September 7, 2009

Life in the Seminary
By: David Stephan

                I joined the Chaldean Catholic Seminary of Mar Abba the Great about a month ago. I moved here from Sacramento and it has been a great experience. I thought that it would be hard moving from so far away from home, but I have been welcomed by the guys very much. I was very close to joining the Jesuit Seminary because I went to a Jesuit high school and have been very involved with them for some time. I thank God every day that I talked to Bishop Sarhad and Fr. Andrew, and that I joined the Chaldean Seminary.
                I could not ask for anything better. I am so happy that I made the decision to move here and to pursue my calling to the priesthood. I have been thinking about the priesthood since the eighth grade. From that time, I always have known that I would join a seminary.
               The first month has been great, and I am looking forward to the rest of my time here. Our schedule consists of waking up at 8:30 am and saying Morning Prayer, which is followed by mass. We also do Evening Prayer and Night Prayer, daily, as a community along with an hour of adoration every Thursday. We also take our time to pray in the chapel before the Eucharist daily, because we need our strength to continue with our discernment, and the Eucharist is our main source of strength. We have Aramaic Language class with Fr. Andrew two days a week, along with Theology with Mar Bawai once a week. We are also starting a new program with John Paul the Great Catholic University. All the first year seminarians will be taking classes there, concurrently with the two classes at the seminary.
               I know it’s going to be a lot of work, but we are ready for the challenge. I know we will help each other with everything, and we will work together in pursuing our mission to become priests. They have become my brothers, and we have a strong bond now that will help us discern our calling from God.