LIFE IN THE SEMINARY
The tenth 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, friends !
Though now, hardly a rambler I yet feel a kinship with you. It has heen
some months since my last article and I must apologise for not finding the time to send a few words for the last issue of the magazine. Life has heen pretty full and stimulating. Most o my literary actitivity has beenin the composition of accademic essays in scripture and theology. Aftera series of such one feels like a break from writing. However here we go again and I hope the news will be of interest to some of you.

When thls appears in print it will be almost winter.  A beautiful tlme of the
year, I think, though it does herald the colder season; but then, if winter comes can spring be far hehind? Reminds one of how human God really is.  The seasons foilow the pattern of his earthly life in Jesus. After the winter of the Crucifixion coms the  spring ofthe Resurrection. What joy!

Where do I hegin? Perhaps with the idea of a seminary. 'Seminary' in the classic meaning was, and still is, an instituton where students for the priesthood are housed: studies and living-in occupy the same building. From that viewpoint ours is not a seminary. We, the students of all the conregations studying at tile Missionary Institute London, live at our own houses of residence. Still, the title of the article is understood by most of
you I'm sure so there ls little need to revise it.

When the academlc year ended last June we were sharing the Mill Hill Missionries college at St Joseph's and the White Fathers at Totteridge, for our lectures. In September we assembled for the 1977/78 academlc year at Holcomhe House, situated hehind St. Joseph ' s. Still in Mill Hill, we are now on the Hidgeway. Formerly St. Mary's ,Abbey and a convent, part of the
building is now the new M.I. L. Out of chaos is gradually coming the order of
constructon. There is n heating as yet, causing chilblains and, for me f'rozeri 
fingers, when the weather takes on its seasonal temperature. Fortunately we are becoming inurred to this, always looking forward in hope to the promise of some form of heating. All in all we like our new-old place. Our opening Mass was a joyful celebration though held three weeks after the Institute opened and in spite of the cramped room. When the chapel takes shape it will be even smaller I understand. Room for more intimate liturgies??

There are now ten more congregations using the M.LL. for their studies. The students seem to be about the same number as last year, round 130. The scheme too is similar with the advantage of all lectures now heing held in the same building. No more running to catch the bus from one college to the other as before. Coffee-time is a do-it-yourself affair, and we try to take turns in brewing and clearing up. We Lack a library and reading room as yet, but are hopeful of getting something within tile next year.
Meanwhile we are allowed to use both St. Joseph's and St. Edward's libraries (the latter is the White Fathers Totteridge home), 

Now for some news of the community here at the.S.V.D. residence. Five of the students were ordained hetween March and September: Peter Smith at Liverpool, John Meehan at Birmingham, Pat Crawley at Leeds, Doug Young at Marsfield, Australia and John Bettison at:Wolverhampton. 

Peter is awaiting a visa for Brazil, John M. is in Pamepluna, Spain, learning
Spanish before going on to Ecuaaor, Pat is in the Philippines, Doug in Sydney before going on to New Gujnea and John B., hopes to leave for the Philippines in a few weeks time. Two students have left the Community and two more have joined from the Novitiate. So we are now five students and three priests, making a small family of eight. This has entailed some changes in our way of life. Our work-load has increased in most things.
But we are going ahead with the good Lord as our leader. 

Eaoh one of us has a pastoral field. Mine is to help out as an acolyte at two
Masses each Sunday at the Sacred Heart, Quex Road. That means helping out with distribution of Holy Communion. ,Added to that l am instructing a catachumen, a man' of 78, who is hoping to be received on Dec. 8th. Please remember him in your prayers wt th thanksgiving, The others do similar pastoral work, catachetics, acolytes, choir, working with ex-:prisoners in rehabilitation, and th down-and-outs with the Slmon Conmunity. Because of my connnitments I am unable just yet to add a new field of pastoral acttivity - hospital visiting, perhaps, next term!

During the summer I spent four weeks at Hill End psychiatric hospiital, St.Alhans.  with six other ordinands uner the chaplain we pursued a pastoral clinical chaplaincy course for ordinands This proved to be a  tremendous experience. For me it was the making of my summer.  It is not possible to spell out in detail what we did - it would make this artticle far too long. Briefly, our programne included lectures on the character of health, treatment of psychotic illness, community care, treatment of nourotic illness, counseling , the rnlnistry today, family and child care , rehabiliation, clinical theology, marriage guidance, clergy/doctor relationships, sub-normal education, alcoholism and drug abuse, hypnotism, etc. Visits were made to Cell Barnes Mental Handicapp Hospital, Luton and Dunstable accident Hospital, Adult training centres, the various wards in Hill End,hospital, and also external visiting with the district nurse. We sat In .at·ward conferences, preached at the Anglican Eucharist serviees both at Hill End and Cell Barnes, took turns in leading the morning and eveninig prayers, socialized with the nurses and participated in prayer meetings. To write more would be an essay in itself. I could easily write several thousand words on that memorable July, but I will have to leave that to my diary , Because I had the great blessing of going through the chaplaincy course I am keen to get some pastoral experience in this field. Please God I will be able to befbre too long.

One more small accoun tof my summer before I end this paper. The Rector very kindly allowed me to go to Ampleforth for a charismatic conference. Entitled 'The Living Word' with a theme song: 'Your Word, 0 Lord; is a lamp to my steps, a light to my path' (Ps,119,105) it was a glorious week with some 400 eager Christians coming together to share the great experience of belonging to the Lord. Again, though I would dearly love to share something of what went on at that Benedictine monastery-school it is heyond the limits of this article. For those of you who are aware of the power of the Holy
Spirit realised in the charismatic renewal you will appreciate how necessary it is for us to.get togetner like this and be recharged, as it were, to be sent out in mission to the world.

While on the subject of the charismatic renewal, we have a prayer group a few doors down the road where we meet every Thursday at 8 p.m. for an hour and a half of prayer in the Spirit. Our local curate is one of our regulars now and has brought great joy to the group. Should any of you be inter  interested and live in the neighhourhoon of Cricklewood, Kilburn,
Willesden Green, do come.  You will be most welcome. It is at 33 Teignmouth Rd.

And so , dear friends, it is.time to come to an end. Remember the good news of Jesus Christ is that he came into the world to give us eternal life which we already enjoy in the life of the Holy Spirtt. Praise God now and forever. 

LEO COSHAN, S.V.D.

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