Seminary Formation...

25.07.2015

വിശുദ്ധ വിന്‍സെന്റ് (ഡി പൌള്‍) വൈദീക പരിശീലന കളരി/കേന്ദ്രം

                    മേനംകുളം, കഴക്കൂട്ടം.                  

തിരുവനന്തപുരം ലത്തീന്‍ അതിരൂപത

2015-16

‘ആദിയില്‍ വചനമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു; വചനം ദൈവത്തോടുകൂടെയായിരുന്നു; വചനം ദൈവമായിരുന്നു... വചനം മാംസമായി നമ്മുടെയിടയില്‍ വസിച്ചു...’ (Jn 1:1,14) ‘അവന്‍ (ജോസഫ്) ശിശുവിന് യേശു എന്ന് പേരിട്ടു.’ (Mt 1:25). ‘ശിശു വളര്‍ന്നു. ജ്ഞാനം നിറഞ്ഞു ശക്തനായി; ദൈവത്തിന്‍റെ കൃപ അവന്റെമേല്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു... യേശു ജ്ഞാനത്തിലും പ്രായത്തിലും ദൈവത്തിന്‍റെയും മനുഷ്യരുടെയും പ്രീതിയിലും വളര്‍ന്നുവന്നു.’ (.Lk 2:40,52).’യേശു ഗലീലിയിലെ നസറത്തില്‍നിന്നുവന്ന്‍, ജോര്‍ദാനില്‍വച്ച് യോഹന്നാനില്‍നിന്നു സ്നാനം സ്വീകരിച്ചു... യോഹന്നാന്‍ ബന്ധനസ്ഥനായപ്പോള്‍ യേശു ദൈവത്തിന്‍റെ സുവിശേഷം പ്രസംഗിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് ഗലീലിയിലേക്ക് വന്നു. അവന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു: സമയം പൂര്‍ത്തിയായി, ദൈവരാജ്യം സമീപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. അനുതപിച്ച് സുവിശേഷത്തില്‍ വിശ്വസിക്കുവിന്‍.’ (Mk 1:9,14-15) ‘അവന്‍ ഗലീലിക്കടല്‍ത്തീരത്തുകൂടെ കടന്നുപോകുമ്പോള്‍, ശിമയോനെയും അവന്‍റെ സഹോദരന്‍ അന്ത്രയോസിനെയും കണ്ടു.... യേശു അവരോടു  പറഞ്ഞു: എന്നെ അനുഗമിക്കുക.’ (Mk 1:16-17). ‘...അവന്‍ മലമുകളിലേക്കു കയറി തനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടമുള്ളവരെ അടുത്തെക്കുവിളിച്ചു. അവര്‍ അവന്‍റെ സമീപത്തേക്കു ചെന്നു. തന്നോടുകൂടി ആയിരിക്കുന്നതിനും പ്രസംഗിക്കാന്‍ അയക്കുന്നതിനും... അവന്‍ പന്ത്രണ്ടുപേരെ നിയോഗിച്ചു.’ (Mk 3:13-15). ‘അവന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു: യാത്രയ്ക്കു വടിയോ സഞ്ചിയോ അപ്പമോ പണമോ ഒന്നും എടുക്കരുത്. രണ്ട് ഉടുപ്പും ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കരുത്.’ (Lk 9:3). ‘...കര്‍ത്താവ് വേറെ എഴുപത്തിരണ്ടു പേരെ തെരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത്, താന്‍ പോകാനിരുന്ന എല്ലാ പട്ടണങ്ങളിലേക്കും നാട്ടിന്‍ പുറങ്ങളിലേക്കും ഈരണ്ടുപെരായി അവരെ തനിക്കു മുമ്പേ അയച്ചു...’ (Lk 10:1)

Seminary should be considered ‘as the very heart of the diocese’. (Vatican II, OT 6). ‘The training of students depends not only on wise regulations but also, and especially, on competent educators. Seminary superiors and professors should therefore be chosen from among the best… Superiors and professors should be keenly aware of the extent to which their natural outlook and conduct affects the formation of their students… and quickens in the students’ hearts a sense of joy in their vocation… The bishop… should show himself a true father in Christ to the students.’ (OT 5).

Guidelines:

‘A Seminary… must create an atmosphere where the seminarians can feel free to be themselves, and to grow in intellectual, emotional and spiritual freedom without undue fear and inhibitions. The accent in formation should be on inculcating values rather than forming habits in the seminarians. Hence the emphasis should be… on inner motivation and personal responsibility.’ (CPF 13, 13)

Our seminary provides young seminarians an opportunity to explore their vocation and arrive at a free and responsible decision on identifying it. It is from Jesus, our ‘Teacher and Lord’ (Jn 13:13) that we learn what real priesthood is. Therefore Seminarians better look up to him for that loft ideal which he set forth in Calvary and try to follow him as closely as possible. ‘If any man would    come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’ (Mt 16:24). Following Jesus would leave us with no option than adhere to the values he expected of his disciples to live. The following guidelines are expected to help young and earnest seminarians to have familiarity with and ultimately grip over such a life style befitting Jesus’ disciples.

1.     Seminary is a nursery to nurture the goodness in the seminarians and make it shine all the more in the light of the Gospel values in their dealings with one another here and later in their life as priests/pastors.

2.     Those in responsible office in the Seminary are there representing Jesus who exhorted his disciples ‘to be perfect/holy as his heavenly father is perfect/holy.’ (Mt 5:48) Hence the need to follow/obey them.

3.     Knowing that we are ‘created… in his own image, in the image of God’ (Gen 1:27) let us address one another with due respect only.

4.     As children of God we are all equal before God and with one another. As a gesture of that great equality we shall wear white dhoti and white shirts with full sleeves, especially for daily Eucharistic Celebration and on important occasions to be notified in advance.

5.     Being on a mission we should always be prepared/ready. This readiness is there even from the very moment we get up, rather we are waken up, in the morning. This we express beautifully beside our beds raising our voices along with that of the cocks and other birds singing their praise for the Creator for all his benevolence and bounty.

6.     As responsible young men, we will inform our inability to join this morning praise through the infirmarian or so.

7.     Dormitory is a place for rest and sleep alone. Hence it shall remain closed during the day. No conversation is needed in such places and hence to be avoided.

8.     Ours being a place of formation, we need to be reflective and recollective. This is enabled more through spells of silence in specific times like the one from the bell for the Examination of Conscience at night till breakfast on the following day and places like dormitory, washing places and chapel.

9.     Though we are individuals first, we have abdicted our individuality for the collective commonality, we will happily join all community activities and report any inconveniences in advance and get exempted.

10. Bell is a call for such community acts and we need to oblige it willingly and joyfully.

11.  ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter…’ (Eccles 3:1). Study time, hence, is not be mixed up with anything else, not even news papers or magazines.

12. Being alert is the sign of a student/learner, especially in the class rooms. This calls for a being active and co-operative in the class and with the teachers. Any inconvenience be reported to the person in charge through the infirmarian.

13. Like Jesus, seminarians should also be authentic and honest. Hence no dishonesty in whatever form would be entertained at all.

14. We are members of a universal church and as such need to remain connected with the rest of the church. This is helped more than anything else with the command of English. Hence, let us be honest and earnest in learning that language effectively making our conversations in English only.

15. Responsible citizenship demands to be accountable too. Let us start keeping our accounts up-to-date.

16. This implies also that we be transparent too in all our dealings. And this is done more in keeping our communications also open. If we can’t share our correspondences, we are not transparent. Let us do that with the Rector at least, if not with all.

17. We are not isolated creatures. We are what our relationships make us to be and that can enrich us personality too. But being in formation, we can’t afford to visit all at all times. Hence, some restrictions like outside the community acts and also with the knowledge of the responsible person.

18. We do have other needs which could not be met within the seminary campus. To meet those needs we may have to go to different places like hospital, shops etc. and this too with the knowledge of the above referred persons and need to be back within the allotted time.

19. We are in formation all through once we identify our vocation. Hence, our life outside also matters a lot. This implies that we bring a report from the parish priest concerned after every vacation.