By Chris Mussell

(Christopher J. Mussell is a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Atlanta and will be a Senior at St. Mary’s Seminary College, Baltimore, this fall. Father Adamski has asked him to share some of his summer experiences via this column.)

For someone who spends nine months out of the year in the seminary, a summer such as the one that I’ve spent at Holy Cross can truly be a joyful encounter. Attending the seminary has been a tremendous experience. However, when you go to a school that is 700 miles from home and get involved in community life, academics and supervised training programs, it’s easy to lose contact with the people you are preparing to serve.

There is a great amount of input, specifically spiritual formation, study, and training available within the seminary program. The other side of the coin is the ability to use this knowledge and experience to fulfill the needs of the people of God. All the seminary formation in the world lies dormant and useless unless one can relate it to others. The seed of such output is nurtured and supported within the seminary community. As priests, however, the ministry will take us far beyond seminarians and priests, to the whole Church. That is why this summer has come to mean so much to me; it has afforded me the opportunity to respond to many of the people and situations that define our Church.

There have been many trials and rewards this summer. Part of it involved adult catechetics for non-Catholics. I look back and see times when I’ve dominated a session with my own interpretation of my faith instead of enkindling and guiding that of the non-Catholic. I’ve also encountered a great amount of joy in offering instructions. Despite my limitations in knowledge and technique, I’ve been privileged to travel many of the roads of search with these people and have been there when faith has taken hold and insights were gained.

Another experience that sticks out in my mind comes from my visitations to the sick. One particular lady that I had been visiting was dying of cancer. She resided at the Cancer Home on Washington Street. There’s a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that you were one of the few that she responded to the day before she died.

I have failed in this area, also. There are times when one who is sick or dying needs someone to be with them, not necessarily to make good conversation, but just to be present in the same room. I remember cutting visits short because I couldn’t cope with the silence of “just being there.”

Another one of my functions has been to visit the homes of new parishioners. This type of situation has provided an opportunity for someone from the church to welcome a newcomer into the parish community. Through my experience I have found that most of these people are delighted that someone has taken the time to come into their home to talk with them. To establish such an early contact with new parishioners gives them a needed and much better chance to identify with their Church.

One beautiful aspect of my summer has revolved around the distribution of the Eucharist. Archbishop Donnellan has granted several seminarians in parishes, when there is a need, the permission to assist the priests in distributing communion. This privilege has provided an initial step into the fulfillment of an individual’s sacramental needs.

During the summer I’ve had the fortunate experience of working with one of the most beautiful groups of sisters and priests that I’ve known. I’m speaking of the staff at Holy Cross. The love and support that they’ve given me has been a prime ingredient during the summer. Their examples of service, spirituality and selflessness are ones to be pursued. These friendships remain with me.

The experience that I’ve recorded in this column serve only to point out what my summer has been like. I’m indebted to a lot of the parishioners at Holy Cross for their warmth and generosity. To work with such people gives one hope for the future of the Church. Christ is very much needed in the world today; this came across very well during the summer. No matter what one’s calling may be at the time, be it parent, engineer, student, or one of service to the Church, the call of Christ is for all people at all times. This call is answered only after each of us has accepted our vocation to love God and to love our neighbor.