What did You Learn, Professor?

05-21-2017Weekly ReflectionFr. Brian Jazdzewski

Samuel McCarty concluded his twelve week internship on Friday 12 May. Some have asked, which causes me to presume some other are wondering, what I have learned from the Pastoral Internship experience. In an attempt to thoroughly answer those wondering thoughts, I need to revisit some recent history. Late in autumn, perhaps more like early winter, I was invited to consider being a pastor to provide an internship experience for one of our seminarians. I distinctly remember praying thoroughly about the matter, and praying specifically for Samuel who I knew was going to be the candidate.

I also remember mentioning to the priest who contacted me that this parish experience has its blessings and challenges. Obviously with three sites, a Catholic school, distances in between and the scattered out distances between our homebound and elderly population, the assignment is unique. The internship would also occur during the busiest weeks of the liturgical year which included Religious Education classes, retreats for students preparing for Sacraments, Lent, Holy Week and some of the Easter season. After taking things like that into consideration I recall abandoning myself to the will of Bishop Callahan through the priest who inquired with me by mentioning that if Bishop Callahan thinks the idea is a good one, I'll do my best to provide a positive experience for Samuel.

What followed after some weeks was confirmation from Bishop Callahan that he desired for Samuel to be here, with all of us for twelve weeks of Pastoral Internship. So, in January, I traveled to Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary where Samuel attends to be formed to be a formator. During those brief days, I was reminded that I was going to be his professor, in conjunction with all of you, for the internship experience. I also remember, in the weeks leading up to Samuel’s arrival, that some of you were rather excited that we were chosen by Bishop Callahan to have a seminarian in residence. That spirit of excitement among many of you prevails, even as the internship concluded and these days which followed.

Once Samuel moved in, he quickly found the schedule to be quite different from academia; he also discovered a lot more reward through the ministries in which he became involved. I join many of you in witnessing his remarkable gifts for catechizing and interacting with the youth. I also know that some of you rather enjoyed his bulletin articles and other venues where he provided instruction and reflecting for those older than he.

Personally speaking, I’m very thankful to have been chosen to be his professor, but the education was not one-directional. I found great delight in experiencing the excitement among you, the parishioners, at hosting a seminarian. I also found great satisfaction in knowing that his experiences from my model of priesthood will impact his future; some of those examples were good, others by his choices to act contrary to my example. I enjoyed some of my conversations and weekly meetings with Samuel when he wrestled with some of his experiences and how they form his future. My experiences were brought into some of those conversations; I had to reach back to some things I forgot about in my early formative years as priest. I particularly find delight in knowing that, once again, as teacher, I touch the future. What he learned here, for better and for worse, will help him serve God’s people; God-willing we pray that is as a priest in the Diocese of La Crosse.

In conclusion, I once again extend gratitude to all of you for your energy and understanding while we all worked with Samuel. Through your direct and indirect encounters with him, you helped form his future, too. I know that I continue to be inspired regarding the future of our Church, especially through the work in vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life and ordained ministry. I ask you to continue to join me in praying for more vocations in the Church, some of which may even be from each of our parishes. May our Blessed Mother continue to pray for us that we, like her, are models of discipleship and do all things which point to her Son!

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