[THEME MUSIC] >> Father Pacwa: I AM FATHER MITCH PACWA AND WELCOME TO “EWTN LIVE.” WE BRING YOU GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. TONIGHT, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH WITH REGARD TO THAT INFORMATION OF YOUNG MEN WHO ARE MOVING TOWARD THE ORDAINED PRIESTHOOD. BUT FIRST I WANT TO SPEAK
BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING. WHAT YOU GOT FOR US THIS YEAR? >> WE REALLY TRY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS SEASON OF COURSE. WE BEGAN USUALLY ON THE 17TH. WE START AIRING SOME OF OUR CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING. PEOPLE CAN START TURNING IN NEXT WEEK. WE LITERALLY BRING PROGRAMMING FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THE MAJOR EVENT, THE LITURGICAL EVENT FROM HERE, FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., FROM ROME, FROM THE HOLY LAND. THROUGHOUT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. SPECIFICALLY CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY. WE HAD MUSICAL EVENTS. WE HAVE A MUSICAL EVENT. BEAUTIFUL CANDLES AND CAROLS PROGRAM AND A BRAND-NEW CHRISTMAS CONCERT FROM THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MUSICAL SPECIALS THAT WE HAVE TAPED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THERE IS A NEW AND COMING UP AIRING LATER IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING. SPECIAL CHILDREN’S CONTENT. FOR A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. WE WILL HAVE SPECIAL CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING A CHRISTMAS
PROGRAMMING FOR THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR WEEKS, THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. ALSO A LOT OF OUR LIVES SHOW. WE WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS. >> Father Pacwa: THIS TIME, — >> A VERY TOUCHING, VERY MOVING. THERE IS MUSIC AS PART OF THE SPECIAL SO PEOPLE CAN TUNE IN FOR THAT. WE HAVE MOTHER ANGELICA’S
REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS. WE HAVE THREE EPISODES WITH HER. THEIR TRUE REMAINING OF CHRISTMAS, WHAT GIFT ARE YOU GIVING TO THE CHRIST CHILD THIS YEAR? ALL THIS CONTENT, THE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE. GO TO EWTN.COM/CHRISTMAS. OUR VIEWERS CAN FIND OUT WHAT’S PLAYING WHAT TIME IN THE AREA. >> Father Pacwa: EXCELLENT.
THAT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT’S GUEST. PLEASE STAY WITH US. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Father Pacwa: WELCOME BACK. OUR GUEST AND NIGHT IS WORKING TO ENCOURAGE CATHOLIC SEMINARIANS TO TAKE ON THE JOYS
AND BURDENS OF MINISTRY IN A POSTMODERN AND POST-CHRISTIAN WORLD. HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. WHERE THE VISION IS TO PREPARE HOLY GENEROUS ADAPTABLE AND RESILIENT PRIESTS DEDICATED TO PASTORAL MINISTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. HERE TO SHARE WITH US HOW THEY DO THAT, PLEASE WELCOME FATHER STEVEN BESEAU.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >> Father Pacwa: DELIGHTED. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DIRECTOR? >> THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR AS DIRECTOR. >> Father Pacwa: IS IT YOUR FIRST GIG IS WORKING IN A SEMINARY? >> IT IS MY SECOND GIG. FOR THREE YEARS, I TAUGHT MORAL
THEOLOGY IN CINCINNATI. >> Father Pacwa: OKAY. >> THIS IS MY SECOND. >> Father Pacwa: THAT IS ALSO A GOOD SEMINARY. ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE TALKED EARLIER, SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED IS THAT YOU HAD WORKED IN CAMPUS MINISTRY. WHERE WAS THAT? >> I WOULD THE CHAPLIN AND
DIRECTOR OF THE ST. LAWRENCE CATHOLIC CAMPUS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. I’M ALSO A GRADUATE OF KU. >> Father Pacwa: KU HAS A VERY FINE TRADITION OF STRONG CATHOLIC PRESENCE THERE AS I RECALL. >> FOR DECADES. ST. LAWRENCE IS A REAL MODEL FOR CAMPUS MINISTRY. IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE ’70s.
IT CONTINUES TODAY. IT WAS A REAL BLESSING TO BE THERE MY TIME. >> Father Pacwa: IT WAS A NUMBER OF LAY PROFESSORS WHO HAD DONE A LOT OF THAT WORK. THE CHURCH SENDING PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF THERE AT CAMPUS MINISTRY. YOU TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION EARLIER, YOU
MENTIONED SOME OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION AT THAT COLLEGE LEVEL. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SAW GOING ON WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS? >> PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE IS TWO TIMES WHERE YOU GROW THE MOST IN LIFE. THE TIME YOU ARE CONCEIVED TILL FIVE YEARS OLD. THE SECOND TIME IS BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 18-23. THAT IS THE SWEET SPOT FOR VOCATIONS. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES. THEY MOVE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. AND THEY START TO THINK ABOUT VOCATION AND A VERY NATURAL WAY. PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN CAMPUS MINISTRY FIND THIS IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.
ONE OF THE BLESSINGS I THINK FOR PRIESTS AND SISTERS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE CAPITOL CENTERS IS WORKING AT THAT AS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM TO DISCERN WHAT GOD’S PLAN IS FOR THEIR LIFE. THEY TEND TO BE MORE OPEN TO THIS AS WELL. >> Father Pacwa: THIS IS NOT
ONLY LOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. IT’S ALSO VOCATION TO MARRIAGE AND HELPING THEM. THEY WOULD BE THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS TO FIGURE OUT MARRIAGE AND WHERE THEY ARE HEADED IN THAT ASPECT OF LIFE AS WELL. SPEECH IT WITHOUT A DOUBT. I WOULD TELL THE STUDENTS, I
SAY, I COULD NOT CARE LESS WHAT YOU’RE VOCATION IS. I COULD NOT CARE LESS. I AM ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED THAT YOU COME TO KNOW WHAT YOUR VOCATION ISN’T HAVE THE COURAGE TO LIVE IT. THAT ATTITUDE CREATES A SPIRIT OR SENSE OF FREEDOM AND OPENNESS FOR THEM. MAYBE A LITTLE FUNNY STORY THAT HAPPENED.
AFTER MASS, I WAS STANDING WITH A GROUP OF GUYS AND THEY WERE TEN GUYS RIGHT AFTER MASS. NINE OF THEM WERE ACTIVELY DISCERNING THE PRIESTHOOD. ONLY ONE OF THEM WAS DATING. AND I SAID, GUYS, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM. NINE OF YOU ARE DISCERNING PRIESTHOOD AND ONLY ONE OF YOU IS DATING.
NINE OF YOU SHOULD BE DATING AND ONLY ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE DISCERNING THE PRIESTHOOD. WHICH IS NOT TYPICAL OF WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK A PRIEST SHOULD BE DOING. THE IDEA IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A FREEDOM AND OPENNESS AND THEY ARE DISCERNING DISCERNING.
WE HAD DOZENS AND DOZENS OF MEN THEN WENT TO SEMINARY. WE HAD MANY WOMEN GO TO RELIGIOUS LIFE. WE HAD MANY MORE MARRIAGES AND WEDDINGS AT THAT TIME AS WELL. >> Father Pacwa: THIS IS A POINT THAT THE FOUNDER OF MY OWN ORDER TRIED TO SEEK AND DIRECTING SOULS.
TO GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU WOULD BE EQUAL MINDED TO WHATEVER VOCATION YOU MAY HAVE. IF GOD WANTS ME TO BE MARRIED, I WANT THAT VOCATION. IF GOD WANTS ME AND RELIGIOUS LIFE AS A BROTHER, AS A PRIEST, I WANT TO FOLLOW THAT VOCATION. IT DOESN’T MATTER.
BECAUSE I TRUST THAT GOD WILL GIVE ME THE VOCATION THAT IS BEST FOR ME AND FOR THE CHURCH. HAVING THAT EQUAL MINDEDNESS IS A KEY PART OF THE DISCERNMENT PROCESS. >> WHEN I WAS AT THE ST. ST. LAWRENCE CENTER, THE APOSTLES OF THE INTERIOR LIFE WHO WORKED WITH ME. THEY DID SPIRITUAL DIRECTION.
QUITE A BIT OF IT WAS BASED ON THE METHOD. THE WAY THAT YOU DESCRIBE IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE STUDENTS AT KU. THEY MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE VOCATIONS AT THE ST. LAWRENCE CENTER AS WELL. >> Father Pacwa: ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS THAT I SEE IS A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE — AS A MATTER OF FACT, QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SINGLE TODAY. THEY HAVEN’T MADE A VOCATION CHOICE. THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED. THEY MAY BE HAVING CHILDREN. THEY MAY BE LIVING WITH ANOTHER PERSON. IN A INVOLVED RELATIONSHIP.
THEY MAY BE DOING THINGS THAT LOOK — WITH FRIENDS. BUT THEY ARE NOT MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO A VOCATION. I DON’T KNOW IF THIS FITS — MY READ IS THAT A LOT OF THESE YOUNG FOLKS ARE SO AFRAID TO FAIL AT IT THAT THEY DON’T MAKE THE FULL COMMITMENT LEST IT FALL APART.
DOES THAT RELATE TO YOUR EXPERIENCE? >> WITHOUT A DOUBT. I STARTED AT KU IN 2005 AS A CHAPLAIN. I WAS A STUDENT THERE. I GRADUATED IN 1988. I KNEW THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT. ONE THING THAT REALLY FASCINATED ME WAS THAT THE OVERARCHING EMOTION FOR SO MANY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WAS FEAR.
FEAR OF MAKING A MISTAKE. FEAR OF CHOOSING THE WRONG MAJOR. FEAR OF CHOOSING THE WRONG LIFE PARTNER IN MARRIAGE. AS A RESULT, A LOT OF TIMES, THEY WERE PARALYZED. PARALYZED — NOT EVEN TO MAKE A DECISION, TO GO ON A DATE OR TO CHOOSE THE WRONG MAJOR. THEY THOUGHT THEIR WHOLE LIFE
WOULD BE RUINED IF HE CHOSE THE WRONG MAJOR OR IF THEY WENT ON A DATE WITH SOMEONE, THEIR WHOLE LIFE MIGHT BE RUINED. THEY HELD BACK A LOT OF TIMES. VERY MUCH. IF YOU CAN HELP THEM OVERCOME THAT — THIS IS GREAT. THIS IS GOOD. DATING IS A VERY GOOD WAY TO
MEET PEOPLE AND GET TO KNOW NOT ONLY OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT YOURSELF YOURSELF. TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS OUT. TO STUDY DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY REALLY OPENED UP. YOU HAD TO OVERCOME AN INITIAL FEAR. >> Father Pacwa: I SENSE ESPECIALLY IN THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE — I MEAN, 28. YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE LATE 20s
WHO HAVE NOT MADE THE DECISION. THEY REMIND ME OF 10-YEAR-OLDS WHO GO OFF THE HIGH DIVE. WHEN THEY GET THERE, THEY LOOK DOWN TO LONG, AND THEY WON’T TAKE THE PLUNGE INTO LIFE. AND THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE VOCATION TO MARRIAGE BUT ALSO THE VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND TO RELIGIOUS LIFE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PART OF WHAT THE ADULTS CAN DO IS TRY TO BE THERE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. WHEN THEY MAKE SOME ERRORS AND MISTAKES, TRY TO HELP THEM WITH IT. >> ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, SOME PEOPLE JUMP INTO QUICKLY TO A RELATIONSHIP AND MAKING A DECISION WITHOUT PROPER
DISCERNMENT. YOU DO SEE BOTH SIDES OF IT. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, AND WOULD BE A STRUGGLE WITH MAKING A DECISION. >> Father Pacwa: GIVEN THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A NUMBER OF YOUNG MEN AT THE JOSEPHINUM WHO HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO PURSUE THE PRIESTHOOD.
WHAT DO YOU SEE THEN AS THE WAY YOU DEAL WITH THEM? WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? WHAT HELPS THEM TO DEVELOP THE PERSONABLE SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO MAKE A DECISION? >> THERE’S 2 DISCERNMENT’S. FOR EVERY MAN, THE FIRST DISCERNMENT IS TO GO TO SEMINARY. THE SECOND ASSIGNMENT IS TO BECOME A PRIEST.
I THINK WHEN WE ARE DISCERNING TO GO TO THE SEMINARY, WE USE THAT TERM TO BECOME A PRIEST. THE REAL DISCERNMENT IS TO GO TO THE SEMINARY. WHAT I TELL THEM MAN IS THE DISCERNMENT TO BECOME A PRIEST IS MUCH EASIER THAN THE DISCERNMENT THAT YOU UNDERTOOK TO COME TO SEMINARY.
BECAUSE MOST OF THAT TIME, YOU ARE DOING IT BY YOURSELF. MAYBE YOU HAVE ONE PRIEST. MAYBE YOU ARE TALKING TO YOUR PARENTS. YOU HAVE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE. MAYBE YOU KNOW A SEMINARIAN. YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH HELP OTHERWISE. AS SOON AS YOU COME TO THE SEMINARY, YOU HAVE A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR.
AND YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY OF BROTHERS WHO ARE ALL ON THE SAME PATH. WITH THE PRIESTS, WITH YOUR BISHOP, WITH THE VOCATION DIRECTOR, YOU ARE SPENDING YEARS IN PRAYER AND WORKING WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR. YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD. YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT CELIBACY. YOU ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE CHURCH.
WHEN IT COMES TIME LATER IN THEOLOGY WHEN YOU COME AND SAY I WANT TO PETITION TO BE ORDAINED A DEACON AND THEN A PRIEST, THAT’S A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD SIMPLE DECISION AT THAT POINT. THE REAL DECISION IS TO COME TO THE SEMINARY. ONCE YOU GET TO THE SEMINARY, THEN THAT DISCERNMENT BECOMES EASIER.
SOME GUYS WILL, AND THEY WILL BE THERE FOR SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS AND COME TO REALIZE, THIS IS NOT MY VOCATION WHICH IS WONDERFUL TOO. >> Father Pacwa: ABSOLUTELY. IF THAT IS NOT WHERE OUR LORD WANTS THEM, THEY OUGHT NOT BE THERE.
THEY KEY IS HOW DO I SERVE OUR LORD? BUT DOES HE THINK IS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO SERVE HIM IN HIS CHURCH? >> EVEN IF A MAN COMES THE SEMINARY. SAY THAT HE IS THEREFORE A YEAR OR TWO. HE’S NOT LOSING ANYTHING. BECAUSE HE IS REALLY GROWING IN
HIS MANHOOD AND HIS FAITH AND HIS PRAYER LIFE. IF AT THE END OF THAT TIME, HE SAYS I’M NOT CALLED TO THE PRIESTHOOD, HE’S GOING TO HAVE THE GIFTS TO BE A REALLY GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER AS A RESULT OF HIS TIME IN THE SEMINARY. >> Father Pacwa: THAT IS AN INTERESTING COMMENT.
I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL SEMINARY. I WENT TO OUR 50TH CLASS REUNION REUNION. A FEW YEARS AGO. ONE OF THE COMMENTS WE HEARD FROM THE WIVES OF THE MEN WHO DID FOLLOW THE VOCATION TO MARRIAGE. EVEN SOMETIMES THE COLORS SEMINARY. THEY SAID, OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITHOUT US EVEN ASKING, YOU GUYS
HAVE COME TO US WOMEN WITH SO MUCH RESPECT. YOU ARE A GENTLEMAN. THEY TAUGHT YOU WELL AT THAT SCHOOL. WE AS WIVES AND MOTHERS APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DID FOR YOU AT THIS SEMINARY TO MAKE YOU THE MEN THAT YOU ARE. THAT WAS A COMMON REALLY OVERWHELMING —
>> OUR JOB AT THIS SEMINARY IS TO INFORM FATHERS. SOME OF WHOM WILL BECOME PRIESTS PRIESTS. I THINK THAT IS WHAT HE MEANS. WE ARE FORMING YOU TO BE A MAN FIRST OF ALL. WE SAY ONLY MEN CAN BE PRIESTS. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT MEANS WOMEN CAN’T BE PRIESTS.
IT MEANS IN THE SEMINARY, BOYS CANNOT BE PRIESTS. THERE IS A MATURATION PROCESS THAT A PERSON UNDERGOES AN SEMINARY. IT IS A REAL FORMATION. IT MIGHT BE THE BEST FORMATION THAT ANY CATHOLIC CAN RECEIVE. BEING ABLE TO GO TO A SEMINARY. >> Father Pacwa: I ENDED UP A PRIEST AS DID YOU.
I AM TRULY A LIFER. I STARTED WHEN I WAS 14. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT FORMATION. AT SO MANY LEVELS. YOU STILL HAVE TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, THE OTHER MAN IN SEMINARY. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF FORMATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY WANT TO DISCUSS FURTHER PEOPLE
IN CHARGE OF FORMATION ARE CONCERNED THAT THE YOUNG MAN ARE DEVELOPING INTO MATURE MEN. THAT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR THEM. THAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ALONG WITH TEACHING THE FACTS OF THE FAITH. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE TALK ABOUT SEMINARY FORMATION IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE WAY WE DESCRIBE IT IS IT
BEGINS IN A MAN DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS. AND THEN, HE CAN BECOME A MAN OF — THE FIRST STEP OF SEMINARY — THE FIRST YEARS OF SEMINARY, THE FOCUS IS PRIMARILY GOING TO BE ON WHO THIS MAN IS. WHERE DID HE COME FROM? HIS FAMILY, HIS GIFTS, HIS TALENTS, HIS STRENGTH, HIS GROWING AREAS.
FOR HIM TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS — BECAUSE OUR VOCATION IS ALWAYS TO THE PERSON. WE ARE NOT COOKIE CUTTERS. WE ARE ALL VERY DIFFERENT. NOT ALL OF US ARE HUNTERS. NOT ALL OF US ARE BASKETBALL PLAYERS. NEVERTHELESS. >> Father Pacwa: NOT ALL OF US ARE SCHOLARS. IT IS A WIDE VARIETY.
PEOPLE HAVE. >> THAT IS A REAL GIFT TO THE PRIESTHOOD. FOR A MAN TO BEGIN IN SELF-AWARENESS AND WHO AM I IN LIGHT OF THE LORD. THAT BECOMES THE FOUNDATION. ONCE YOU COME TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE, IT’S NOT A SELF ABSORPTION. IT’S NOT THIS IS WHO I AM.
THAT IS THE WORST THING ANYONE CAN SAY. THAT IS WHO I AM. JUST DEAL WITH IT. WHO AM I IN LIGHT OF THE LORD? THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF POPE JOHN PAUL. THAT I POSSESS MYSELF. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS NOT TO HOLD MYSELF BY THEN I CAN BECOME THIS
MAN FOR OTHERS, THIS GIFT. IT’S TO A PRIEST IS. A PRIEST IS CALLED TO BE THAT MAN WHO POURS HIMSELF OUT FOR THE LORD FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH. >> Father Pacwa: I CAN’T EVER IMAGINE THINKING TO THEM IN THAT FORM TO ME, THIS IS WHO I AM. DEAL WITH IT.
I DON’T THINK THEY WOULD’VE COTTONED TO THAT ANYMORE THAN MY DADDY WOULD HAVE. THAT WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS ABOUT — OUR LORD HIMSELF WILL BE APOSTLES. HE DOESN’T SAY, WELL, JUDAS COMES UP AND SAYS I’M A THIEF, DEAL WITH IT. NO, AS A MATTER OF FACT. THE SAME WITH OUR LORD
CONFRONTED PETER AND THE OTHER APOSTLES AND JOHN AND JAMES IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BECOME BETTER THAN THEY WERE. >> I THINK THE MEN TODAY IN SEMINARY ARE VERY OPEN TO THAT. CAN WE APPROACH AT THE SAME WAY THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE 50 YEARS
AGO OR 40 YEARS AGO? I DON’T THINK WE CAN DO IT IN THAT WAY. THEY REALLY ARE OPEN TO GROWING FIRST OF ALL IN HOLINESS AND GROWING INTO THE FULLNESS OF STATURE THAT THEY KNOW THEY ARE CALLED TO BE IN LIGHT OF THE LORD. >> Father Pacwa: OFTEN WHEN I
AM PREPARING COUPLES FOR MARRIAGE, I WILL SAY ESPECIALLY IN ADDRESSING THE YOUNG MAN IS THAT THERE ARE 2 KEY MOMENTS OF HIM BECOMING A MAN. ONE IS WHEN HE MAKES A COMMITMENT TO ONE WOMAN TO MARRY HER, TO BE FAITHFUL TO HER AND STAY WITH HER UNTIL DEATH DO THEM PART.
AND THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT IS KEY TO MAKING HIM A GOOD MAN. THE SECOND MOMENT IS WHEN HE HOLDS HIS FIRST CHILD. AND REALIZES, YOU DEPEND ON ME. I AM HERE FOR YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND THE REST OF MY LIFE. THOSE TWO MOMENTS ARE CRUCIAL
TURNING POINTS AWAY FROM SELF ABSORPTION TO OTHERS. I THINK PARALLEL FOR US PRIESTS IS WHEN A MAN REALIZES, I AM MEANT TO BE — I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HAVE HEARD THIS IN SEMINARY. I DIDN’T. BUT I READ IT IN THE VATICAN COUNCIL. WE PRIESTS BACK IN THE PERSON OF
CHRIST IN PERSONA. IT IS REPEATED 7 DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE DOCUMENTS. DID YOU HEAR MUCH ABOUT THAT? >> WE DID NOT HEAR VERY MUCH ABOUT IT IN THE SEMINARY. IT WAS AT THAT PRESENCE. >> Father Pacwa: FOR ME, IT WAS ’76. IT WAS NOT PART OF THE MOOD.
IF I AM IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST, I HAVE THE LOVE OF THE CHURCH THE WAY CHRIST LOVES IT. HE IS THE BRIDEGROOM OF THE CHURCH. I TAKE THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH AS BRIDE, NOT AS EMPLOYER. THAT’S KEY. AND THEN I HAVE TO LOVE THE
PEOPLE OF GOD THE WAY THE MAN LOVES HIS CHILDREN. IOWA CALLED FATHER BECAUSE I AM THEREFORE THE AS THEY NEED ME. ANY DAD IS THERE — WHEN THEY HAVE NEEDS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> THE FORMAL TERM IS — [SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE] AND THE PERSON OF CHRIST, THE HEAD.
IT IS NOT TO LORD IT OVER PEOPLE. IT IS A PLACE OF SERVICE. THAT CATECHISM DOES A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF EXPLAINING THAT WITH THE ROLE OF THE BISHOP, THE PRIEST, AND THE DEACON. THEY SHARE IN THIS MISSION OF CHRIST THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY CHRIST TO THOSE PEOPLE IN A WAY IN THAT LEADERSHIP.
I THINK THERE IS A GREATER EMPHASIS ON THAT RIGHT NOW. >> Father Pacwa: I THINK SO TOO. I SUSPECT THAT WAS AN ASPECT OF THE VATICAN TEACHING ON PRIESTHOOD. SCATTERED THROUGHOUT — IT WAS NOT JUST ONE DOCUMENT. IT IS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT. I THINK WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK MORE
SOBERLY AT THE COUNCIL DOCUMENTS AND SEE THAT IT IS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CALL TO HOLINESS. AS WELL AS THE VOCATION TO PRIESTHOOD. IT IS CONSTANTLY IN THAT CONTEXT CONTEXT. WE ARE CALLED TO HOLINESS AS ACTING IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST. WHEN IT COMES TO THE SEMINARIANS SEMINARIANS, HOW THEY LOOK UPON
THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE THAT THEY LIVE AS SEMINARIANS? THEY CANNOT CELEBRATE MASS. YOU KNOW, NOT UNTIL THE DAY THEY ARE ACTUALLY ORDAINED. HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE IN THEIR GROWTH AS SEMINARIANS? >> THIS IS TRUE OF ALL SEMINARIES TODAY PREVENT SACRAMENTAL LIFE, THE LITURGICAL LIFE IS THE HEART OF THE DAY,
THE WEEK. WE TALK ABOUT THE FANCY NAME FOR SCHEDULE. BUT AT THE SEMINARY, IT REALLY REVOLVES AROUND THE LITURGY, THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS, THE HOLY MASS. HOLY ARE. AND OF COURSE, CONFESSIONS OFFERED EVERY DAY. IT’S AVAILABLE AS WELL. THEY LIVE THE SACRAMENTAL LIFE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT —
ONE PRIEST SAID THAT BY THE TIME A MAN IS ORDAINED, I THINK HE SAID HE WILL SPEND 7,000 HOURS IN THE CHAPEL. IN HIS TIME IN SEMINARY. >> Father Pacwa: OF THIS GUY HE SAID THAT HAS A LOT OF TIME TO CALCULATE. [LAUGHS] >> HE’S GOOD AT MATH.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE CHAPEL FOR MORNING PRAYER IN MADISON HOLY HOUR OR EVENING PRAYER, YOU MAKE VISITS TO THE CHAPEL. IT REALLY CAN ADD UP. A SEMINARIAN IS GOING TO BE IN THE CHAPEL TWO OR THREE HOURS A DAY AT A MINIMUM.
>> Father Pacwa: ONE OF THE POINTS THAT THE VATICAN COUNCIL MADE IN REGARD TO PRIESTS AND BISHOPS IS THAT WE ARE PART OF THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO BE HOLY AND CALLED TO BE A SAINT. THAT IS THE VOCATION FOR EVERYBODY.
IT MENTIONS HOW WE ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SACRAMENTS AS WE CELEBRATE MASS AS BISHOPS OR JANE OR CONFIRM AND HEAR CONFESSIONS AND ANOINT THE SICK. WITH ALL THE SACRAMENTS, WE BAPTIZE DIRECTLY. THESE ARE THE ESSENCE OF HOLINESS. OUR HOLINESS AS TO REFLECT THAT WE ARE TOUCHING THESE HOLY
MOMENTS KEY TO THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE. >> IF YOU COME TO THE SEMINARY, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT. YOU WILL SEE THESE MEN. THEY ARE IMMERSED IN THE SACRAMENTS. THEY ARE IMMERSED IN THE PRAYER AND THE HOLINESS. THEY ARE ENGAGED, TRULY ENGAGED IN THAT.
IT IS AT THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE, ABSOLUTELY. >> CHAPTER FIVE ON THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS IS THE BEGINNING. IT IS FOR EVERYONE. INCLUDING PRIESTS. >> Father Pacwa: ABSOLUTELY. AND THE DOCUMENT ON THE PRIESTS AND THE DOCUMENT ON THE BISHOPS, AND REPEATS THAT SAME CALL. HOLINESS IS ESSENTIAL.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK, FATHER. IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, YOU CAN SIMPLY GO TO PCJ.EDU, PCJ.EDU. YOU WILL GET A LOT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT SCHOOL, THAT SEMINARY IN PARTICULAR. WE WILL BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
PLEASE STAY WITH US. [THEME MUSIC] [THEME MUSIC] >> WE ARE SPEAKING WITH FATHER STEVEN BESEAU WHO IS DIRECTOR OF THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM. A SEMINARY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. AND ONE OF THESE THINGS, FATHER, THAT OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS AND LOTS OF CHANGES IN SEMINARY TRAINING.
I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL SEMINARY IN THE DAY WHERE WE WERE TAUGHT A LOT OF LATIN. YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE PART. THINGS BEGAN CHANGING AS TIME WENT ON. NOT JUST IN LANGUAGES, BUT IN OTHER AREAS. WHAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT IS BEING TAKEN NOW IN THE PROGRAM OF STUDY?
>> ONE THING THAT REALLY HAS BECOME CLEAR IS A MOVE AWAY FROM AN EMPHASIS ON THE ACADEMICS TO A FORMATION THAT IS INTEGRAL AND UNITED. SO IN THE PAST, WHEN I WAS IN SEMINARY, MORE OR LESS, IF YOU WERE A GOOD GUY, HE WENT TO MASS MOST OF THE TIME, AND YOU GOT
GOOD GRADES, YOU WOULD BE ORDAINED. THERE WASN’T MUCH. THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE. THERE WASN’T A LOT. THEN WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE 4 PILLARS OF FORMATION. HUMAN, SPIRITUAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND PASTORAL. >> Father Pacwa: THAT GOES BACK TO POPE ST. JOHN PAUL’S APOSTOLIC. >> MUCH OF WHAT WE DO TODAY
AND WE HAVE DONE SINCE. IT IS A REFLECTION OF THAT DOCUMENT. SO MUCH OF OUR SEMINARY FORMATION TODAY REMAINS THE THOUGHT OF POPE ST. JOHN PAUL. THE DOCUMENT WE CALL THAT THE PROGRAM FOR PRIESTLY FORMATION. LAST YEAR, WE HAD THE SIXTH ADDITION COME OUT. WE KNOW LONGER TALK ABOUT THE PILLARS OF FORMATION.
WE TALK ABOUT THE DIMENSIONS. THE POINT OF THAT IS TO HELP US REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT INDIVIDUAL SILOS. THE HUMAN AFFECTS THE SPIRITUAL. THE SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN AFFECT THE PASTORAL. >> Father Pacwa: YOU DON’T WANT TO PUT THEM IN SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS. >> IN THAT REGARD, WE SPENT A
LOT OF TIME ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING FOCUSING ON THE HUMAN. WHO AM I IN LIGHT OF THE LORD? WHAT ARE MY STRENGTHS AND WHAT ARE MY WEAKNESSES? WHAT ARE MY FAMILY OF ORIGIN ISSUES? WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON SPIRITUAL. A LOT MORE THAN I WOULD HAVE BEEN 30 YEARS AGO.
AND THE EXPECTATIONS IN THAT REGARD. INTELLECTUAL REMAINS SOLID. PHILOSOPHY AND CATECHESIS AND MOVING INTO THEOLOGY AFTER THAT. AND THEN PASTORAL IN ALL SORTS OF THINGS. ALMOST ALL THE MEN WILL HAVE A PASTORAL ASSIGNMENT OR OF AN APOSTOLIC WORK. THEY WILL GO TO VISIT THE HOSPITALS AND GO TO CAMPUS MINISTRY.
THEY WILL WORK AND PARISHES. THEY DO TEACHING. THEY ARE INVOLVED IN ALL THOSE AREAS. WHEN WE FORM THEM IN, WE THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS. THE ONE THING THAT IS REALLY CHANGED IS THE INTEGRATION AND A GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE HUMAN AND THE SPIRITUAL. >> Father Pacwa: HAVING ALL THESE DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS
DEVELOP REMINDS ME OF AN OLD FRENCH SAYING THAT SAYS, THIS PROBLEM IS SO DIFFICULT, EVEN A NEWLY ORDAINED PRIEST DOESN’T HAVE AN ANSWER. IT IS A MATTER OF LEARNING. YOU MAY NOT KNOW EVERYTHING YET. BEING ORDAINED DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. YOU HAVE TO LEARN A LOT AS YOU GO THROUGH.
>> AND A NEWLY ORDAINED DOESN’T KNOW A LOT. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AT LEAST SIX YEARS OF FORMATION. THEY WANT TO SHARE THAT. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. SOMETIMES IT IS A TEMPTATION WHEN WE ARE YOUNG PRIEST IS TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE ANSWER WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT. >> Father Pacwa: YES, INDEED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN MODERN LIFE WHERE IN GENERAL, THE SOCIETY IS EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION IS VERY COMMON. AND NARCISSISM — BY NARCISSISM, I MEAN CLINICALLY IDENTIFIABLE NARCISSISTIC DISORDERS ARE VERY COMMON. PSYCHOLOGISTS DESCRIBE THEM AS PANDEMIC CLINICAL NARCISSISM. THERE IS A LOT OF SOCIOPATHY.
A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFICULTIES. WE SEE IT IN THE NEWS. STRANGERS GOING OUT TO THE ELDERLY AND PUNCHING THEM FOR NO REASON. THAT IS SOCIOPATHIC. AND ON AND ON WITH THESE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, OUR GUYS, OUT OF THE SCULPTURE. THESE ELEMENTS HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED.
WHAT CAN BE WORKED ON, WHAT CAN’T BE. >> ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO SAY, THE MEN IN SEMINARY ARE GOOD MEN. THERE IS NOT A BAD MAN IN THE BUNCH. THEY REALLY ARE GOOD MEN. IT’S A REAL BLESSING. THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE THERE. WILL THEY ALL BECOME PRIESTS?
NO, BUT THEY ARE THERE. WHEN I STARTED ON CAMPUS MINISTRY. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOUNG ADULTS ALMOST 20 YEARS. WHEN I CAME TO KU, THE THING THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT MOST IS THAT PEERS SEEMED TO BE THE MOST OVERARCHING OR PREDOMINANT EMOTION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. I WOULD THINK, NO, IT WOULD BE
THE EXCITEMENT FOR A FUTURE. IT WAS REALLY FEAR. I THINK I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT IS FROM FEAR INTO ANXIETY. IT IS A DIFFERENT MODE OF EMOTION AND EXPERIENCE. I AM SURE THERE IS A OF REASONS FOR IT. I THINK WITH DIVORCE, WITH SEPARATION, IT REALLY CAN CREATE ISSUES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
OF THE NARCISSISM, THE DESIRE FOR PERFECTION. WHICH IS PART OF THAT FEAR, THAT FEAR OF MAKING A MISTAKE. WE NEED TO OVERCOME THAT. ALSO JUST THE FEAR OF THE POSTMODERN WORLD WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR OWN EVERYTHING. EVEN YOUR IDENTITY. THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE IN THAT.
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, WE KNEW HER WE WEAR. OUR PARENTS TOLD US. THE CULTURE TOLD US, EVERYBODY. BUT NOW, NOBODY CAN TELL YOU. THAT WOULD BE CRUSHING. THAT WOULD LEAD TO ANXIETY. I HAVE TO MAKE UP MY OWN IDENTITY? HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST? WHEN I STOP FEELING THIS, I FEEL SOMETHING ELSE.
THE GUYS IN THE SEMINARY, THEY ARE PART OF THAT GENERATION. AT THE SAME TIME, MANY OF THEM, AND WITH A STRONG PRAYER LIFE. MANY OF THEM HAVE SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS. MANY OF THEM DO KNOW THE FAITH WELL. >> Father Pacwa: THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE I AM THINKING BACK A COUPLE OF DECADES.
I CERTAINLY CAME ACROSS A NUMBER OF JESUIT SEMINARIANS WHO WERE NEVER EVEN TAUGHT FOR INSTANCE, THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS. THEY DIDN’T KNOW. THEY HAD NEVER GOTTEN THAT PRIOR PRIOR. TWO OF THEM I MET DIDN’T KNOW THAT THERE WERE MYSTERIES TO THE ROSARY. YET ALONE HOW TO SAY THE APOSTLES’ CREED, THE GLORY BE.
THEY KNEW THE HAIL MARY AND THE HOUR FATHER AND THAT WAS IT. THEY DIDN’T KNOW THAT MYSTERIES. IN SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PART OF CATHOLIC LIFE. I THINK THAT HAS BEEN IMPROVING OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS SINCE THE CATECHISM. 30 YEARS NOW SINCE THE CATECHISM CAME OUT.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE COME INTO SEMINARY. THERE’S A LOT OF THAT BASIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY DON’T HAVE EITHER. THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CHURCH STARTED THIS YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES. INSTEAD OF BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AND PHILOSOPHY, WE NOW BEGIN WITH WHAT THEY CALL —
A FANCY NAME FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR OF FORMATION. WHAT THE CHURCH SAYS IS IN YOUR FIRST YEAR, YOU CANNOT STUDY PHILOSOPHY. YOU HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF ACADEMIC COURSES. THE FOCUS IS ON HUMAN FORMATION, SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-KNOWLEDGE, SELF GROWTH, AND THE SPIRITUAL. AT THE JOSEPHINUM, WE STARTED T THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THE COURSES WE OFFER IS A SEMINAR ON CATHOLIC TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES. WE DO EVERYTHING. THEY GO TO MUSEUMS. WE GO TO SACRED CONCERTS. WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE MARION DEVOTIONS AND THESE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD THINK MAYBE WHEN WE ENTERED, WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
WE BEGAN WITH THAT VERY BASIC KNOWLEDGE. IT HAS BEEN A REAL BLESSING I THINK FOR THE MEN THAT ENTER INTO THIS. YOU PRESUME WE DON’T HAVE AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE. THEY PROBABLY DON’T. >> Father Pacwa: WE DON’T SEE THE SAME NUMBER OF POPULAR DEVOTIONS AND A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS AND CATECHISM PROGRAMS.
SOMETIMES, IT’S NOT IN THE PARISH ANYMORE. OLD PEOPLE MIGHT REMEMBER THEM. BUT THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THEM ANYMORE. THESE RECOVERING CATHOLIC CULTURE. NOT FOR THE SAKE OF DOING WHATEVER WAS OLD, BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS PART OF THE SANCTIFICATION OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DAY, THE MONTH, THE
YEAR, ET CETERA AS WE HAVE THIS VARIOUS WAYS OF PRAYING. >> A LOT OF THAT WAS TIED MORE TO THE CULTURE. OF COURSE TODAY, TODAY — YESTERDAY, WE CELEBRATED OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE A PRAYER THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL DEVOTION THAT PEOPLE STILL HAVE AND STILL CELEBRATE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRAYER, WE
TALK ABOUT THE DEVOTIONAL PRAYER, ROSARIES, NOVENAS. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT LITURGICAL PRAYER. THERE IS ALSO MENTOR PRAYER. THE MEN EXPERIENCE THAT EVERY DAY AND THEN SEMINARY. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO OUT AND HELP PEOPLE IN THE SAME WAY. >> Father Pacwa: AND SOME SEMINARIES, THEY HAVE A TIME
WHERE EVERYONE IN THE SEMINARY IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A HOLY HOUR BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AND DO THEIR — AT ANOTHER TIME. BUT TO DO THAT TIME FOR PERSONAL PRIVATE PRAYER. DOES THAT GO ON? >> WE HAVE A HOLY HOUR EVERY DAY. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF WHERE
THEY ARE IN FORMATION, IT IS REQUIRED. AT THE MINIMUM, IT WILL BE REQUIRED TWICE A WEEK. BUT WE WOULD SAY THIS. MAYBE THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED ESPECIALLY AS THEY PROGRESS FURTHER IN THE SEMINARY, IT IS NOT REQUIRED BUT IT IS EXPECTED. ONCE AGAIN, GOING TO THAT FREEDOM THAT WE EXPECT YOU TO DO
A HOLY HOUR EVERY DAY. >> Father Pacwa: THAT CAN’T BE UNDERESTIMATED. IF A PRIEST DOES NOT KEEP COMING BACK TO HIS OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, THE WELL WILL RUN DRY. HE WON’T HAVE AS MUCH TO SHARE IN HIS HOMILIES. >> IT IS JUST HIMSELF. YOU’RE NOT BRINGING CHRIST, YOU ARE BRINGING YOURSELF.
>> Father Pacwa: LIKE A BELL THAT IS AN WELL-FOUNDED. IT HAS A CLINK AND IF THAT ISN’T QUITE RIGHT. IT DOESN’T HAVE THE RESIDENCE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK FOR. CHRIST GIVES US A RESONANCE THAT CONNECTS US TO HIM FIRST AND TO THE PEOPLE AND OUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
>> THAT IS THE GIFT OF A PRIEST TO ACT IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST. >> Father Pacwa: IT SOUNDS AS IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF STRUGGLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREPARE PRIEST FOR THIS MODERN TIME. I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS — I CAN CERTAINLY RECALL SOME OF THE EXPERIMENTS BEGINNING BACK WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL SEMINARY. IT SOUNDS AS IF THINGS ARE SETTLING DOWN FOR A STEADY KIND OF GROWTH. IT IS NOT JUST THIS EXPERIMENT TO FIGURE THIS OUT. A LOT HAS BEEN LEARNED OVER THESE DECADES.
>> CLARITY IS A GOOD WORD TO DEFINE IT. THERE IS A CLARITY KNOW ABOUT FORMATION. THAT BEING SAID, THINK ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE MEN THAT ARE 18 YEARS OLD AT THE SEMINARY. IF THEY ARE ORDAINED PRIESTS, THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY SOMETIME IN THE 2080s. HER WHOLE MINISTRY IS GOING TO
BE IN THIS CENTURY. IMAGINE THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND 2080. AT THE BEGINNING, YOU MENTIONED THE POOR TAGLINES THAT THE SEMINARIES ARE SICK OF ME TALKING TO THEM ABOUT IT. HOLINESS, GENEROSITY, ADAPTABILITY, AND RESILIENCY. I THINK HOLINESS WILL ALWAYS BE IN FASHION.
NOT BE IN THE WORLD BUT FOR A PRIEST, HOLINESS IS THERE PRELIMINARY GENEROUS SPIRIT THEY REALLY ARE GENEROUS. WE NEED TO HELP THEM BECOME ADAPTABLE AND RESILIENT. BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT THE BATTLES WILL BE IN TEN YEARS OR 20 OR 30 OR 40. >> Father Pacwa: I WOULDN’T
SAY AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT OF MODERN HISTORY THAT THE SOCIETY IS WARMING ITSELF UP TO A LOVE OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH, AND THE CLERGY. I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A TIME OF A LOT OF ANGER BEING DIRECTED AGAINST RELIGION. NOT JUST CATHOLICISM. BUT IN GENERAL. MANY OF THESE UNIVERSITIES BEING
RELIGIOUS OR SAYING RELIGIOUS THINGS GETS STAMPED DOWN. IT IS NOT QUIET AT THIS MOMENT VERY FRIENDLY. THESE GUYS ARE BEING PREPARED TO STAND UP COURAGEOUSLY WITH WHAT COULD BE DIFFICULT TIMES. >> AND TO BE POOR. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE DID 20 OR 30
YEARS AGO WHICH IS OKAY. WE DON’T NEED A LOT OF THINGS. WE WILL BE FINE. THE OTHER THING THAT I’M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THESE MEN IS THEY VALUE FRIENDSHIP WITH THE OTHER GUYS. COMMUNITY LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT. WHEN THEY BECOME PRIESTS, COMMUNITY LIFE IS NOT POSSIBLE. FRATERNITY AND FRIENDSHIP ARE
NONNEGOTIABLE SPIRIT I THINK THEY WANT THAT. THE IDEA THAT I DON’T THINK THEY WANT TO BE THAT LONE RANGER PRIEST THAT IS OUT THERE BY HIMSELF. AND ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO A CULTURE THAT IS LESS RECEPTIVE TO FAITH AND CATHOLICISM. THE NEED TO HAVE GOOD FRIENDS AND FRATERNITY TO SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER. THEY GET THAT. THAT IS ANOTHER STRENGTH OF THIS NEXT GENERATION OF PRIEST >> Father Pacwa: ESPECIALLY FOR PARISH PRIESTS. WHEN THERE WOULD BE 2-5 PRIESTS IN THE PARISH HOUSE. THAT’S NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND SO, THEY HAVE TO FIND WAYS THAT THEY CAN ADAPT TO A CERTAIN
TYPE OF ISOLATION FROM OTHER PRIESTS. AND YET FIND WAYS TO GET SUPPORT FROM BROTHER PRIESTS TO DO WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR PARISHES PARISHES. >> RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE COMMUNITY. THEY CAN WALK OUT OF THEIR ROOM AND THERE’S 30 GUYS DOWN IN THE PUB THEY COULD TALK TO.
THEY GET ORDAINED AND THEY WILL BE LIVING WITH ONE OTHER PRIEST. BOSSES FRIENDS ARE AN HOUR AWAY. THEY HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT. >> Father Pacwa: I AM SURE THAT IS A PART OF THE TRAINING THEY HAVE TO GET. BECAUSE IN THAT LONELINESS, AND THEY ALLOW LONELINESS TO OVERWHELM THEM, THEN TEMPTATIONS
TO DEAL WITH LONELINESS IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT RIGHT FOR THEM OR FOR OTHER PEOPLE COULD OVERWHELM THEM. THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE VERY WELL PREPARED TO HANDLE IN THIS INTEGRATED WAY. EVEN SOMETIMES, GUYS WHO WOULD BE SEEN AS HOLY. NOT INTEGRATING THESE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT CAN STILL COVER
OVER PROBLEMS. HAVING GOOD FRIENDS AND ADDRESS THIS ONCE GOING ON IS VERY IMPORTANT. >> WE PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. WE WILL ASK THEM WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE AND WHAT DO YOU DO AND HOW DO YOU ENGAGE IN THAT. SOME MEN COME TO THE SEMINARY. THEY MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS.
IT JUST WASN’T EVERY PART OF THEIR LIFE WHICH IS FINE. IN THE SAME WAY MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY. MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIP. THE THING WITH THE SEMINARY, THESE MEN ARE COMING INTO A BROTHERHOOD, A COMMUNITY. IT’S NOT THAT WE HAVE TO TEACH
THEM, BUT THEY ENTER THIS AND LEARN WHAT IT MEANS. IT IS NOT SO MUCH IN THIS REGARD, IS THE BROTHER SEMINARIANS THAT REALLY HELP THEM GROW INTO WHO THEY ARE CALLED TO BE. >> Father Pacwa: AS PART OF THEIR FORMATION. WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END HERE.
I WANT TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. AGAIN, YOU CAN GO TO PCJ.EDU, PCJ.EDU. ALSO, IF YOU WANT INFORMATION ON EWTN’S UPCOMING CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING, GO TO EWTN.COM/CHRISTMAS. WE HAVE GOT SOME GREAT SPECIALS COMING UP. A LOT OF FUN TO MAKE THEM.
SO, FATHER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO BE WITH US. IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN GIVING A BLESSING TO OUR AUDIENCE. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND KEEP YOU AND CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. MAY HE LEAD YOU AND ALL OF YOUR
WAYS BY HIS PEACE. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. WE CAN BRING FATHER TO TALK ABOUT THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK IN THE SEMINARY. WE CAN ALSO BRING YOU A LOT OF THESE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU.
THAT IS HOW OUR LORD INSPIRED MOTHER ANGELICA TO HAVE THIS NETWORK RUN. THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON AS WE BRING YOU PROGRAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR GAS BILL, YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, AND YOUR CABLE BILL, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY ALL OF OUR BILLS.
GOD BLESS YOU AND THAN YOU. [THEME MUSIC]
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