LIFE IN THE SEMINARY
The ninth 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 in the peace and  joyof the Risen Lord!

As I write it is still the Easter season and. will contInue so untl Pentecost.
Of Course, as Christians priiveliged and proud to enjoy the name of Jesus, 
triumphant in his resurrection we do  live now that promise of eternal life -
the kingdom of God,· which is the person of the Lord - iin the hope - a sure, .
confident hope - of completion when we meet the Beloved in reality. So praise .God now and forever!

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To begin'with, a short recap on my last article. Paul Kearns, a confrere, and I
received the lay ministries pf Reader and Acolyte early in February. We are
not yet in the clerical state, but now are authorised to assist, where necessary in reading the Word..of God, instructing others in this ministry, helping ih the distribution of Holy Communion and taking the Blessed Sacrament to the sick. We may also expose the Blessed .Sacrament for adoration.

Of the confreres wtlo made their final vows last December, two have been ,
ordained to the priesthood. One, Peter Smith, was ordained in his home parish of Kirkby, liverpool, in the middle of March. He is continuing to work in the parish at Poplar until late Summer, when he hopes to go on to Southern BraziL The other, John Meehan, was ordained towards the end of Aprll in Birmingham. He, too, ·will continue to work in the parish at Brook Green, West London, until later this'year, when he hopes to go to Ecuador. When this article appears, Patrick Crawley will be due his ordination to the priesthood. This is to take place at Leeds in June. He moves on to the Philippines later for three years. 

There was. a further ordination in Easter Sundy, this time for the diaconate.
John Bettison of our Community, made his final vows on the Wednesday of Holy Week and received the diaconate, along with three other White Father students, at the hands of a retired French White Father Bishop now working as a curate in southern France. John hopes to receive priestly orders in the autumn, He also will work in the Philippines, training for admlnstration, returning to England after three years.

Mere about, our Gomrmmity here at Cricklewood. Each one of the students has to give a homiily once a week, usually at tbe Wednesday  evening Mass; it is proving good experience and we can iearn a lot in the sharihg. Our rector encourages us to speake without notes, if possible, and we are  limited to ahout ten minutes, so there e is no chance of a long-winded airing, but a real opportuni ty to get a main polrrt over, with application.

Just hefore Holy Week Father Mike Joyce, parish priest at St. Joseph's, Burslem, Stoke on Trent (our new parish gave us a day of Recollection. It was centred on the need for prayer in our life. We need to really give some of the time that God gives us back to him in prayer which may mean getting up earlier in the morning. It really is astonishing how everything in the day's work goes smoothly when one hegins with offering all to the Lord. He shared much that was from , his own personnl experience, which made it all so much more meaningful. I'm sure that each of us benefitted a great deal from his reminding us of this most important part of our dally life. It certainly was endorsed heartily by me.

So far about our community at Teignmouth Road. Now something about the Missionary Institute. We are now in the second term of the second semester and most of us are studying intently in preparation for  1 exams, doing research for essays and seminars and looking forward to the middle of June, which is the end of the term and this year. Having submitted three esays: 
The Eastern Schism (Church History), The Source and Charactaristics of Christian Joy (Grace) and The need for prayer in Religious Edtication  (Religious Education), I'm now working on Man'S Justification according to James 2: 14-26, The Radicals of the Reformation (the Anabaptists) and
a topic for Canon Law. There is much work involved, but quitr enjoyable.

There are other students studying hadl for the finnas of their degree. After June they, and aIl of us, will be able to relax for a while . That is worth striving for. It was good to be able to share in the RambLers' Day of Recollection at La Retraite, Tooting Bec, on Sunday March 9th. Father Alban Carroll, who is a friend of mine, gave two splenid aeldresses on the Holy Spirit and Pr ayar, It was also encouraging to see the general participation
in the Liturgy. All who came will have gained many blessings from the Lord.
Thank you, those who planned and organised it. 

My own pastoral act'ivity has been mainy, up to rnow, in the field of the charismatic renewal. Because of my limited physical condition, our rector advised me to lie low, as it were, until after Easter, before involving myself in parish work. Now that the holiday period is over, I'm on the lookout for a parish to exercise my lay ministries and to instruct converts. Time, of course is at a Premium here. It is too easy to become absorbed in academic studies at the expense of pastoral work, but one has also to look at the priorities.

The doctor has advised me to get some more eiercise and recommended walking; when I mentioned rambling, she did not encourage me, because of the pace of walking. On my own I choose my own pace whereas with
companions on the road I·might find it a strain keeping up. So, no rambling for me in the near future, I'm afraid, unless
there are some easy, and gentle ones in the next schedule (Try June 12th - Editor)

On the way back from Birmingham after the ordination of John Meehan, we visited the Cathedral at Coventry. It was a marvellous opportuniy to examine this beautiful building, which some of us had never had the chance to see befor. It seems far superior in taste to. the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and more conducive to worship and prayer. We did not have too long there, just over and hour, but it was well worth it.

The time has come for me to end this article. Hopei twill pr ove interesting to Some of you. Rememher we live in the age of the Risen Jesus, the Christ, the Lord, In His Resurrection we have our hope that we, too, may share in that resurrection.· All the pain of having to share in His suffering will be as nothing in the light of His promises. So, let us shout, 'The Lord is Risen. He is Risen indeed, Alleluia !

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit he with you and remain with you all.

LEO COSHAN, S.V.D.

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