To Be, Or Not To Be: A Seminarian

Thank you, Deacon Bruno for your post on the effects and response needed by the Faithful when faced with a crises such as we are now. The Archdiocese of New York and the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre are home to hundreds of thousands of Haitians. Everyone is aware of that, I’m sure.
In formation for the priesthood we have ten Haitian seminarians, myself included. The last few weeks have been difficult to navigate emotionally for all of us in the house.

At times a visitor might ask about the backgrounds of the seminarians. When one or another of us says he’s Haitian, the inquirer falls silent –unsure of what to say next. I can imagine that “I’m sorry” just doesn’t feel right for the person. He or she asks about family members lost or injured. And when the answer is given, more silence follows.

It’s easier to talk about when neither party is invested as deeply as the seminarians here are.

I can’t speak for the other men in formation. But anyone who knows me knows that I love apologetics. I enjoy the back-and-forth of a respectful debate on religion as I try to show a skeptic the beauty of the Catholic Christian Faith. I get a kick out of the crazy questions kids ask me when I visit school. I’ve always got a response.

And yet these passed few weeks, when friends have called me asking how they could help, what I might need, and how I’m feeling, I’m almost unable to speak. It’s especially difficult when I can hear the echo in some of my friends questions. The immediate question concerns my family members. But the in the silence which follows, he or she wants me to tell them “why.” Unfortunately, the citation from the Catechism won’t help.

A stock answer forms itself. “All of my family members in Haiti are alive, thanks be to God.”

But every time I say it I’m less satisfied. And the hearer believes little of the calmness reflected in the words.

Since what I said is true, shouldn’t I be happy? Can I exult? But others of my Haitian brethren in this house of formation have lost best-friends, former professors, cousins, and other close family members. Many of those family members still alive are living homeless, afraid to go back to their hometown where food may be even more scarce than in the capitol. And sometimes the tremors are more prevalent away from Port-au-Prince.

This mixed elation, sadness, fear, and confusion escape the polished, antiseptic answer which I usually enjoy (which is probably evident even now as I try to type them into sense). They elude the thesis statements which lead my scholarly essays.

Instead the same dry, sooty responses repeat themselves.

It’s easier I believe to remember St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (8:22-28) where he writes

“We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

The questions aren’t new.  We’ve been asking them ever since the first innocent person died in history. I pray the priests who are called upon to be the answer-men, have the right ones to give. I pray when I’m ordained I’ll be able to respond satisfactorily to the woman or man who comes to my door having experienced unimaginable tragedy. I suspect though that the answer won’t be very different from the silence and inexpressible groanings I hear from all the learned men around me at the seminary. May the Spirit comes to our aid. May our Lord guide us by hope to those places, those answers which we seek with endurance.

Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours, priez pour nous.

Saint Esprit, intercedez pour nous.

On January 17, 56 first year students were instituted Lectors by Bishop Paul Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, in the Immaculate Conception Chapel of the Pontifical North American College. Among them were two seminarians of the Diocese of Brooklyn: Christopher Heanue and Jun Hee Lee. Each man presented himself before Bishop Loverde and while placing their hands on the Sacred Scriptures were instructed by the bishop, “Take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the Word of God so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.” The Institution of Lector while not exclusively reserved to those preparing for the priesthood remains with Acolyte and Candidacy one of the key steps toward diaconate and priestly ordination. We congratulate Chris and Jun and pray that the Word of God may continue to bear fruit in their lives as they continue their priestly formation.

Presentation of Those to Be Instituted

Chris Instituted

Jun Instituted

     I believe it is not an overstatement to say that the hearts and minds of a large part of the world are focused on the situation in Haiti. The great devastation that has occurred, the unfathomable loss of life, and the continued suffering of a resilient people who have been through so much over these past few decades, causes all of us to stop and consider what we can do to help our brothers and sisters in need during this time.
     It is also clear that the Church of Haiti has suffered a tremendous loss as well. I received word from a friend of mine that in his community at least one seminarian is missing in their Haitian province. The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Joseph Serge Miot, as well as a number of clergy and seminarians have lost their lives as a result of the earthquake. Msgr. Bernardito Auza, the Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, has reported that combined with the tremendous loss of life, all of the city’s major churches, its cathedral, and seminary have all collapsed.

     In the face of this disaster, I believe, however, one central characteristic of the Church emerges clearly once again: its charity. Ignatius of Antioch in the prologue to his Epistle to Rome, writes that the Church of Rome, “presides in charity.” Indeed, in the face of the suffering of others, it has always been the tradition of the Church to reach out and do all it can to aid those in need. This situation is no exception. Archbishop Dolan, Archbishop of New York, recently commented that Haiti is “the broken and bloody body of Jesus.” As members of our Lord’s mystical body, therefore, we live in communion with each other and can do nothing else but respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, by our prayers, by our financial contributions, and by our care and concern for those among us who might have lost family or friends in Haiti, let us once again live that charity, so essential to who we are as Christ’s mystical body on earth.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti, Pray for Us!