James

Choosing priesthood for a vocation is a concrete manifestation to the invitation of Jesus. The candidate for priesthood undergoes various aspect of formation to equip the candidate for his future ministry. Seminary formation is vital in priestly formation because whatever kind of priest a candidate would be is deeply rooted on the initial formation.

Author

In the outside world of the seminary, people would have a high regard to the seminarians. They have a high expectations that somehow a seminarian is stepping on a padestal that is far beyond their reach. When a seminarian commits mistake, people would say “you must do this”. People would have their own perception on what an ideal seminarian would be. In short, they somehow put the seminarian in a box and that is how people of today think.

taking into the perspective of the people, basically, seminarian must be a man of prayer, intellectually gifted and be able to analyze things in the context of morality. These things seem to be easy but living in these qualities seems so hard. This is the ideal image of a candidate for priesthood.

On the other hand, as I ponder on this topic there is only one word that came into my mind and that word is LOVE. Whenever there is love everything is possible. To love is to become humble. A seminarian must possess the virtue of humility. He must be humble in surrendering his own self for the formation and through this virtue, it also begets obedience not only in following the norms of the formation but most especially to the formators. Personally, intellect does not matter; what is important is the virtue of humility. When a person is humble everything would run smoothly. Another thing is, a seminarian must have the love for service for it is always the duty of a priest to serve the people. Priesthood precedes humble service.

The common denominator of all these qualities is LOVE. It is on this feelings that everything would be possible and so, it would be fitting for a seminarian to possess this quality. Love precedes priesthood.

Would you agree?

Seminary : A Place of Transformation read story here

Man is a thinking being. He did not easily accept what other people say. He uses first his intellect and made a query before accepting or denying a certain claim or proposition and that makes man unique from other creature. because of being a questionnaire, philosophy comes into its existence.

Author

Man as a lover of wisdom. Because of our being lovable to wisdom, sometimes we are governed by our mind. How we think pictures out who we are and what we think form our personal outlook in life. We are the one who creates our world because our thinking made it so. Personally, taking philosophy has done a great impact in my whole being. I learned many things on this field of study. I made to realize reality in a broader concept. My ability to rationalize and analyze things is being conditioned by studying various philosophical concepts. These concepts are not just a theory but it can be actualize by simple applying it in my own daily experiences. Yes, it is very much true that there is no money in philosophy because we are now in the culture of virtual reality but the concern of philosophy in the first place is not for money, rather a way of right living and the realization of the vast reality.

I am the one who creates my destiny, who I am and what I am now is not predetermined by something else but it is a product of my own free choice. I analyze and think twice whenever I made decisions in my life; decisions that creates my own destiny. It is my intelligent decision of where I am standing right now. i don’t know where am I going, but I know I’m on my way. Philosophy made it happen!

Author: Sem. James Wendel Puracan Fourth Year 2006

Author: Sem. James Wendel Puracan , Fourth year 2006

The world is offering various options to people. Different courses that would be fitting for this new generation. Luxury is what people is looking for nowadays. We exist in this world and we always search for the meaning of our existence. To have a meaningful esistence first of all is to be happy and seminarians is not exempted on that longing. We also search for our own happiness. Many people would wonder why we enter seminary and aspire to embrace celibate life rather than getting a course which is in demand at this contemporary times. Why not staying outside rather than living the structure of the seminary.

Author

So many questions were posed by the outside world; questions that would contradict the way of life that we are living. Yes! the outside world is offering much opportunities, Outside the seminary is world man can make his own decision, enjoy life at his own choosing, no rule of life to be followed. Unlike in seminary there’s always a structure to be followed. There is always a time for doing things and that is what we are living for, to live and enjoy life at the right time. Perhaps, other people could not understand us seminarians because they did not see the best part of being in the seminary and somehow they tend to compare their lives outside in attaining happiness.

Vocation is a mystery in itself and celibacy is a gift from that mystery. Since it is a mystery, it cannot be fathom by human standards and understanding . People might think that a certain person is not meant for priesthood but God knows best. he does not only call but he also form those broken pieces of man’s personality to be whole again. The mystery of priestly vocation entails proper observance of the gift of celibacy. It is a gift and so it needs to be practice and care of. It is not only for keeping but of living. It is not just living for a period of time but rather this gift would become a way of life.

What is it to be a seminarian.? The question would not be answered so much by qualities, intellectual capacity, physical appearance, financial status and so on..but it can be answered on how the seminarian respond to the demands of the formation and most specially his outlook in view of the crucial aspect of priestly life - celibacy. It is crucial because priests and seminarians are still human, they sometimes long to the affection that the opposite sex provides. It is always been my experience if I’m not mistaken most of us experience to be asked why we want to become a seminarian and eventually become a priest.? Priestly life as they think is a lifetime sacrifice because they are living in abnormal life… They think that celibacy against human nature because we cannot deny the fact that we have physical needs but these silly things does not discourage me to embrace celibacy because there are lots of laymen who choose not to enter married life. They are alone but not lonely because they have their family and friend who provide intimate relationship for them.

Binhi Class 2006 - 2007

They are not afraid to enter the four corners of there rooms at night with only pillows to provide them embrace, with only books to accompany them in their bedside, with only prayers to ensure them a good night sleep. These are the people who inspire me to embrace celibacy because I consider them as living testimony that priesthood is not a nightmare…. Man can still be contented in a life of single blessedness. Besides, it does not lessen the essence of being a man if he has no children to take care and a wife to accompany him for lifetime.

We are living in the seminary trying to answer the invitation of the Good Shepherd bringing our broken identity, human weakness and wounded personality but willing to submit ourselves in the formation to be form for the service of the Church and Society. Other people perhaps see us as abnormal people living a weird world but we find meaning in this kind of lifestyle. We are happy of the life that we choose to live. I know not all of us would reach until ordination but the memory and happiness that the seminary provides is worth to remember for a lifetime.

Author: James Wendel Puracan, Fourth Year 2006