At Mass, you may have heard Father announce the news that your parish will be hosting a seminarian—either during the summer, Christmas and Easter break or the whole year. What can you, as a parishioner, do to help in this process? What can you do to support this young man along his path of discernment?
First, enjoy the excitement that comes with the announcement. He may be bringing youth and vibrancy to your parish. He could have some experience and wisdom. No matter the case, there will be joy and anxiousness at the beginning. He will be ready to get involved in everything he can in the parish. His exuberance will hopefully overflow and inspire you as well.
To give you some insight into what may be expected of him while on his internship, you should think about where he is in terms of years in formation. If he is early in his studies, he may focus more on labor, assistance and getting to know new people. If he is later in the process, he may have completed the coursework that enables him to teach more and be available to listen and offer help. It’s also worth noting that this could be his first time away from home outside of school. No matter where he is in the process, the assignment at your parish is meant to prepare him for ministry and parish life. It is not just about learning to perform the liturgical and administrative duties of a priest, it is also about developing a seminarian’s God-given human abilities to the fullest, in preparation for the transforming grace of ordination.
At all points in a seminarian’s formation, however, he would appreciate the feeling of family support and experiences. This includes with your own family. Offer greetings on his first weekend in the parish. When he is not fulfilling a ministry at Mass, maybe invite him to sit with your family. Take him out to breakfast after a weekday Mass. Take him out to dinner to share your lives and family history. Perhaps even invite him into your home and help him feel relaxed. Invite him to family events and barbecues. The key is to get to know him and let him get to know you.
If the internship is only for a summer, do not think that the relationship needs to end. In addition to my priestly assignments, I still have contact with people from all of my seminary internships, including summers at St. Columba Cathedral and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Canton, as well as my pastoral year at St. Patrick Parish in Kent.
You can continue to support seminarians after they leave your parish by sending them cards and letters when they return to the seminary. We encourage parish vocation support groups to spiritually “adopt” a seminarian throughout their time in formation, up to ordination.
Never doubt that you, the parishioner, are a vital part of a seminarian’s formation as a future priest, both in his ministry and in his human development. Your evaluations and comments help the seminarian in the discernment process. Continue to pray for vocations and that all people may follow the call to which God is leading them.
