When seminarians are not participating in a formation program, they typically spend eight to 10 weeks of the summer at a parish. The seminarians in the Diocese of Gary may be receiving a break from the traditional classroom setting, but they have been continuing to gain ministry experience in a variety of ways.
This summer, Seminarian Nicholas Emsing served as a chaplain at Ascension-St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis as part of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. CPE is an accredited educational program that allows seminarians and other ministry students to hone their skills in pastoral care for the sick.
Those in the program join the hospital's chaplain team and are assigned to a particular unit, where they visit patients and offer spiritual and emotional support to them and their families during their hospital stay. At the same time, they attend classes with an instructor focused on enhancing their ministry techniques and skills.
“As a hospital chaplain, you accompany the patients on your unit throughout their stay, providing spiritual support in any way they might need it,” Emsing said. “You work in tandem with the priests, calling them when needs for the sacraments arise. During this time, you have the chance to walk with patients and their families through both joyful and challenging moments.”
During one shift, Emsing explained he was asked to bring the Eucharist to a couple who had just welcomed a baby boy. Soon after, he joined a family in prayer as they bid farewell to their father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“Throughout my time, I was able to see the power and love of God manifest in some of the most unlikely places,” he said. “The faith of the patients, even amidst great suffering, strengthened my faith in the healing power of Christ. Prior to my departure, my parish pastor cautioned me, ‘It’s built to stretch you.’ I had no idea how accurate his assertion would ultimately prove to be.”
Emsing said one of the lessons he learned that stands out the most is the impact that the presence of a minister of the Church can have on patients in the hospital.
“I couldn't do anything to heal their physical condition, and I could not even provide the sacraments, but I was often told by patients how much they appreciated the simple fact that I was there for them,” he said.
Emsing continued, “For them, I was a representation of Jesus Christ, accompanying them in their suffering. Despite not having yet received the sacrament of Holy Orders, I was given an opportunity to learn what it might be like to stand in persona Christi, offering a prayerful presence that brought hope in the face of significant challenges.”
Emsing will return to St. Francis de Sales Seminary to continue his studies. He is entering his third year of Configuration and will be ordained a transitional deacon at the end of this academic year.
“I ask for your prayers as I continue on this journey of formation,” he said. “In addition, I ask for your prayers for all the people I was blessed to work with during my CPE experience.”
For the first part of the summer, Seminarian Roy Graf was in Tampa, Fla., with Christ in the City, a Catholic organization that works with the homeless in large cities around the U.S.
As part of a Final Propaedeutic assignment, he and a classmate traveled to the sunshine state for three weeks. There they met seven other missionaries – four full-time with Christ in the City, and three other summer of service missionaries.
“During this time we spent time encountering the poor, getting to know our group of missionaries, and spending good time in prayer,” Graf said.
He added, “One of the most striking things about the homeless that we met was the joy they had in meeting us and the happiness that they found in the simplest parts of life.”
After Christ in the City, Graf returned to the diocese where he has been spending the last few weeks at Queen of All Saints in Michigan City.
Graf has been working with the maintenance department at the parish on weekdays. He serves a few Masses on the weekends, attends the activities of the young adult group and helps with funerals and anointing of the sick calls. He also volunteered during the Totus Tuus program.
Graf shared this summer he learned that being a seminarian comes with many responsibilities, and that they need to be very versatile. From going to places and meeting new people, to adjusting to different lifestyles, he has seen the volume of tasks those in ministry can sometimes be required to handle.
The most memorable moment this summer for Graf was getting to serve during the Ordination to the Priesthood Mass in June.
“Watching our newest priests receive the sacrament of holy orders was a great joy and inspiration to hopefully be like them one day,” he said.
Graf will be returning to Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn. for his second year of studies.
Transitional Deacon Will O’Donnell was assigned to St. James the Less this summer. He has been spending his time working alongside Father Greg Bim-Merle ministering to the parish community and the people of Highland.
“For the most part I have been learning to preach and serve at the altar for daily and weekend Masses,” he said.
Besides fulfilling his roles as a deacon at Mass, Deacon O’Donnell has baptized two children, led graveside committal services and assisted at a wedding. In addition, he brought communion to the homebound, led weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, preached a holy hour for vocations at St. Bridget in Hobart and volunteered at the St. James the Less Festival.
Deacon O’Donnell also participated in Totus Tuus, helping the missionaries during the teens’ evening program.
“I was delighted to provide opportunities for prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, games and discussion with the teens,” he said.
Having been a missionary six summers ago, Deacon O’Donnell was able to work alongside the missionaries quite well. He enjoyed spending time with those missionaries which included brother seminarian Patrick Cullars, who was on the team that week.
“Totus Tuus was an additional sacrifice amidst my weekly routine of responsibilities at the parish, but the sacrifice bore immense fruit for all those who participated in the program that week,” he said.
Deacon O’Donnell shared he came into his diaconate ordination this past June realizing that preaching would be a challenge for him. Therefore, his most anticipated goal for the summer was to incorporate a standard of praying, preparing and delivering homilies each week.
“Throughout the summer, I was able to develop certain aspects of preaching that the seminary hadn't taught me,” he said. “Having only written full texts for homilies in the beginning, by the final weeks of the summer, I was able to rely on only an outline and speak more from the heart.”
“I had to quickly learn the art of preaching with passion to enliven the rich content of the message I prepared,” he added. “Thanks be to God for the help of Father Greg and the honest compliments and critiques of parishioners, which drove me to reach new heights in proclaiming the Gospel with confidence and zeal.”
On Aug. 22, Deacon O’Donnell will return to Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit for his final year of formation.
For more information on the Office of Vocations, visit garyvocations.com.
Caption: Father Greg Bim-Merle and Deacon O'Donnell with the statue of St. James the Less before his last Sunday Mass of the summer. (Provided photo)
