By Fr. John Adamski

Young people today seem to grapple with two questions when they begin to think about the possibility of spending their lives in the service of the Church. The first, the obvious question of deciding something about the vocation itself. This includes the effort to determine what things a person really finds meaningful for his life, what he hopes to accomplish, what he sees as his relationship to God and how to understand God’s call for him. Each of these is important and each must be thought through. Our young people don’t seem to have too much special difficulty at this level. They have to face the same kinds of questions when looking at any of the options for their lives and they can be remarkably serious about the whole process. The second question involves a bit more confusion for young men today and that is the question of going off to a seminary.

“What is the seminary?” “Where does one go?” “What will it be like?” “What kind of commitment do I have to make?” “Will it be all sorts of spiritual stuff?” These seem to be the typical questions today, questions that wind up being quite troublesome. It may be impossible to resolve the first question about the nature of a vocation and life-style, if the second question about the nature of preparation for that kind of life remains unanswered.

My recent visit with the Atlanta men studying at St. Meinrad College and School of Theology, my alma mater, highlighted some of these same questions and perhaps a few of the possible answers. Very few of our college seminarians have already worked out completely what priesthood might mean for their lives. They are definitely interested and willing to examine the question with some seriousness and openness. They aren’t ready for ordination and perhaps aren’t really sure how strong their commitment to ministry is at this point in their lives. They don’t have everything figured out, but they are willing to look a little further and so they’ve come to a seminary.

The seminary college is designed to provide some help for the kind of young person we’re describing: interested in ministry but not yet sure what that might mean in his life. The seminary seeks to accomplish this goal through several aspects of its overall program. First, it provides a sound, liberal arts academic program giving the student the educational opportunities which will be essential for a young man to try and find himself in the midst of today’s world. St. Meinrad offers its students concentrations in any of eight major fields and additional options in six minor fields. A strong academic program insures the same kind of educational background which is offered in any accredited institution of higher learning in our country today. Thus the seminary collegian has the same academic opportunity as his peers attending another school. His time in a seminary college is not “lost time” should he decide to discontinue there and pursue his college education elsewhere.

Secondly, and perhaps most important in trying to sort out important life questions, is the spiritual formation program. The seminary offers an individual young man the kind of spiritual program which gives him an opportunity to examine more closely who he is in relationship to his God and what his life means in the midst of today’s world. Liturgy, shared prayer and the availability of priest-counselors make this program a practical reality.

Finally, the seminary offers many opportunities for apostolic work, i.e., the first efforts at ministry and pastoral care for others. Through various community and Church activities, the student has an opportunity to learn what ministry will ask of him and how he will be able to respond. Having this opportunity during the context of his seminary education makes it feasible for the man to reflect on his work with people in terms of his growing awareness of who he is and what his life is coming to mean. The seminary today realizes that young men must prepare for ministry in the Church by continuing to respond to the needs and dreams of people withdrawing into a separate environment.

I guess I’m a bit prejudiced, but I think that St. Meinrad is a fine example of a place where all this happens. The Benedictine monks who conduct the schools have expressed their commitment to priestly formation by making sure that they provide the best they possibly can. Even though St. Meinrad is located in rural southern Indiana, it is the second largest seminary in the United States. In sum, it’s a solid institution providing a strong academic program, important spiritual opportunities and atmosphere and an organized, practical ministry program. It’s not all work either. The athletic program has grown significantly during the past few years; the students presented their annual fall dramatic production-a creditable performance of HENRY IV PART I while I was there; and the on-campus pizza parlor, the “Unstable,” offers a good place to relax and visit.

It’s also encouraging to visit with our Atlanta students. They’re asking questions in a serious way, seeking to determine what their place might be in the life of the Church in North Georgia. They’re interested, willing and eager and most of all – we need them.