What DO seminarians do during Christmas break?

By: Kevin Lonergan
Seminarian, First Theology

Kevin Lonergan next to Msgr. O'Connor in the back

Exams are finished; papers are written, and the car is facing the gate; but when seminarians arrive home, what do they do to occupy their time? Well, for most seminarians it is often one of the busiest times of the year! In between catching up with friends and family, many seminarians are put to work in their parishes helping to set up for the Christmas masses.

Everyone knows that churches fill up every Christmas season, and so having an extra set of hands around to help is often a great relief for pastors. But it is very important for seminarians to have a restful break and have time to relax before beginning the second semester.

This year I was fortunate enough to be invited by my pastor Msgr. O’Connor and Director of A.C.T.I.O.N. Youth Group Director Ms Debbie Walker to a performance of “The Christmas Miracle” in Lancaster Pennsylvania with the A.C.T.I.O.N youth group of Mahanoy City. There, we saw the Sights and Sounds Production of the birth of Christ in musical form, complete with live animals and special effects. It was a marvelous rendition of the Nativity story.


While staying busy at the parish and catching up with friends it is still crucial for all seminarians to have some good relaxation in order to enter into the second semester refreshed!

It’s Time to Prove I’m Competent!

By: Orlando Aso
Seminarian, Third Theology



It’s twelve noon on Wednesday, the 22nd of December, and exams are thankfully over, the Fall semester has officially ended, and now it’s time to depart from beloved Mother Overbrook for three weeks in order to enjoy Christmas at home with my family in Bethlehem. Christmas break is very much the ideal time to ‘chillax’ (chill out + relax), reconnect with friends, indulge in home-cooked meals, and of course to celebrate the birth of our Lord. But as a Third Theologian at St. Charles Seminary, it is also an important time to prepare for the infamous Competency Exam.



Orlando Aso receiving Candidacy
at St. Charles Seminary November 4, 2010



The Competency Exam is an ‘exciting’ two-day long test which awaits me after Christmas break. It is for all intensive purposes, the Minotaur…the Darth Vader…the Mike Tyson in the room that stands between me and being ordained a deacon and priest. The purpose of the exam is to prove that I have a reasonable understanding of what I have learned about Christ and the Catholic Faith over the past three years and that I am able to apply this knowledge in a PASTORAL way. In other words, the Seminary isn’t simply looking for future priests who can quote from the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas from the top of their heads, translate the New Testament from Greek into English, or be able to recite all liturgical prayers in Latin. While all these abilities are impressive in themselves, the most important things is to determine whether I as a future deacon and priest can use this theological knowledge to help save souls. The bottom line is always about the salvation of souls.

And in order to help the people of God reach heaven, I must be proficient in my knowledge of four major disciplines: Sacred Scripture, Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, and Pastoral Theology. With regard to Sacred Scripture, the great Church Father St. Jerome was fond of saying, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Building upon the foundation of Sacred Scripture, Systematic Theologians like St. Thomas Aquinas attempt to formulate an orderly, rational and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs. The Apostles Creed, for example, is a brief and systematic summary of the essential tenets of our Catholic Faith. Moral Theology focuses on how one should live out their faith and covers the areas of virtue, social justice, and medical and sexual ethics. And Pastoral Theology attempts to bring all of these disciplines together in a way that can be applied in a practical way to the everyday life of the people of God, particularly through the preparation of the Sunday homily.

The task of passing this exam may seem daunting, but thankfully, there is also a complementary Study Guide that has been refined, enhanced, and passed down from one generation of Third Theologians to the next. Tradition is a vital part of our Catholic Faith, and fortunately for me, in more ways than one. Merry Christmas!

Inter-Seminary seminar

By: Joseph Ganser
Seminarian, Third Theology

During the fall semester each year the seminarians from St. Charles have a great opportunity. In order to help us apply what we’ve been learning in our theology classes the seminary takes part in an ecumenical discussion group with the divinity schools located in the Philadelphia area. This class is the longest running ecumenical group in the country and this year contains representatives from three seminaries; St. Charles Borromeo, Palmer Theological Seminary (Baptist/ non-denominational), and Lutheran Theological Seminary. The course is open to four men (or women) from each school. This year the Diocese of Allentown has been represented by myself and my classmate, Rick James.

This has been a great class but it is unique. Instead of tests and traditional school work each year we choose some topic relating to the Christian faith. The topic for this year has been Baptism and Life in Christ. Every student in the class writes a paper about this topic and each week as we gather at a different school we read some of the papers to discuss how it relates to our faith tradition and to the ways in which we feel called to serve. During the weekly meetings we also have an opportunity to take part in an ecumenical worship service conducted by the host school and to share a fellowship hour over dinner.

Since the participating schools represent such a wide range of traditions the meetings have been very interesting. While always respectful the class has talked about some controversial topics such as grace, salvation, women’s ordination and church membership. Though there are areas in which we disagree with our brother and sister Christians it has been a wonderful thing to see how much we hold in common. Though not a typical seminary course this seminar has been a blessing in many ways. It allows us to learn more about the traditions of the many Christian traditions and it helps us to understand our own tradition in a deeper way. But most of all it helps us understand the importance of unity for all Christians and gives us a desire to work and to pray towards this end. For anyone interested in ecumenism or about deepening their own faith this class is a wonderful experience that is fondly remembered by all who take it. And hopefully what we learn will continue to form and direct our ministry for years to come.

40 Hours Devotions and St. Charles Day

By: Rick James
Seminarian, Third Theology


Forty Hours in
St. Martin Chapel, 2010

Since the 1840’s, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary has been celebrating Forty Hours Eucharistic devotions every year. This great celebration begins every year on the Solemnity of All Saints. For three days the seminary community is blessed with extended adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. This cheerful and solemn time is both looked forward to as well as remembered throughout the years. Nobody who has studied at St. Charles would be able to forget the unique and holy experience. Many priests, some ordained for decades, are filled with happy memories of St. Charles Forty Hours—many of them consider their happiest memory of their time at the Seminary.

The Rector, Fr. Shaun Mahoney celebrates mass for
the community on the 3rd day of 40 Hours celebration

 St. Charles has been long known for its splendid celebration of liturgy. There is much careful planning by the ceremonies crew, masters of ceremonies, sacristans, musicians/choir and the priests to make Forty Hours a memorable and prayerful experience.


Dan Kravatz, 1st Theology
getting ready at Mass

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered with high solemnity, expressing the great splendor and beauty of the Roman Rite—all of which witness to the greater glory of God Himself, and His presence with us in the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Bongard celebrates Mass
on All Saints Day

 The seminary’s celebration of Forty Hours begins on November 1st (All Saints Day). At the very beginning of this sacred time at the seminary, we invoke the intercession of all the saints; to pray for us that we too may gaze upon our Heavenly Father’s face. Father Joseph Bongard was the principal celebrant and homilist. He asked us in his homily to reflect deeply on the words in the Canon of the Mass “For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist and Stephen”— to share in that same communion with these great saints who gave their entire lives for Christ. To add greater solemnity to the day, the Seminary’s treasury of relics of various saints was displayed on the St. Joseph altar for public veneration. At the end of Mass the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and remains so until the closing of Forty Hours. For the next three days, anyone is able to visit the Blessed Sacrament at any hour of the day or night.

[Panis Angelicus Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SkdKniABZg {Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following All Saints Day mass opens this years Forty Hours Celebration}
 

At Vespers, Bishop Daniel Thomas
offers benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

  That Evening Bishop Daniel Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, led the celebration of Vespers and gave Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. [Magnificat Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdXrw2FnxeU {The chanting of the Magnificat at Vespers on All Saints Day}



James Harper at the Organ
on All Souls Day



Mass on All Souls Day

 

The 2nd day of Forty Hours is All Souls day. Rather than the pomp and loud hymns of previous day, the Holy Mass begins with the ancient introit: “Réquiem aetérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis.” (Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them). The singing of this chant unites us in prayer for the souls that have gone on before us, and remind us of our own place in our journey to eternity.




Fr. Mahoney offers Mass
on the feast of St. Martin De Porres

 

The final day of our Forty Hours devotions falls on the memorial of St. Martin de Porres. Our Rector, Father Shaun Mahoney was the principle celebrant and homilist. In his homily, he recalled St. Martin's devotion and unswerving love for his sick brethren. He then called the seminary community to consider what God reveals to us in the physical and spiritual suffering and sickness of humanity. Following the homily, Father Mahoney invited the whole community to pray for the seminarians and faculty who are currently afflicted with serious illness—and there was a celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for the seriously ill at the seminary. 



The Eucharistic procession moves into
Immaculate Conception Chapel



 The closing of Forty Hours falls on the eve of the Patronal Feast of the Seminary— St. Charles Borromeo. At the end of the chanting of Vespers, the high point of the celebration of Forty Hours concludes with the solemn procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the whole assembly from St. Martin's Chapel to Immaculate Conception Chapel for Benediction. The seminary community led by the cross and candles processes while the rector, bearing the Holy of Holies in the Monstrance follows— all the while being incensed and reverenced by the ringing of bells and chanting of St. Thomas Aquinas' great Eucharist Hymn, Pange Lingua.

[Procession Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHKgWm154vM {A clip of the procession as it moves through the campus of St. Charles Seminary}



The Closing of Forty Hours
in Immaculate Conception Chapel

 

Upon the entire assembly's arrival in Immaculate Conception Chapel, the conclusion of that great hymn of St. Thomas is sung: “Tantum ergo Sacraméntum..”. Finally benediction with the Blessed Sacrament is given to all assembled and the annual celebration of Forty Hours concludes. [Tantum Ergo Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzorpzznFbw {Incensation Hymn at Benediction of the closing of Forty Hour}

  


Cardinal Rigali offers
St. Charles Day Mass

 


The next day, The Feast of St. Charles Borromeo is celebrated with much joy by the community. The Archbishop of Philadelphia, Justin Cardinal Rigali, offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the entire community—and also presides over the Rite of Admission of the men in the 1st year of Theology to Candidacy for Holy Orders.



Dan Kravats and Mark Searles
listen to the readings at mass

 

Three men from the Diocese of Allentown received the call to Candidacy by Bishop John O. Barres, and officially expressed their intention to prepare for and receive Holy Orders before Cardinal Rigali this year: Dan Kravatz of St. Catherine of Sienna Parish- Reading, Mark Searles of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish- Easton, and Kevin Lonergan of St. Patrick Parish- Pottsville. [Picture 11] {Kevin Lonergan chants the Responsorial Psalm} During this Feast Day mass, these men express their resolution to prepare themselves in mind and spirit to give their lives in faithful witness to Christ. The whole community is invited to pray for them, that God's work may be brought to completion in the Holy Spirit.

To the right, Allentown Priests Msgr. Stephen Radocha, and Fathers Andrew Gehringer, Joel Kiefer, Gene Ritz concelebrate on St. Charles Day, and visit with the seminarians receiving candidacy from their parishes.

During the feast day, the much awaited 'Upper-side/Lower-side' football game is played. All the sems displayed great eagerness and resolve to play despite the rain—in fact, they even seemed more excited than if it were sunny! In a wet and muddy field, both teams gave it their all— at the end, covered in mud as they were— the theologate (upper-side) was victorious!




View of the Chapel of St. Martin of Tours

 

Following Solemn Vespers, the community came together for a wonderful dinner-- truly engaging the great feast day. As always this was a blessed time of the year. A holy and enjoyable time to pray, rest, and celebrate the great gift of our Lord in the Eucharist—as well as His presence here at the Seminary.





Experience of Cassock Day

By: Daniel C. Lisella
Seminarian, First College

Picture in your mind you are a 5 year old whose birthday it is and your parents are going to throw you a surprise party. All the relatives come early and hide in the house while you are out with one of your parents. You show up late at the house tired from a long birthday morning with your mom and grandparents. You walk into the house completely unaware of what is about to happen. All of a sudden people come out from everywhere, friends and family, shouting “Surprise!” hugging you and kissing you and picking you up. That is what Cassock Day at St. Charles Seminary feels like since that happened to me at my 5th birthday party.

I cannot tell too much of the story for the New Men who will be attending St. Charles next year will probably read this. All I can say is, it will be a day I will never forget for the rest of my life. How great I feel that God has called me to serve his people and give me such an opportunity to be with family and spend time with my new brothers of the St. Charles community. I woke up tired that morning because of the excitement I knew was coming the next day. We had Morning Prayer in the morning followed by the blessing of the cassocks. Following the blessing, mass was held, and it was the most special mass I have ever seen in my entire life because it was God’s gift to us that day. Sharing the fellowship of fraternity with our brothers and the resident priests was the best part of the morning. In the afternoon, our families and friends came to share the day with us by giving them a day in the life of our community explaining what we do and walking around to various points of the Seminary. I didn’t expect this, but I had two of my teachers show up from my high school to visit me that day which was probably a gift from God showing me how much I am appreciated by others for what I do. Vespers was said in the evening followed by going out and share fellowship with all of our families and friends since we haven’t seen them in a while.

There are many more events I could describe from that day, but the other events that did take place I cannot use words for. They have touched me in so many ways I cannot begin to describe. I will quote my Rector Fr. Mahoney from what he heard “…it is not about the touch that you take, rather about the touch you give.” To all of you I wish you many blessing and happiness from our Lord and to the New Men who are discerning their vocation for the Diocese of Allentown you are being prayed for everyday. I hope that one day you will join me along with my other brother seminarians at St. Charles and share in this fellowship that, God willing, you will feel the same. Finally, may Christ be with all of you and please continue to pray that more young people discern their vocation to the priesthood or religious life. God bless you!

Deacon Stokes Preaching at the Seminary

By: Deacon Jason Stokes
Seminarian, Fourth Theology

Today is October 21 – we are half-way through the fall semester of the 2010-2011 academic year, or if you are on a quarter system – it is roughly the end of the first quarter.


This is a good time to sit back and take stock of where we are in the school year. What is it we are trying to accomplish in school this year? What is the goal?

If you ask 100 people that question I would bet that at least 80 people would answer – to gain knowledge.

Yet what is it that St. Paul tells the Ephesians? He says that the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge – this is what truly satisfies us.

Paul is praying to God the Father for the Ephesians pleading that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith and that they be rooted in and grounded in love.

This prayer of Paul is paralleled by Jesus proclaiming in the Gospel: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

To a non-Christian this might seem a little problematic – is this god of the Christians some type of pyromaniac?

What is it that Christ wants to burn the earth with?

The answer is quite easy – he wants to burn the earth with his love.

He offers us this love, but not everyone accepts it – and this is what Christ so very much desires, yet he will not force it upon us – he will love us no matter what, but he will not make us love him in return.

Jesus goes on to say that he must undergo a baptism, and he will anguish until this baptism is complete.

The baptism Christ is speaking of is his crucifixion. He knows the pain he will endure in his Passion and Death.

Yet he is willing to do it so that he may set the world ablaze – the wood of the cross will become the kindling to set the world on fire with his love.

Look at the Cross – what do you see? One word should jump out at you from the Cross – LOVE! Christ gave himself for you and for me because he loves us – he died out of love for us.

Christ loved me enough to die for me, what must I do in return? The answer is the same as the one as the word jumping out at us from the Cross – LOVE. Our response to the love of Christ must be love. Love for him and love for each other.

St. Paul of the Cross, whose feast we celebrated yesterday wrote the following: “It is very good and holy to consider the passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God… Be constant in practicing every virtue and especially imitating our dear Lord, for that is the summit of pure love… When you become true lovers of the Crucified you will always celebrate the feast of the cross in the inner temple of the soul.”

My brothers and sisters, we must immerse ourselves in the cross of our Lord. We must attempt to realize the great love our Lord has for each of us in his willingness to die for us.

Jesus loves you, and if you were the only person on earth, he would still have died for you. You are so very precious to our God. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Never forget this.

This love gives us our true satisfaction – it is what fills us and fulfills us.

Therefore, let us always recognize the love our Lord has for each of us and then let us respond with love; love for God and for each other.

The Boys of Summer: Baseball in the Heartland

By: Daniel Kravatz

Seminarian, First Theology

Now that I have been back in PA for a few weeks, I have had time to reflect on my stay in Omaha for the summer. Of course, there were many great graces God chose to bestow upon me, with which I am sure I can fill up a book. This post is on a game I have grown to enjoy deeply: baseball. I am a big Phillies fan, and in my time out in Omaha, one of the things I missed the most was Phillies baseball. However, it wasn’t too hard to find a ball game to go and see.

One dream I have is to one day go visit all the major league ballparks and watch a game there. I was able to cross one park off my list when I visited Royals Stadium in Kansas City. The ballpark was beautiful, with a giant waterfall in right field. We even got to see a grand slam hit out into the water. Between the bar-b-que and the game, it was an overall good time. Oakland was able to pull out a win in their last at-bat.

However, the highlight of my baseball experience was in visiting Rosenblatt Stadium, the home of the Omaha Royals. I love the experience and all the gimmicks of minor league baseball. Although, it was the College World Series that will stick in my mind the most. This was the final year the CWS would be held at Rosenblatt, and, as a child, I can remember watching the games on TV each June and July and being caught up in the experience of that distinctive ping. I was lucky enough to go to two games.

The first time I walked into the stadium, it felt like I had traveled to the ballpark in the movie The Natural. Ironically enough, the right fielder was wearing Roy Hobbs’ number 9, but there wasn’t a Hobbsian feat of hitting the ball into the lights, sending down a shower of sparks. The second game I saw was the last game played at Rosenblatt during the CWS, as Omaha is building a new stadium to host the series next year. The game was fantastic. The underdogs of the University of South Carolina had a 1-0 lead in the best of 3 series going into that game with UCLA. The game ended up going into extra innings, with the Gamecocks pulling off a walk-off win in the 11th inning. It was a great way for my summer baseball fun to end.

So…What is there to do in Omaha?

By: Kevin Lonergan
Seminarian, First Theology

When you think about Omaha, Nebraska, the first thing that probably does NOT come to mind is an awesome downtown area, beautiful churches, interesting culture, and intriguing history. But, rest assured, Omaha has all of the above!

When arriving in Omaha at the end of May, I was shocked to find myself in a city with skyscrapers and beautiful art deco buildings. Being a seminarian the first thing that we needed to find (after the church, of course) was where to eat. My classmate and I ventured into the “Old Market” district of Omaha. The area was filled with shops, restaurants, pubs and street musicians. To say the least this locale became a favorite among the seminarians at Creighton as a place to relax, have a nice meal, and enjoy each other’s company.

The City of Omaha itself has a fascinating history dating back to the pioneer days and the wagon trains heading westward. In the downtown area are magnificent, larger-than-life sculptures of settlers making their way west with all of their possessions in horse-drawn wagons.

Also in Omaha are some glorious churches. Whatever your taste in art and architecture, you’ll find a church in Omaha. Many of the churches have been well maintained or tastefully renovated including the grand St. Cecilia’s Cathedral.

The Old Market, as well as downtown Omaha, is laden with lovely art deco buildings including the impressive administration building right on Creighton’s campus.

Teen idol Justin Beiber packed the Quest Center for a concert on the July Fourth weekend. People come from surrounding states to watch first class shows at this brand new facility out there in the middle of the country. Another popular tourist stop is the railroad museum. Although we did not visit the attraction, I understand that it is a vital destination for people interested in the creation of the full United States.

All in all, I heartily enjoyed my Creighton experience and Omaha, Nebraska! The program felt like a spiritual Utopia that will always remain with me. And Omaha is a wonderful example of the beauty of our country!

Whatever your reason or need is for visiting Omaha, rest assured that there is plenty to do and see. However, if you’re only staying for a limited time, the top three in this seminarian’s opinion are St. Cecilia’s Cathedral, the Doorly Zoo, and the Old Market district.

Liturgy at The Institute for Priestly Formation

By: James Harper, Seminarian
First Theology

In a summer of spirituality at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, liturgy is the core about which our prayer takes place.

Each day, we begin with Morning Prayer prior to class.  For the most part, Mass took place after class, towards the center of our day. Evening prayer varied significantly over the summer. Sometimes it would unite us as a full community within a holy hour. At most other times, evening prayer was the opportunity to gather in smaller corridor groups in which we could form deeper ties in which to

share everyday and spiritual experiences.

As with our usual seminary formation, seminarians had the opportunity to serve during liturgy as readers and servers, thus becoming actively involved as many of us would usually be. Aside from essential liturgy assisting roles, the IPF program also had an excellent arrangement of opportunities for music ministry to enhance

the perception of our liturgy day to day.

On a personal note, although I never served at the altar, I did serve through music as one of three seminarian organists. On the occasion of a saint’s feast, we would sometimes arrange a choir to sing a psalm and a meditation at Mass. Of course within our smaller corridor groups at evening prayer, everyone had to actively

take a role at some point.

In closing, the liturgies at the IPF program were very prayerful due to the involvement and reverence of our staff and brother seminarians such that it may be the center of our daily prayer life. And without the liturgy as the core and the focus upon integrating it with our daily prayer, our summer would not have been
as spiritually fruitful.

Seminarian Holy Hour for Vocations

By: Joseph Ganser, Seminarian

Third Theology

As the summer begins to wind down and students prepare to return to school the seminarians come to end of our summer assignments and begin to look forward to the changes that the new semester will bring. However, before we pack up and head back to class we also take time to thank God for all the good experiences that he has given us over the past eight weeks and to pray for our vocations and for the men who will come after us.

For the past several years near the feast of St. John Vianney the seminarians have gathered at a church with the priests and the lay faithful of the diocese to sponsor a holy hour for vocations. This year the evening was hosted by St. Jane Frances de Chantal parish in Easton.

Over one hundred people, including fifteen priests and five of the seminarians joined together in adoration before our Lord to pray for an increase of vocations. The evening began with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a solemn singing of Evening prayer and closed with benediction. During the holy hour the reflection on the priesthood was given by Fr. Keith Laskowski who used the words of Pope Benedict XVI to encourage more prayers for vocations but also to encourage the seminarians in their own process of discernment.

After the holy hour the priests and the seminarians relaxed at the parish rectory where they shared a meal prepared by the members of the parish. It was a good time to grow in fraternity and to develop new friendships. It was also a perfect time for the priests to meet the newest member of our diocesan clergy, Father Boniface Badiate, who recently arrived from Senegal to live and work in the United States and to welcome him into our diocesan family.

Once again our Evening Prayer for vocations has proved to be a great way to wrap-up our summer assignments and to prepare us for what lies ahead. Being organized and run by the seminarians themselves it also provides us great experiences in leadership and event planning. It’s a great way to get us excited for the future.

Summer at IPF, The Institute for Priestly Formation Summer Seminarian Program

By: Mark Searles

Seminarian, First Theology

At the start of this ten week program back in June, I did not know what to expect besides a trip to Omaha, NE and an opportunity to grow in my relationship with God and to take some courses on spirituality. Now just beyond the midway point of the summer it is amazing to think about how much I’ve grown and the many blessings I have received.

We live on the beautiful campus of Creighton University right next to downtown Omaha and after a weeklong introductory course on the basics of prayer to start the program, we entered into an eight day silent retreat. To use some IPF terminology, this retreat began a “radical reorientation towards Christ” in my life and in the lives of the 175 other seminarians gathered here from all over the country. The retreat was an awesome opportunity to establish a more in-depth relationship with God and in my personal experience, a great new bond with the Father. The spiritual directors and other priests gathered at IPF are some of the finest in the country and it has been an amazing privilege to be with them so far!

After a very powerful retreat experience, the next eight weeks consist of one or two daily classes and eventually an afternoon apostolate assignment at a local nursing home or hospital. The quality of priest and lay faculty has also been superb as we’ve discussed a wide range of topics such as the spirituality of a diocesan priest, the Ignatian rules for discernment, and the healthy integration of celibacy and the priest’s love for his spouse, the Church. The apostolate assignment then is a great opportunity to put our prayers and studies into practice, not just giving and doing for the people we meet, but an opportunity to receive God’s love through others and to see Jesus in them.

The program also allows for some fun as I had the chance to visit Denver, CO over the 4^th of July weekend and might get in a trip to Kansas City before it’s time to drive back to PA! Omaha has also been a very friendly and welcoming place for us this summer plus we haven’t had the 100+ temps that PA has had to endure! The cornfields and cattle farms are beautiful out here too, but I haven’t officially been converted to a “Cornhusker” just yet (watch out Penn State)!

Thank you for your prayers for all of us out here and we are praying for everyone back at home in our beautiful Diocese of Allentown!

Lenten Practices

By Jared Zambelli
Seminarian, Third College

The sacred season of Lent is upon us again, a season in which we commemorate the sufferings and sorrows of Our Lord and prepare ourselves for His Resurrection. Concerning this holy season, Abbot Guéranger O.S.B., a celebrated liturgist of the 19th century writes:


The Church has made [Lent] a time of recollection and penance…she would therefore bring into it everything that could excite the faith of her children, and encourage them to go through the arduous work of atonement for their sins.

It is into this same spirit, one of both recollection and penance, that all of us here at St. Charles are encouraged to enter and to live. However, as Abbot Guéranger says, this is a challenging and “arduous work.” For this reason, St. Charles, just as parishes and dioceses around the world, provides us with various spiritual practices and events to assist us.

Among these practices are Rosaries, Poor Man’s Lunches, Alms, and even a Lenten Concert titled “From Darkness to Light: A Choral Meditation on the Seven Last words of Jesus.” On Fridays these Lenten practices grow even more focused, and it is on these devotions that I would like to focus. Beginning at 3:00pm, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration until Vespers at 5:00pm. During this time we have the opportunity to kneel and pray before our Savior, He who “was pierced for our offenses” (Isaiah 53:5) and “by [whose] stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:7).

Benediction concludes the time of silent adoration, and Vespers directly follows. In this time of Lent, the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours powerfully expresses the same spirit explained by Abbot Guéranger. The texts focus on prayer, fasting, and contrition, but also on the joyful expectation of Easter, which strengthens us and provides us with hope.

The Stations of the Cross, composed by St. Alphonsus, immediately follow Vespers. This devotion is one of my favorites, for it is in the stations that I am able to console the Lord in His passion and to accompany Him who had “trodden the winepress alone” (Isaiah 63:3). Between each station a strophe of the “Stabat Mater” (a Lenten Marian Hymn) is sung in honor of Our Sorrowful Mother, whose grief, as St. Anselm remarks, was so great that it was enough to cause her a thousand deaths. This grief of Our Mother is extremely important to me, for I realize that through it she pleads to her Son on my behalf. It is through her, with her, and by her, that I hope to be saved.

As these last days of Lent come to a close, I pray that all of you may have the strength to finish out the season with solid devotion, so that you may enter into the Easter joy freed from all that may have hindered you from Christ. And I ask you to please pray the same for myself and my brother seminarians.

Allentown Night

By:  Vincent Dranginis

Seminarian, Fourth College

Once a month as a Diocese we the seminarians and some of our wonderful Priests come together in fellowship, and spend an evening out for dinner somewhere in Philadelphia. This is a great event that we look forward to every month because we have the privilege of spending time with our Priests and each other as one big diocesan family.

This past week we all journeyed to a very nice Italian restaurant called Valentino’s. We were treated to a fabulous dinner complements of our Vicar General Msgr. Schlert. Also joining us for dinner was our Vocation Director Father Andy, and Father Jerome Tauber Assistant Pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Hellertown.

I personally enjoy these evenings because we have a chance to be out of the seminary buildings for a time, and we have the opportunity to spend time with each other and enjoy a great meal. The dinner table is always a great place to encounter people for who they really are, just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. I feel it is very special to “break bread” with your brothers who live and share the same vocational calling.

Ukrainian Catholic Church Visit

By: Kevin M. Lonergan
Seminarian, Fourth College

On Sunday February 7th all of the classes at the seminary from first year college to third year theology go out to a parish for a first hand experience of the Catholic Church within a different culture. This year my class, the fourth year collegians, went to St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bethlehem. In addition to participating in the liturgy we were given the opportunity ask the pastor, Fr Gurovich, some questions as well as tour the church and sanctuary. Following the liturgy the parishioners held a social where we enjoyed some coffee and delicious baked goods.

I believe that it is invaluable for seminarians to be able to go out and to experience the Church in a new way. Whether it is in a different language or in an unusual style of liturgical celebration, the cultural differences in the Church today are a crucial part of the lives of the priests of the third millennium.

As I complete my time in the college seminary and look forward to being a theologian on the upper side and I see more and more the need for an understanding and appreciation for the different cultures that encompass the Catholic Church. I pray that these days in the seminary will assist me in a deeper understanding and appreciation for the vast number and beautiful languages and rituals that are the Catholic Church.

Pro-Life March in Washington DC

By: James Harper
Seminarian, Fourth College

The march for life has become an unfortunate annual event for the community of St. Charles Borromeo seminary.

Each year, we at the seminary regard this march as a solemn duty we are to perform. We will do it, but we would certainly rather have no reason to march. Despite any optimism on our part and prayers for justice with regards to basic life issues, the march for life has its place once a year in the life of a seminarian.

Traveling by bus, our departure comes soon after 0530. Unlike a typical seminary day, this trip necessitates a day free of class and a day outside of the seminary environment. Once underway, we begin our day together with prayer with morning prayer and a rosary offered for life. Beyond this, the remainder of our trip is spent at our discretion.

As seminarians, our initial destination for the march is not a rally point within Washington, but the National Shrine. The seminary joins the Philadelphia Archdiocese contingent. This year the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was privileged to make use of the National Shrine for mass. With the seminary choir tasked to lead the singing, my two Allentown classmates, Vincent Dranginis and Kevin Lonergan, and myself were actively involved in aiding a beautiful mass.

After mass, we advanced to our rally point with the rest of those representing Philadelphia Every year, assembling for the march takes more time than the actual march itself. But this time is constructively used. Often, we encounter other seminarians who once attended St. Charles. This is also a time when many seminarians find high school friends and renew their friendships. But as it came closer to begin our march, Cardinal Rigali addressed the people of Philadelphia and the seminary community via a megaphone and began to lead us in prayer. Shortly thereafter, it was time to begin walking.

I had an unusual perspective during this year's march. Often while marching, we join together in prayer, often a rosary and sometimes singing. This time four seminarians from Harrisburg and I were selected to lead the decades of the rosary with the megaphone. Leading a rosary in such a manner at first seems to lack the setting in which we would wish to pray. However, in this extraordinary circumstance, it was powerful to be leading a prayer like the rosary within the context of a large crowd joining the prayer amidst other factions alongside us presenting more boisterous demonstrations. Despite all various distractions that turn the march for life into a pep rally, we can still lock into prayer and devote our concentration towards it.

After praying first the sorrowful mysteries, then the luminous mysteries for a total of ten decades, our march came to an end. With a momentary pause to regroup the seminary community, we then moved towards Union Station to ride the Metro back to Catholic University where we would begin our return trip on the bus.

We returned to the seminary at about 1900 and I spent the rest of my day with friends. Most of everyone else did likewise or took advantage of their free time to sleep early. At the day's end, the march for life was a full day providing mixed feelings. We had the camaraderie of our community but also the need to stand up for injustice. As a seminary community, our presence was a small, but necessary part of a larger piece of society that will continue to march year after year until this form of injustice is brought to an end.

Day of Recollection, January 24, 2010

By: Mark Searles, Seminarian Pre-Theology II

To start the new spring semester the seminary held a day of prayer and reflection during our first Sunday back from a long and restful winter break. This day of recollection consisted of the usual Morning Prayer, Mass, and Evening Prayer, but each was accompanied by a reflection given by a visiting priest along with adoration throughout the day.

We were led by Father Shaun Mahoney who leads the Newman Center at Temple University who clearly has a great zeal for the priesthood which made him a great choice during this Year of the Priest. Father spoke about one’s calling in life and in particular used some examples from his own adventures and also made reference to St. Peter. Reflecting on St. Peter, Father spoke about a visit to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. While praying near St. Peter’s grave, one might be easily struck by the beauty, vast amount of treasures, and size alone of the church, but it is important to contemplate the rock itself upon which Jesus built His Church. St. Peter was a simple fisherman, might have had a bit of a temper, and even denied Christ three times, but God called Peter to a special vocation in life and Peter followed.

My favorite part of Father’s reflections came when he spoke about one’s own personal conversion in life. First, one must turn and run after the Lord with all one’s strength and secondly, one must realize that this is not enough. One must rely on God’s strength to move within us. Father reminded us that there is this crucial step two to conversion, which can take a lifetime, but like St. Peter who had his share of falls, God will be there for us when we turn to Him and give us strength. St .Peter was almost knocked down by the waves when he saw Jesus walking on the water, but before he could sink, Jesus reached out and took Peter by the hand.

Father’s reflections were a great reminder to place our trust in the Lord and as I sat in St. Martin’s chapel during adoration I was reminded of the words from Psalm 34, “Look toward him and be radiant with joy.” When our gaze is fixed upon Jesus, no wind or waves or any distractions in life can knock us down. When we gaze upon Jesus in adoration how can we not be filled with joy? Overall, the day presented a nice opportunity to refresh and renew our spiritual lives and to make a joyful start to the new semester of formation towards the priesthood.



For further reading and reflection about St. Peter check out Archbishop Timothy Dolan’s book, To Whom Shall We Go?