As I enjoy our afternoon off from the workshop, I thought that I would upload some pictures of the interprovincial novitiate here in Burlington, WI. Once the house of philosophy for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary province, it is now home to 14 novices and their three directors, and host to the 30+ postulants and directors here for the workshop (it’s big). More to come about the week, but here’s a preview:
After a long and refreshing weekend in Wilmington, we’re off on our last leg of travels for the year. New York? Washington D.C.? Assisi? If you guessed any of these likely places, sadly for both of us, you are wrong. Sitting here at gate F35 of the Philadelphia airport, waiting for flight 4095, is the word “Milwaukee.” That’s right, Wisconsin.
As a part of the effort to better acquaint us with the postulants of the other English-speaking provinces, the formations directors have decided to gather us in Burlington, WI, at the site of the interprovincial Novitiate for an information workshop on Human Sexuality. Like our trip to Cincinnati back in October, this trip will offer an opportunity to build relationships with the men with which we’ll be living next year, as well as to touch on a very important topic in formation.
As you can probably tell from the picture, we have lots of fog and no plane… This is problematic. Assuming that this problem in remedied soon, pray for us that we have a safe trip and a fruitful week!
This is going to be difficult...
After almost 12 days in Wilmington, we’re off again on another adventure! This one, however, will be quite unlike the rest. Whereas the others were collaborated efforts with other orders or provinces, this one is strictly the six of us; whereas the others were usually workshops or educational trips, this one is a retreat; whereas the others were fairly causal, this one will be require us to be silent, abide by a strick and extensive prayer schedule, and most different of all, cut ourselves off completely from the outside world for one week.
Tomorrow morning we’ll be heading up to near Elmira, NY where we’ll find Mt. Saviour Monastery, home to a community of Benedictine Monks in the American Cassinese Congregation. For one full week, we will join them for prayer seven times a day (the first at 4:45am, the last at 8:00pm), and three silent meals a day, while spending the rest of our time in quiet contemplation. With the exception of a short period of time each day to discuss an assigned book, the entire retreat will be silent. This also means shutting off my cell phone and computer, refraining from listening to music or watching the news, and truly being present to silence.
Part of me is quite overwhelmed. The lack of technology will definitely be a shock for someone who grew up in the technology age, and I’m not quite sure how I’m going to cope without the news, email, Facebook, ESPN, my favorite music, and the general power to search the internet. It’s become normative, and I don’t look forward to that sort of change. What’s much more unsettling, however, is knowing that I might find something much deeper when I actually listen. What does one think about for ten hours in a day? What sorts of examinations of conscience, reflections of self, experiences in prayer are possible with that much time set aside? There’s quite a bit of uncertainty is such a vastness of contemplation.
On the other hand, what an incredible chance this is to begin the Advent season! Each year I complain that I’m too busy with papers, tests, work, shopping, and so on, and Christmas comes before I’m ready. I love that I’ll have intentional time set aside for prayer and relaxation to truly prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Lord. I don’t know how that could be much better!
Obviously, I won’t be able to post until we get back, so take the chance for your own personal internet hiatus, and spend some time in solidarity with me, praying and reflecting! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and I thank all of you who read and/or comment for your support!
As I mentioned in the last post, I had planned on bringing my computer with me on our six day, double workshop trip this week so that I could reflect as it was happening. Realizing Tuesday before we left that it might be more of a distraction than an aid, I decided against it (evident from the lack of posts since then). It has ultimately been a good decision, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use my iPhone to offer a sneak peak as to what’s to come…
Let’s see… There were 56 people from almost a dozen different Franciscan communities present… The building was 8 stories tall on the side of a mountain (the picture above is one of the many stunning views)… Dennis, Sergio and I starred in a talent show act with about 24 hours preparation, Ron did a stand up act, Ramon did a Filipino dance, and Ed sang some songs in Spanish… We spent the afternoon today at a Poor Clare monastery laughing almost constantly… and now we’re essentially the only people in one of the most formidable buildings ever built waiting for a workshop called “The Future of the Church.”
Wow. It’s been an exhausting week so far, and there’s more to come! I promise a full report, loads of pictures, and maybe even a video when we get back…
Once a stronghold for the Franciscans, northern New Jersey used to be place with dozens of churches run by the friars. As the demographics began to shift in the middle of the last century, Holy Name Province began returning churches to the diocese, freeing them up to hold posts in areas with greater need. Of the locations left, we visited Church of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady in Wodridge, NJ, Saint Anthony’s Church in Butler, NJ (both parish and retirement home), Saint Bonaventure Church in Paterson, NJ, and finally Saint Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, NJ.
Despite the relatively close proximity of these churches (within an hour), there was a distinct character to each that I’m sure is a reflection of the congregation and its needs. The activities varied considerably from church to church, ranging from youth ministry to drug counseling, adult education to elementary schools, outreach to contemplation, even ranging a bit between traditional and progressive. It was really interesting for me to see how much of a difference there can be, even in the same ministry (parish) led by the same people (friars of Holy Name Province).
One of the inevitable things I find myself wondering when we visited each new location was, “Can I see myself here in a few years?” (This is often compounded when each community attempts to “woo” us so that we will request placement there one day.) For each of the New Jersey houses, there was at least one thing that was very familiar and interesting, as well as at least one thing that was very off-putting or disappointing. I found both of these aspects to be very helpful: It helped me to remain open to new possibilities, new ministries, and new friars, offering an aspect of comfort along with a strong motivation to improve the aspects I found lacking.
Certainly it’s a long way away, (and trust me, I’m in no position to critique, especially not here) but I found the whole experience to be a great exercise in discernment. It allowed me to think about God’s call to me within a real, concrete possibility. It’s one thing to think in abstracts and to let my mind entertain a world of infinite possibilities, but it’s also helpful to look at already established ministries run by actual friars and discern the my life in each. Overall, I was affirmed once again in my Franciscan vocation and continue to look with eagerness as what lies ahead.
More pictures to come soon!
Breaking In The Habit 