Seminary Retreats begin Lenten Journeys
Following Jesus Christ is an adventure, and some would call it the greatest adventure there is. Seminarians, like us all, need a break in the routine to be reminded of such truths and to step back and reflect on our lives with gratitude. Our typical seminary Days of Recollection usually occur once a month and involve inviting a guest priest to campus, often an alumnus, to give three spiritual conferences at Conception over 24 hours. For the past two years, the Lenten Retreat has taken a vastly different format and quickly became a favorite experience for the seminarians. The principles for this time of retreat are rather simple: 1) Experience an adventure and encounter God in nature, 2) Strengthen the bonds of fraternity and brotherhood and encounter God in one another, and 3) make time for prayer with Sacred Scripture and encounter God’s presence in the transformative power of the Word.
This year, the seminarians received retreat packets that contained passages for lectio divina and spiritual reading that had a distinct focus on Benedictine Spirituality and drew from monastic writers such as Fr. Michael Casey, Cardinal Basil Hume, and Blessed Columba Marmion. The goal of the retreat was to facilitate their encounter with Christ and to teach the seminarians the importance of being faithful to prayer even while away from the seminary, to disconnect from technology, and to seek the good of brotherhood in the beauty of nature.
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Just a couple of miles into a seven-mile hike, a few of the seminarians already had found walking sticks from discarded branches, others were throwing a football back and forth in between the trees, while others were telling stories and the voices echoed in the wilderness. The Thursday after Ash Wednesday was 60 degrees and sunny in Ha Ha Tonka State Park near the Lake of the Ozarks—ideal weather for an adventure. In the sunlight, some of the seminarians shed their hooded sweatshirts in favor of their T-shirts. We approached the sinkhole that contains a geologic feature curiously known as “Devil’s Kitchen,” which forms a small cave shelter with an opening to the sky about 20 feet above. With an initial boost from their brothers, several of the seminarians free-climbed upward, navigating the crevice and tight rock formation, emerging triumphant to the glorious sky above and safely out of the kitchen. This moment of adventure, brotherhood, and the beauty of nature captured the joyous spirit throughout the time together. The quiet mornings before the sunrise were dedicated to personal prayer and lectio divina. Seminarians prayed with the Scripture passages, read the reflections, and journaled with the retreat packet provided for them. Seminarian James Sappington said, “Starting my day with the lectio divina and meditation time gave me the opportunity not to only encounter Jesus in the morning but it also enabled me to have a greater view of Jesus within my brothers.” The group gathered for morning Mass and sanctified the day with the Divine Office at the appropriate hours. The two side-by-side houses at the lake served as a fitting space for a memorable retreat experience as well as a welcomed reprieve from the classroom and academic rigor.
The lessons they learned now focused on life in Christ, and they had plenty of opportunity to grow in, or be reminded of, God’s love for them while appreciating the retreat from the ordinary pressures of daily seminary life. The free time allowed seminarians to play cards, chess, and other entertaining games, but also fostered interactions that further developed the bonds of friendship. Nathaniel Boyd, seminarian for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City reflected, “I was joyfully aware of Christ being made present through my brothers in lively and unique expressions of their personalities. I felt closer to my brother seminarians than ever before, and I thank God that he used this retreat to powerfully remind me that I am not alone in Lent, nor in my journey to the priesthood.” After Night Prayer each evening, the reflection question was: “How did you encounter God today?” Seminarians took turns sharing the highlights of their day and how God was at work in their lives. Seminarian Trevor Fisher reflected on the graces of the retreat:
“The biggest way I encountered God during the retreat was through my brother seminarians. I absolutely loved spending time with them. I could feel Christ loving me through their joy and laughter.” Friday morning brought an unexpected change in the weather, which was quite the contrast from the day before. The freezing rain and snow, however, did not dampen their spirits. Some ventured out for another hike, while others engaged in holy conversation in the warmth of the indoors. Later in the afternoon, we drove to St. Patrick’s Church to make a Holy Hour, and then experienced the generous hospitality of the parish community at the Knights of Columbus fish fry. It was simply three days away, together, but a reminder for the seminarians of God’s presence in the Sacred Scriptures, in nature, and in our encounters with one another.
— Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB
Director of Spiritual Formation
Griswold, Iowa
Cheers erupted. Clapping, jumping, and hugs all around. I thought, “All I said was there was a Cracker Barrel nearby.” On Thursday afternoon of the Lenten retreat, the propaedeutic seminarians, Msgr. Gaalaas, and I spent time in Omaha on a kind of pilgrimage to various churches in the city. At each stop, we would pray a decade of the rosary, admiring the church’s beauty and taking time for personal prayer. We headed to Cracker Barrel before returning to the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa. The idea of a retreat “away” at the start of Lent began last year with the hope that seminarians would appreciate time away together, experience the wilderness, and have the opportunity to delve deeper into prayer. This is precisely what the seminarians found. The Creighton University Retreat Center sits on a plot of land that provides walking trails, a river to fish in, and a place to sit around a fire and share the graces of the retreat. The retreat provided time to rest, along with space to play games, visit a chapel to pray, and spend precious time alone. While Lent is a time of repentance and fasting, it is also a time of physical and spiritual renewal that looks forward to the victory of Christ at Easter. Seminary life is not easy; men must be willing to be shaped, healed, and taught. Like Christ, who would go into the wilderness to spend time with his Father, these seminarians also benefit from this time with the Father. Refreshed in body and spirit, the men returned renewed for the coming season and the continued efforts of priestly formation.
— Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB
Propaedeutic Stage Dedicated Formator
