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad, my prayerlife was faithfully observed. My prayerlife inspired and encouraged me to keep moving with my student-life at the seminary.
My spiritual and prayerlife as contemplative monk has always been manifested in my day-to-day encounters at the seminary. As student visiting-monk of Saint Meinrad seminary who’s expected to participate in the daily Horarium at the Abbey Church of the Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad, my prayerlife was faithfully observed. My prayerlife inspired and encouraged me to keep moving with my student-life at the seminary.
The Spiritual Formation Program of the seminary has been very helpful and supportive in attaining the goals and objectives of my studies in the seminary. For the most part, the spiritual direction of Fr Vincent Tobin, OSB has given me so much encouragement and spiritual enlightenment. Likewise, the counseling sessions with Sister Patty Lasher, OSB have definitely given me guidance and inspiration in dealing with the challenges and demands of my studies. Their combined efforts made me stay focused with my goals and objectives.
As Solemnly professed contemplative monk of my community, I carry certain monastic vows and these vows have been guiding me through the years toward attaining a chaste and celibate life. Being chaste and celibate is a way of life for me as monk. My practice of chaste celibacy as part of my vow of conversion of life has always been my strength in dealing with my sexuality. It never gave me difficulty or challenge in dealing with my way of life as monk and seminarian at Saint Meinrad seminary.
ACADEMIC FORMATION
My pattern in attending classes and meeting deadlines for my class papers and assignments was well managed. Except when I’m sick, I am always present and punctual in class meetings and related activities of the seminary.
My pattern in attending classes and meeting deadlines for my class papers and assignments was well managed. Except when I’m sick, I am always present and punctual in class meetings and related activities of the seminary.
During the first two months of the first semester, whenever I was absent due to colds and related sickness, I would send an e-mail to my professors informing them of my sickness and asking them that I may be excused from attending their classes.
My regular timetable and schedule of writing papers and reading class assignments are well maintained. My difficulty during the first semester, which was actually considered as my period of adjustment towards an active academic life in the seminary, was eventually defeated in the course of time.
As student in First Philosophy, the knowledge and awareness that I gained from formal classroom instructions gave me a great learning experience. The courses I took during the first and second semester have specifically given me a concrete understanding about my faith in God.
Through the study of Philosophy and Theology, I was able to gain a perceptive knowledge and a rational understanding in Logical Analysis, Christian Maturity and Human Development, Ancient Philosophy, Creed in History and Theology, Medieval Philosophy, Introduction to Liturgy, Ethics and Natural Law, and Philosophy of Nature and Man.
The grades I received from my courses in the first semester were relatively good and fair. The corresponding grades I got from these courses were: B in Creed, B in Logical Analysis, B in Ancient Philosophy, and C minus in Human Development and Christian Maturity.
Although I will not be coming back to St. Meinrad seminary next Fall semester because my superior decided to transfer me to Saint Vincent seminary in Pennsylvania for reasons of financial constraints, I have formulated the following concrete steps, as my guide in the coming academic year at a seminary where I will continue to study:
1.) devise and follow a concrete timetable of schedule of my daily routine,
2.) maintain a healthy communication with a spiritual director and a guidance counselor, and 3.) maintain a list of adaptable set of physical exercises to balance my brain activity with my physical activity.
VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT
As Solemnly professed monk of my community, my superior sent me to study for priesthood at the seminary in order to be able to even better serve my community brothers in the near future. Since my community does not have any pastoral ministry and external apostolate, I will be coming back to the confines of my community after finishing my seminary studies to serve my confreres as ordained priest of the Church.
As Solemnly professed monk of my community, my superior sent me to study for priesthood at the seminary in order to be able to even better serve my community brothers in the near future. Since my community does not have any pastoral ministry and external apostolate, I will be coming back to the confines of my community after finishing my seminary studies to serve my confreres as ordained priest of the Church.
OBJECTIVE FOR THE COMING YEAR
My objective for the coming year will be: To be able to make a much worry-free and anxiety-free kind of adjustment to a new environment of monks, seminarians, and lay students at Saint Vincent seminary in Pennsylvania. To be able to achieve this objective, I shall list down three important aspects that will guide and help me attain such objective. The following are my tactics:
My objective for the coming year will be: To be able to make a much worry-free and anxiety-free kind of adjustment to a new environment of monks, seminarians, and lay students at Saint Vincent seminary in Pennsylvania. To be able to achieve this objective, I shall list down three important aspects that will guide and help me attain such objective. The following are my tactics:
1.) maintain a good prayerlife
2.) achieve a balanced physical and mental activity, and
3.) maintain a regular communication with a spiritual director and a guidance counselor.
Br. Lawrence, how have you dealt with the significant loss of your confrere this year and how has this affected your studies and your moods?
I was shocked and distressed. But I had to move on with my life, and I had to stay focused with my goals and objectives of my studies.
I was shocked and distressed. But I had to move on with my life, and I had to stay focused with my goals and objectives of my studies.
How have your own concerns with your health and your sister’s death affected your formation?
Initially, grief momentarily kept me from my focus with the lessons and writing assignments in my classes. My health was failing me, too. Eventually, I regained my health and my momentum. With the support from the formation staff like Sr. Patty and Fr. Vincent, I was able to stay focused with my studies and with my prayerlife.
Initially, grief momentarily kept me from my focus with the lessons and writing assignments in my classes. My health was failing me, too. Eventually, I regained my health and my momentum. With the support from the formation staff like Sr. Patty and Fr. Vincent, I was able to stay focused with my studies and with my prayerlife.
How have cultural differences between the Philippines and the US affected your formation?
I have been in the US for seven years now. As US immigrant, the process of inculturation that I achievd as step in cultural adjustment through assimilation and accommodation of American culture has never been a challenge in dealing with my American classmates, friends, confreres and the seminary as a whole.
I have been in the US for seven years now. As US immigrant, the process of inculturation that I achievd as step in cultural adjustment through assimilation and accommodation of American culture has never been a challenge in dealing with my American classmates, friends, confreres and the seminary as a whole.
What have been the key features of your transition from living at Christ in the Desert to living at Saint Meinrad and being a student?
Living in silence for seven years at Christ in the Desert is a huge difference with living at Saint Meinrad. The transition I made required an enormous effort on my part to be able to fit in, to measure up, and to adapt to a different kind of lifestyle as monk and student of Saint Meinrad seminary.
Living in silence for seven years at Christ in the Desert is a huge difference with living at Saint Meinrad. The transition I made required an enormous effort on my part to be able to fit in, to measure up, and to adapt to a different kind of lifestyle as monk and student of Saint Meinrad seminary.
There you go my friends...the price that I had to pay for my transformation. Need I say more?
So In August, you will be seeing in this blog posts and photos of a different environment, a different community of monks, a different community of diocesan-seminarians and monastic seminarians, and a new Benedictine seminary.
I promise, I will keep you posted.
Wish me all the best of luck!!!
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