DOUGLASTON — For most students, back to school means going through the end-of-summer ritual of buying school supplies, such as notebooks and pens. But for seminarians at St. Joseph’s Seminary and College, the school year starts differently — with three days of prayer, reflection, and inspiring talks.
Dozens of seminarians from St. Joseph’s Seminary and College in Yonkers attended a retreat hosted by Bishop Robert Brennan at the seminary and at Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens, which took place from August 27 to 29.
The men, who are at various stages in their priestly formation, gathered to share their experiences, pray, and receive some fatherly advice from Bishop Brennan as they prepared for the start of a new semester.
The retreat was a fitting way for the future priests to start the academic year, Bishop Brennan said.
“Retreats have always been part of the seminary experience, but to begin the year in prayer is good on a number of levels,” he explained. “First of all, it’s a good thing for us to do as Christians anyway. But it gives them this relationship among themselves — that the first thing they do is pray together. That sets a tone.”
The retreat, an annual event for St. Joseph seminarians, ended with a closing Mass on the morning of Aug. 29.
But it wasn’t time to leave just yet. There was still more to do.
That evening, everyone gathered in the chapel at Immaculate Conception Center to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the daily prayer of the Catholic Church that priests are required to do every day.
And then it was time for fun! The chefs prepared a barbecue for the seminarians, giving the future priests the chance to end their stay by snacking on hot dogs, burgers, and corn on the cob.
David Rodriguez, 42, entering his third year of formation, said he was glad he took part in the retreat. He particularly enjoyed exchanging ideas with fellow seminarians.
“Formation, we say, is a mutual exchange. We are learning from each other. We are learning from our formators, and we are learning first from Christ, of course. But we are also learning from each other,” explained Rodriguez, who grew up in Blessed Sacrament Church in Jackson Heights and said he came to his vocation relatively late in life.
Paul Zwolak, 26, who grew up in Our Lady of Hope Church in Middle Village and is starting his fourth year in the seminary, said he was inspired by Bishop Brennan’s message.
“For me, one thing that Bishop Brennan’s whole retreat was about was discipleship with Jesus and getting to know Jesus more fully and understanding our relationship with Him, our friendship with him,” said Zwolak, who will be ordained into the diaconate this fall.
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Bishop Brennan said that’s precisely what he meant. “The first thing is that Jesus, before he sends us forward, wants us to be with him,” he explained. “He calls us into friendship and to really appreciate that friendship. That’s the most important thing at this stage.”
While the retreat was aimed at seminarians, experienced priests also found the three-day experience to be highly instructive.
Father Joseph Holcomb, director of seminarians for the Diocese of Brooklyn, said he left the retreat feeling a sense of renewal.
“It renewed my vocation, but it also informed me,” he said. “As I sit with these young men in formation meetings and hear some of the things that they’re saying about their journey towards the priesthood, their relationship with Jesus is certainly not only inspiring me, but challenging me to even grow further in my relationship with the Lord.”