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Four County Catholic May 2011
My First Year in Rome: Gift and Mystery In his memoir recounting his spiritual journey of priesthood, Gift and Mystery, the now Blessed By Jonathan Ficara
Pope John Paul II reflected on his two years in Rome as a doctoral student of the Angelicum. “I will never forget my feelings during those first ‘Roman’ days of mine,” he writes, “when in 1946 I began to get to know the Eternal City.” This marks my third reflection for the May Issue of the Four County Catholic as a seminarian, and as I did in my two previous articles, I turn to the words of my mentor and hero, Blessed John Paul II, to be my inspiration and guide for this reflection. I arrived in Rome and to the Pontifical North American College last July with great joy and excitement, eager to begin a new chapter in my formative journey towards the priesthood. Like the young Fr. Karol Wojtyla in 1946, I too have since found my first year experience in Rome to be, in many ways, unforgettable, indescribable and forever life-changing. This year can certainly be considered a “year of transition” for me – a period of acclimation to both the College and to life in the seminary, as well as a period of adjustment to the city at large. Overall, I am grateful to God that my transition has gone incredibly well thus far. I’ve enjoyed my time here in Rome immensely and have found the seminary community, as a whole, to embrace a strong spirit of prayer and academic fervor which I greatly appreciate. I move now to something a bit “deeper.” Over these past 10 months, as is typical for any new man of the College, I’ve been introduced to and have been inundated with, what seems to be a thousand new things that I’ve had to adjust to and make my own (many of which seem entirely distinct and particular to this situation at the College, having no semblance of continuity to what
was life back home). A new country. A new city. A new seminary. A new rector, faculty and staff and seminary community. New food, traditions, routines and schedules, classes in Italian…an entirely new way of life. These are the most concrete of my experiences, and for this reason, I can speak of them with ease. These experiences are with me daily and have contributed to my time in Rome thus far. Yet there still remains something more – something beyond description – an ever-present experience that moves beyond the tangible and enters the realm of mystery, which infuses every fiber of my being. Perhaps this is what Blessed Pope John Paul II meant when he said, “Rome was always the center of our experience.” It is this ever-present experience of the Eternal City, which is undoubtedly the effect of living but a stone’s throw away from the Holy Father and St. Peter’s Basilica, which not only connects me to life in the Diocese, but to those most
important to me back home. It is this experience of connectedness – this experience of the universality of the Church, which is perhaps more present and more real than anything I’ve spoken of above. Each and every day, as I walk to class, I am continually reminded of where I am, who has walked these streets and shed their blood for Christ and his Church, what has happened here and what will happen in years to come. And for this reason, I am deeply grateful to have been given this opportunity to study in Rome and to experience these “feelings” which the young Father Wojtyla knew well while studying in Rome. My time has surely been, thus far, all “gift and mystery.” Please pray for me as I continue my formative journey toward the altar of Jesus Christ. Know that I pray for you and everyone of the Diocese of Norwich daily, especially when I have the chance to pray before the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us!
Save the Date... 7th Annual R.I.S.E.N. Golf Tournament 2011 to Benefit Children with Special Needs Sacred Heart School, Groton
We look forward to seeing you again on...
Friday, June 10th Shennecossett Golf Course • Groton, CT $125 per player • Includes: Lunch, cart, 18 holes of golf, t-shirt and a dinner buffet
www.sacredheartgroton.org
IMMACULATA RETREAT HOUSE A Ministry of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate 289 Windham Road, Rte. 32 Willimantic, Connecticut Healing Retreat with Fr. Richard McAlear O.M.I. Join us for this Spirit-filled retreat to discover God’s healing power in your life! Friday, June 17th to Sunday, June 19th 2011 Retreat includes conferences, Mass, & Healing Service led by Fr. McAlear. Cost: $195. per person. Matt Talbot Retreat for Men Friday, June 10th to Sunday, June 12th 2011 With Sister Micelle Lister. Cost: $180. per person. Matt Talbot Dinner Guest speaker: Rick Pacukonas. Cost: $20. per person Tuesday, June 7th 5:00 to 9:00 PM Our Lady of Peace 30th Anniversary of Medjugorje Please join us for an afternoon of prayer, testimonies, adoration, and Mass. Refreshments provided. Sunday, June 26th 2:00 to 5:00 PM Space is limited, so please call for reservations. Free will donation. Annual Blessing of the Bikes Sunday, May 15th 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Enjoy a day of music, fellowship and food. Music provided by “Just Friends”. Free will donations accepted; proceeds benefit the Living Well Center Food Kitchen.
Steve Sheridan: risengolf2011@gmail.com
To register or for more information: Phone: 860-423-8484 or e-mail: dmagnum@omiusa.org www.immaculataretreat.org