LIFE IN THE SEMINARY
The sixteenth 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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Greetings to all my rambling friends!

When you read this the long winter should have been a good way hehind us
with the spring-summer at hand. That old song: "Spring will be a little late
this year" seems to run through my mind. The weather is certainly entertaining in a way that provides for an openlng in conversation. It is good to remember that the cold and the rain and the snow and the wind all affect the good and the bad, the  honest and the dishonest alike (see Matthew 5, 45). The word of the Lord cannot fail for just "as the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the ~ earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread
for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me
empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do"
(Isaiah 55, 10,11)

We are celebrating the time of the risen Lord, the Word of God made man who has returned to his Father. As you read this it will be Pentecost. May we live out the reality of the power of the Holy Spirit in us thus "carrying out the will" of God and succeeding in what Jesus was sent to do.

We are nearing the end of the second term of the second semester. This means, for me, the completion of most of my academic formation. But, having missed a term two and a half years ago, there are one or two essential courses to he done. So, I have to go on for another year. Right now I am working on three written assignments due at the end of another year.The first one is an analysis of one of the experimental Eucharistic Prayers found in Hoey's Experimental Liturgy Book , It is proving an exciting exercise and shows that our existing Eucharistic prayers II, III and IV are gems and fulfill all the essential elements required for a Eucharist in the ancient and historic tradtitions of liturgy, both East and West.

For the course on Ethics we have a choice of seven themes, ranging: from a
disscussion on Marriage and the Human Experience to writing out a sermon on the occasion of a wending or alternatively a commentary on five paragraphs f'rom gaudium et Spes (Nos 48-50 & 52) Approprlately enough the suhject for the last term was Sex. This term sees us on Marriage.

The third of the essays is an optional one in pastoral psychology. I am
attempting a paper on "The Healing Aspect of Christ's Ministry". This is a very full and deep suhject. Given the time it is possible to write a book on this. But I will have to restrict myself to examing the foundations of the healing ministry in the Gospels and the continuing need for this in the Church. Healing will be looked at in the context of the whole person.

Besides these written assignments there is a tutorial on Intercomrmmion. During the course of my reading for this I have found an interesting distinction: Communion and intercommunion, the former implying felt unity and the latter continuing disunity. The last task before the exams will be a seminar in Canon Law on Baptism, Orders and Ccnfirmation These seminars consist of trying to solve a case that one might meet in the pastoral f'ield.

Our Pastoral work continues. The six young girls under instruction all made
their first communion at the Easter Vigil Eucharrist. The ceremony was a
really joyous celebration. Three of three of the girls were formally received into the Catholic communion, having been Baptised and reared in the Anglican traditionon. Four of the older girls were confirmed and the six plus another girl from the parish were given the Body and Blood of the Lord. A three year old boy was haptized after the blessing of the new fire and the Paschal candle. After the two-hour long celebration, which did not seem in the least bit long to most of us, we had a social welcome for: the new Christians at the convent next door - the church was St. Michael and St. Martins at Hounslow - which will I'm sure capture the happy occasion for the families concerned. Christianity was seen in practice to be full of the joy of
the risen Lord and a time for a new song in the heart.

Our Monday night prayer group is growing in many ways. We have an average attendance of about forty. Mass is celebrated on a regular monthly basis. Plans for a day of recollection and a vigil for Pentecost are in hand. We have also started a small prayer group at the MIssionary Institute.

One memer of our community has left us temporarily to try his vocation with the Birmingham diocese. He is still quite young and needs a hit of time to discern the expression of his call, which, I hope will not be too long in taking shape for him. Another is awaiting news from one of the Scottish bishops. This will means our community will be reduced to seven seminarians, one brother and four priests.  By comparison with some other missionary
congregations this is quite large. Plans are Going ahead for the new novitiate due to begin in September in Hadzer, near Droitwich in  Worcestershire. Fr. Brendan McCormack has returned from the United
States, where he has been absorbing some of the latest formation programmes for his job as novice master. We won't know how many novices will be starting this year until the time gets nearer.

All of us are on a journey. If you read the scriptures regularly you will notice
how often the theme of journeys crops up. From Abraham who journeyed from his native land to the unknown land of promise, through the journey of the Hebrews from Egypt under Moses to the Promised Land to the journey of Jesus from birth to death and resurrection, the Church, those who follow him all seem to be on a jmurney not from life to death but from time to eternity. Keep walking merrily on your life's journey. Wonderful things may and do happen on the way. Until the next time I write take care, remembering that the Lord is waking with each one of you. "May he bless you and keep you; may he let his face shlne on you and be gracious to you; may he uncover his face to you and 6ive you peace (see Numbers h, 24-26)
Fraise God. now and forever;                                                                                                 

LEO COSHAN, S.V.D. 

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