LIFE IN THE SEMINARY
The eighth 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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Life in the seminary resumed

Greetings from London.
Once again I can greetet you from our home in Cricklewood. The title of this series should really be more pertinent to my - life in the Society of the Divine Word. Perhaps "Life in the Divine Word Seminary" would be more apt.

My last article was written during my convalescence in our Liverpool home, St. Gregory's in Gateacre. Before leaving in the second week of December
there were joyful events at one of which I was present. 

The first ocasion was the final profession (perpetual vows) of four of my
confreres. Three had·been clerical students and one is a lay hrother. Nearly every member of the British Region of the S.V.D. was present - St. Gregory's
was filled to capacity. The ceremony was held at the Notre Dame Convent,
Woolton Hall where the chapel is larger than ours and beautifully modern. Our Regional (Provincial) officiated and accepted the four applicants.  Besides the final vows, Brother Peter Henderson was also given the lay ministry of Acolyte  to enable him to assist the priests in his new appointment at St. Joseph's, Burslem (more below) where his particular work will take him to a hospital. Being an acolite will enable him to take Holy Communion to the sick. After the Mass the Sisters treated us generously to a delicious cold meal; salads and meats, cakes, fruit trifles and wine. The celebrations continued at St. Gregory's after most of the guests bad departed. 

On the following Wednesday, Dec. 8th, Feast of tbe Immaculate Conception of Our Lady the Three clerical student confreres were among some others of
various missionary orders who were  ordained by Bishop Mahon to the diaconate, at st. Joseph's, Mill Hill. As I was still in Liverpool I could not attend but was with them in spirit. They will all be ordained priests later this year; Peter Smith in his home town of Kirkby, Liverpool; John Meehan at Birmingham; and Pat Crawley at Leeds. Their appointments were conf'r med this month. Peter is off to Southern Brazil, John to Ecuador, Columbia and Pat has been appointed to theBritish Region to work in formation, but will first have to spend three years in the Philippines to gain experie rce. All three are excitedly looking forward to their service and would be grateful for your remembrance in prayer. After spending three weeks at my brother's
in Surbiton, taking in Christmas and the New Year, I returned to the Cormnunity. A new room, much larger than the old one. was given me, and I've been busy painting it with initial help from John Meehan, now living and working as a deacon in the Broook Green parish.

In February I hope to receive the lay ministries of Acolyte and Reader and also fofmal adoption into the clerical state, so do remember me in prayer hefore the Goon .Lord, please.

Over Epiphany the whole region once again met in Liverpool for a Regional conference and Annual Reunion. We discussed the future of our magazine,
"THE WORD". Sales are not covering costs, We heed to sell at least 25,000 copies a month to he solvent and currently sales are around 24,000, resulting in a loss which is cumulative, and alarming. Would any of you become a suhscriber? It is a good magazine, reputedly one of the best in its field.

We also dffiscussed our forthcoming chapter on formation (Training of novices, students and brothers) .and the government of the S.V.D. (how the Society is run). As in all gatherings we ended with a celebration. No riotous behaviour, just a "Conveniat" a coming together, with songs and few drinks and social exchanged. All in all we enjoyed the Reunion. 

On the way hoth to and from Liverpool we called in at our parish in Bursalam, hear Stoke~on-Trent. This is a new venture for our Society. Hitherto we have not taken on any parish work in this country, for we are a foreign missionary society. But the Archbishop of Birmingham invited us to take on the running of St. Joseph's because he had no priest to replace the
one who was being transferred. After discussion we accepted. To cut a long
story short, two of our priests took over in January, with Brother Pater to assist as Acolyte.

That is all now, dear friends. Good rambling and much joy in this year, yet
young and new.

God's Peace remain with you. In .Iesus Christ always,

LEO COSHAN, S.V.D.

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