First Year Apostolate Assignment

By: Brendon Laroche
Seminarian, Pre-Theology I

Every seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary is assigned an apostolate as part of our seminary formation. Thursdays throughout the year are reserved for apostolic work. We have no classes on apostolate days; rather, we get “on the job training” that prepares us for the various assignments we may have as diocesan priests.

My apostolate for the current year is the John Paul II Center for Special Learning, located in Berks County. Since this is my first year in the Seminary, it is my first apostolate. It is also the first time I have worked with children and young adults who have special needs.

I was initially nervous about this assignment. Most of the volunteer work I did at my parish before entering seminary was in adult education and faith formation. I did some work with children and young adults, but not much. And, as I said, I had never before worked with those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Our apostolic work is intended to help us grow into the kind of men who will be good pastors, dedicated shepherds of souls. Reflecting back on this first semester of apostolic work, I realize that my time at the John Paul II Center has helped me to grow in a number of ways. I would like to share with you some of these ways.

My apostolate has made readily apparent our shared humanity. The students here are like all other children and young adults. They want to learn and discover new things. They want to play and have fun. They want to grow, make friends, and test their boundaries and limits. They have all the characteristics that make people their age both easily lovable and occasionally troublesome.

The various intellectual and developmental disabilities of the students can make communication more difficult, but this can be worked through with patience and love. And it can never obscure the truth: these are human persons who possess human dignity. They deserve to love and be loved, and to be treated with respect. I have long known this intellectually. Now I also know it from experience.

I have also been challenged to grow in how I communicate the faith. Before entering the seminary, I studied philosophy. This has left me prone to drawing fine distinctions and elaborating technical points. I am now being challenged to express the truth in a way that the students can understand. I am learning to be “all things to all men.”

Finally, the most important thing that my apostolate at the John Paul II Center has done for me is drive home the fact that the truth must be lived in love. These students may not remember what I say, but they will remember what I do. They will remember that I ate lunch with them and played with them at recess. They will remember that I helped them with their art projects and read them stories. They will remember that I cared enough to listen to their stories and their problems. They will remember that I tried to be reverent in the chapel and both dedicated and focused in my prayer. They will remember that I loved God and that I loved them. If I can do nothing else for them, I can try to do that.

I am looking forward to continuing my apostolic work at the John Paul II Center next semester. Please pray for me, that God grant me the grace I need to share the love of Christ to everyone I interact with on my days there. And please pray for the faculty, students, and staff of the John Paul II Center for Special Learning.