LIFE IN THE SEMINARY
The fourteenth in a series of articles by Leo Coshan, describing his experiences testing his vocation in the Societas Verbi Divini (S.V.D. Society of the Divine Word)

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Hello Ramblers,

Shalom! Greetings and blessings in God. 

In my last article I wrote of the endof our acedemic year 1977/78 and a brief account of part of our summer. That summer, perhaps not the brightest for most of us as far as the weather was concerned is now behind us. Autumn is fast moving on, the leaves are still falling - for me this season is the most colourful; I never tire of the variety of shades with the changing colours even in the heart of London - ,and the waather is just super right now. The first term of our new academic year 1978/79 is half over and it is time for another letter to you. I see I have heen writing fairly regularly for four years.  I hope you are not tired of my style.

First of all what happene to our London community of the SVD since the
summer? After our various dispersions - holiday and other tasks - we came
together again in early September to spend: a week at Cropple How in
Cumbria's Lake District. for a community holiday. It brought back memories: of a holiday with the ramblers a few years ,ago. We had some good: fun

One.day the van broke down and' we had. to spernd a whole ·afternoon .and evenIng by Derwentwater waiting f'or the AA. It was cold and blustery..It was cold and:blustery. Looking back on it one can say it was an experience. Two of our group went up Scafell but not yours truly. We had a day at  Windermere, calling at Ambleside, Coniston, BIow Ness etc. Another day was spent riding on the miniature railway from .Dalegarth to Ravenglass St Bees and Whitehaven were interesting and concluded our stay at the periphery of the Lake District.

Before the community holiday l had had four weeks in Ireland. Three of those weeks were spent at Dunamon Castle Coonty Roscommon, on retreat Castle Dunammon, where the Irish Province of the SVD have
the novitiate and flrst two yerrs of philosophy, is one of the oldest  inhabited
buildings in Ireland. From a paper on the background of the castle I found 
There was a fortress there from the earliest times. But the earliest record reference is in the Annals of the Four Masters for the year 1154. It was the seat of the Ó Fionnachta chief of Clann Chonnmhaigh. In 1939 the Divine Word Missionaries bought the property. The grounds were a wilderness and the castle was in a ruinous condion. Great hardship was suffered by the first community and matters were made worse by the fat that it was cut off by the war from the sister houses on the continent. With God's help and that of the local people and clergy it prospered. 

While on retreat there I didn't meet many of the local people but those I did meet were very kind and hospitable. The country around is beautiful, the river Suck winding its way in front of  the castle. The swallows were still
darting around and stocking up before their migration to warmer climes. The 
Prooerty covered over 150 acres of lovely  green land on which was a farm and a printing press. Our retreat director was Fr.Tom Laydes, the novice master. He took us on a journey of three weeks based on the spiritual exwecises of St Ignayious Loyola. That was a marvellous experience. I kept a note book and will refer to it many times during my times aheadin the SVD,  especially when it comes to my turn to conduct or direct retreats. 

Before and after Donamon I spent some time at Maynooth in Co. Kildare.  .Just about 17 miles from Dublin and nearly an hour by bus, this is where the Irish province have their hostel, where the students in theology at the university across the road are housed. It is open to all:clerical and lay, SVD and diocesan and other religious orders. Again the hospitality was excellent.

This is an outstanding feature for which I will fondly remember Ireland, good

humour and warm welcome. I can't get over my reluctance to visit this near
neighbour ofBritain for so long. Now I look forward to heing able to call  there

again. I was also ahle to see something of Dublin, though not all of it. 

Back in London and at the Missionary Institute London life moves on at a
steady and increasing pace. Time races by. I'm now doing my fifth year courses: Canon Law, dealing this term with marriage ; Sacramentology, that it the theology of the Sacramenta in our life and practice as Christians in the
sacramental tradition; Ethics, or Moral Theology; this term exploring the
Sacrament of Reconciliation or the Rite of Penance, with all its implications;
Liturgy in all its aspects; and two courses in Missiology. The two courses
cover sociological and pastoral conditions in Africa, Latin America and Asia;
the second one is a specialist study I of Islam.

The new Missionary Institute is much improved this year. The central heating
is working very well, the library has opened with a growing number of books;
though that will go on for a long time before most of our needs are met. Fund raising for this is quite a problem for our Secretary., who is off to America to try his luck hat in hand. On a local level we are running another dance at the National on Kilburn High Road on Wednesday Nov 22nd. It should be a good and enjoyable evening with seminarians and the local people of Kilburn, Cricklewood and Willesden all coming together to sing and dance in the joy of the Lord. It is touch and go if this copy of the magazine will reach yoiu in time but if it does and you would like to come along you will he most welcome. 

Before I close here are a few words about our prayer-group here at
Teignmouth Road. It has been growing steadily in numbers averaging nearly
40 people attending every week. We are also currently running Life in the
Spirit Seminars, a series of weekly teachings leading up to the praying
over for the release of the Spirit - a terminology that may be strange to some of you - but more easily appreciated as a renewal of one's haptismal vows and a deepening of one's commitment to God in Jesus Christ in the strength of the Holy Spirit. Ahout 150 people are going through these Seminars and we are hoping to have two prayer-groups in the parish when they end. Praise God for his marvellous deeds!

I'm going to end with a word from the Letter to the Hebrews: Let hrotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Rememher those who are in
prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the hody ••••••••Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13: 1 - 3, 8)
God bIess you all and keep walking with
the Lord

                                 LEO COSHAN, S.V.D.

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