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The formation of priests
Topic Started: Wednesday, 16. May 2007, 23:22 (624 Views)
MickCook
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It was a personal message from Rose that put the thought in my head: What about a thread on vocations?

Okay, so I'm an ex-Redemptorist, Irish branch. That's Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris (if I got the spelling right) Conrgagation of the Most Holy Redeemer the initials of which are C. Ss. R. The motto, Copiosa Apud Eum Redemptio means With Him there is plentyful Redemption. For more on the Irish Redemptorists follow this link:
Redemptorists: Dublin Province

Even though I managed to survive the Reds for three years, there is no question that God wanted me to be there. Although God had other plans for me other than the priesthood, I learned a lot from the Redemptorists - and I'm not just talking about the accademic side.

The Religious Brothers and Priests I lived with for those three years taught me a lot about myself and my relationship with God through their example. Their commitment to God and to the wider community is total, even if some of them are, well, odd! (I should talk).

The call to the priesthood or religious life can come in a variety of ways. It's not something that you can quite put your finger on, but it is recognisable to the individual being called. The first reaction is probably, "Naa! Not me." However, God doesn't give up - if he's calling, you'll know it. You will just have to admit: yep - He wants you.

Does prayer come into it? You bet it does - gallons of it! Prayer, prayer and more prayer. Then when your done, pray again. What is vital though is to be open to God - you have to let Him speak to you and you have to be prepared to listen, even if you suspect that you're not going to like what He has to say. You HAVE to listen - listening is vital.

Vocations can and should be supported by prayer. Those whom God is calling can be distracted and they do need the help and support of prayer - lots of it.

So lets all have a go at supporting vocations through prayer - lots of it. Gallons of it, buckets full.

:D
:)
Mick
The Cook Companies
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MickCook
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Studying for the priesthood is not all academics…


Redemptorist students at Cluain Mhuire, the now defunct Religious House in Galway (now a hotel I believe) were very much involved one way or another in the community. Whether it was playing soccer with our archenemies, the Franciscans, or putting on plays for the old dears from the Claddagh. It was one such play, that kind of went down in local history, “Little Tom the Tinker”.

The plot of the play is basically a man, whose widowed Aunt seeks to remarry, sets about calling a halt to the proceedings and secures the help of a tinker called Tom. The play, a comedy, went down rather well when staged at Cluain Mhuire. One of the local priests, from a place called Recess, that is so small you need a magnifying glass to find it on a map, asked if we could stage the play at the church hall to help with the Church rebuilding fund or some such thing.

On arrival at the church hall, we discovered the stage was a pocket-handkerchief, with minimal lighting – if you can call it that. A couple of candles would have been better! We managed to set up the stage, to some degree, to resemble the set we required. Our makeup team literally went over the top in applying the makeup of the Aunt’s suitor and the Aunt, played by Tom Jones (no not that one!), a local lad. He was also rather well attired in a dress containing a couple of balloons. Then after local talent did their thing on the tiny stage, the local pastor announced the play offered by Redemptorist students – and we were off…

Almost immediately the Jones boy started ad-libbing like there was no tomorrow. Enter the suitor, in the lighting he appeared to be one hundred and ninety years young – and acted it with more ad-libs. The Jones boy began ad-libbing bringing in local characters and even the girl’s school choir. The audience were in tears with laughter – and it had only begun. The Redemptorist student charged with prompting leaned against the wall because he was laughing so hard, he slid down into a seated position and tossed the script away. Then came the climax. In came the Garda to arrest Little Tom who immediately leapt from the stage (instead of hiding under the table) and hid behind the front row of seats. By this time half the audience had slid to the floor in laughter. Fr. Con, who had driven us down to put on the play, had red eyes and his face stained with tears from the laughter.

The play was a success.
:)
Mick
The Cook Companies
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Alan
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Mick,

Your two posts brought back some amazing memories

From seminary being transported to a vast variety of Church Halls. unlicensed in those days.

The wonder of the debating societies and those ever so wonderful plays. Not to forget the enthusiasm for sport.

As you say the hall may have had 3 single bulbs, Mostly 25 watt. How we were ever seen on stage I do not understand between the dim lighting and the very dense cigarette smoke.

I spent a few years testing a secular vocation and then after bucketfuls of Prayer, by me and all my family, I then went yo the Society of African Missions. After that I returned to secular life. I think the majority of the priests were too holy for me.Like you I have many abiding memories and I would never consider my time wasted. As the president of the Seminary said, "Never forget what you have learnt and always remember your time here with fondness and always Pray for your priests and for vocations".

Amazing the way that most halls were dedicated to Our Lady. "Dun Mhuire"or "Cnoc Mhuire" and so on.

Having left the priesthood to others I then enjoyed the dances in the same Church halls under the very watchful eye of the Parish clergy. we did not dare leave with one of the girls because we would be stopped by the priests and were told to go our separate ways. We obeyed.

At that time it was a recognised fact that only 25% of those who entered Seminaries went on to be ordained. Now I wonder if any one can tell us what are the current ratio's.

If the ratio is similar to my days then we no longer need Bucketfuls of Prayer. We obviously need "shedloads, That is why on this forum Prayers for vocations are included every week.


God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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Rose of York
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MickCook
May 17 2007, 12:28 AM
Their commitment to God and to the wider community is total, even if some of them are, well, odd!.........................................................................Redemptorist students at Cluain Mhuire................ were very much involved one way or another in the community.  .........playing soccer with our archenemies, the Franciscans............putting on plays for the old dears from the Claddagh............................................the stage was a pocket-handkerchief, with minimal lighting – if you can call it that.  A couple of candles would have been better!...................................Our makeup team literally went over the top in applying the makeup of the Aunt’s suitor and the Aunt, played by Tom Jones (no not that one!), a local lad.  He was also rather well attired in a dress containing a couple of balloons........................Redemptorist student charged with prompting leaned against the wall because he was laughing so hard, he slid down into a seated position and tossed the script away.......................Then came the climax. 
In came the Garda to arrest Little Tom who immediately leapt from the stage (instead of hiding under the table) and hid behind the front row of seats............Fr. Con, who had driven us down to put on the play, had red eyes and his face stained with tears from the laughter.

The play was a success.

Thank you, Mick for showing us the "humanity" of the men who serve us.

"a bit odd", eh? Are not the Redemptorists known as great preachers? Being odd is being human.

Please Mick, tell us more about seminary life and the "curriculum".

I wonder, does God call some to spend just a few years at Seminary so they can leave, and be the leaven in the midst of the laity? A very high proportion of members of Catholic forums are family men who went to seminary, but realised God was not calling them to priesthood.
Keep the Faith!

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Emee
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My old Head Teacher did it the other way around. As well as being a Head Teacher he was married with a family. His boys grew up (and, funnily enough became teachers and Head Teachers themselves - one is my niece's Head). His wife passed on. My Head Teacher retired and then became a Priest!

I am delighted at what a full life he led, and how his wonderful boys are still inspiring school children today... He left the happiest legacy. We all thought he was wonderful and a man of great faith...
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Karin
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Karin
The funny thing is, that when Mick was in Seminary in Ireland, I was literally in the same area when he was there. This was in the early 70's and I was on holiday tramping around Ireland and Connemara in particular. And we had to meet on the Internet almost 30 years later. Go figure!
Karin

Hvaljen Isus i Marija. Kraljica Mira, moli za nas.
"Praised be Jesus and Mary. Queen of Peace, Pray for Us."

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MickCook
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At the university (Galway) one of the professors who lectured on Metaphysics, was a dreaded Fransiscan by the name of Fr. Garvey (dubbed the blue ar*ed fly) by one particular Redemptorist student (not me). Fr. Garvey had a quick wit and a very sarcastic one at that. Students feared him.

Unfortunately one student was an Oldham lad, raised on OB Bitter and humour. One fine sunny morning the Oldham lad (me) was leaving the lecture hall and was in the process of getting on his bike, when Fr. Garvey appeared at the door. He asked, "Do you suffer from Metaphysical Anxed?" The Oldham lad replied, "Only during your lectures Fr. Garvey." Then promtly rode off in a cloud of dust.

:)
Mick
The Cook Companies
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tomais

The most lively and alive parish in Edinburgh is served by Redemptorists,( hence I will not not hear anything again them) ! Well only onr of them and his football team.
As for Galway well a radiologist in the hospital claimed to be able to see through anyone- well almost but refrained from a diagnosis unless a confession had been heard at least once in a life time.
Fingers crossed- Scottish catholic Observer this week and the Church and its progress beyond current stagnation - ( any current and no stagnation).
The Editor may or may not challange this piece- but young men into the clergy?
Not in Galway nor Edinburgh- unless deemed on birth to have the visual claim to be female!
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Alan
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Prayer For Vocations

Heavenly Father, we praise you and thank you for all you have done for us.
We thank you especially for sending your son, Jesus Christ, on earth to visit and save us.
We ask you to bless our families and all the members of the parish family, especially those who are suffering in any way.
May your love be upon us as we place all our hope in you.
May those in our parish whom you call to enter the priesthood and religious life have the generosity to follow your invitation so that those who need your help may always find it.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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On the subject of vocations, take a look at this site
http://www.nypriest.com/
I haven't had time to look into it in detail, but the opening sequence is impressive.

KatyA
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Mick and Alan obviously have fond memories of their days in seminary and that is great. I wonder whether they went at an early age as was the custom during my school days. I know that in my secondary school days around the age of 16 we were joined by boys who had gone to seminary at a very early age and then decided it was not for them. I always had the feeling that they were finding it difficult to settle back into "normal" life although I met up with two of them after 40 years or so the othe rmonth and they seemed eventuallly to have coped all right.

John
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CARLO
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John Sweeney
Nov 16 2007, 09:15 PM
Mick and Alan obviously have fond memories of their days in seminary and that is great. I wonder whether they went at an early age as was the custom during my school days. I know that in my secondary school days around the age of 16 we were joined by boys who had gone to seminary at a very early age and then decided it was not for them. I always had the feeling that they were finding it difficult to settle back into "normal" life although I met up with two of them after 40 years or so the othe rmonth and they seemed eventuallly to have coped all right.

John

A very interesting point John.

I have known a number of such men and one might say that the initial sense of rejection or disappointment has never worn off.

But I am no psychologist so would advance this only as a possibility.

Oremus
Let us pray


CARLO
Judica me Deus
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Ushaw College, Durham, announced that Father John Marsland, who is currently appointed by Salford Diocese to the English College in Rome, has been appointed as the new President of their college. (According toSalford Diocese. The announcement does not yet appear on Ushaw College site )

KatyA
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Rose of York
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The Catholic Church in England and Wales owns seven seminaries.

Mass attendance declines, so churches are closed.

Vocations decline. All seminaries remain open.

Keep the Faith!

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MickCook
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Tom Jones (not the famous one) was sitting next to Francis, a man from India, in the lecture hall awaiting the orientation lecture on the subject of philosophy. In walked three rather pretty girls, Francis gave Tom a dig in the ribs with his elbow, then with a heavy Indian accent he said, “Oh look! Vocation shakers!”

In the Redemptorist Fathers a sense of humour was almost as important as a vocation. Some students did not make it to ordination, but most learned important lessons about life and about their faith. Some of the priests we met were well known theologians; Fr. Sean O’Reioden for instance, had his own television program on RTE in Ireland. Fr. Michael Bailey was recognised as one of the top biblical scholars in Ireland, yet even these men loved a good joke – as long as it wasn’t a ‘Kerry man’ joke (Fr. Michael was from Kerry).

On a visit to the monastery at Esker, outside of Galway, the other students and I were sitting in the breakfast room having tea and a slice or two of fresh baked bread with some of the priests. Suddenly it began to rain heavily outside and one of the priests, in a heavy Australian accent said, “Oh look! The angels are having a piss!”

We just put it down to him being Australian (after we had stopped laughing). Although humour was ever present, we did take our studies seriously and these included: philosophy, Scripture, Church history, European and Irish history, English, and some had additional subjects such as French, Irish or science. In addition to our studies we had Divine Office, daily Mass and prayers. A couple of times a year we would put on a play for the local folk to come over and have a laugh. We also attended local prayer groups and on occasion went on field trips to learn more about the land, perhaps visit the sick or dying. Sometime we assisted with school retreats, or chatted with visiting missionaries or attend additional lectures given by our own theologians (or dare I say it, the Franciscans).

And this was only the beginning of our studies. "Do I have a vocation?" is a question that haunts every student and even the priests until the day they die. It is not a question inpired by doubt, but rather a question inspired by a real desire to do God's will.

Have a very nice day :D
:)
Mick
The Cook Companies
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