Seminary Life: An Introductory Look

By Joe Schon, Seminarian

Hello, my name is Joe Schon. I am a seminarian from the Diocese of Bismarck. I had the idea to write a monthly letter to the parishioners at Ascension Church to summarize what I have been doing over the past month and what college seminary (the first four years) is like. This first issue will briefly summarize my first semester at St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C.

I would say that a college seminarian has a similar lifestyle to a college student in many ways. We both go to class, spend time with other students, and participate in different sports and activities. However, as a seminarian, we have a rule of life that is supposed to allow us to grow in virtue and live the interior life, which is unlike college. This includes daily Mass and adoration, conferences, days of retreat and recollection, apostolic work, and time for study and recreation. More specifically, we play sports (football, soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc.) every week, have spiritual direction and formation meetings, watch movies on weekends, have time to talk and relax in the evenings, have various times of silence and recollection (40 hours of silence being my favorite part of the semester), go on trips to the beach or camping, participate in street evangelization, and have speakers talk to us (just to name a few things). Additionally, we live a 'family lifestyle' that promotes charity and better allows us to grow in virtue. Essentially, college seminary forms seminarians into Christian men. There are four areas of seminarian life that a seminarian focuses on. Those areas are intellectual, human, spiritual and pastoral formation. These areas of formation form men to be holy priests.

This first semester came with many struggles, but also many areas of growth. Most of my struggles came from creating and sticking to a daily schedule, finding valuable friendships with my brother seminarians, and having various stresses with school. However, with struggles, comes knowledge of oneself and growth. I definitely grew in those areas of struggle (said above) as well as many other ways.

My two favorite parts of my first semester as a seminarian had to do with relationships. In addition to the many activities and leisure time with my brother seminarians, I was able to go on a camping trip with the three other Bismarck seminarians at JPII and another seminarian from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. That trip really showed me how valuable friendships can be. I would say that those four men on that camping trip are now some of my best friends. Most importantly though, I grew in my relationship with God. Having adoration and Mass every day as well as having spiritual direction has allowed me to see where God works in my heart and has allowed me to better realize just how much He loves me. The 40 hours of silence (as said above) was a big turning point in my spiritual life, as it prompted me to truly accept God into my life and to really think/pray about my relationship with Him. God has given me the grace to see that every part of my life, whether that be the struggles or joys and everything that is between, is created with love. Everything is love if it is with Our Lord. I truly believe this, and I pray that you (the parishioners) may be able to experience God’s overwhelming love as well.

Thank you for your support and please continue to pray for vocations! God bless you all.