Fanning the Flame of Seminarians’ Vocation amid Lockdown Due to Covid 19 Pandemic

Seminary formation is one of the activities that have been adversely affected by the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic in many countries in the world. South Sudan is no exception therefore in a bid to curb any possible spread of the virus in the country, the government of the Republic South Sudan ordered the shutdown of all learning institutions in the country; the seminaries like everywhere else were not exempted.

 A Spanish priest, Rev. Father Christopher Hartley, from the Catholic Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain who is currently working in South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, has opted to keep the seminarians engaged through the formation and pastoral work around the two parishes entrusted to him by His Lordship Barani Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio.

 “We, my assistant, Rev. Father Abel Tindi, and I realized that we had to do something with these young men for we didn't want their vocations to be lost or to become lukewarm or cold. So we decided to get them involved in parish life in very different capacities but always related with the liturgy, with evangelization, prayer, service to the poor, to the sick, to the children involved in catechesis and to the elderly,” Fr. Christopher explained adding that they also did initiate days of recollection when they would bringing both parishes together.

 “These seminarians apart from sharing the bonds of their vocation are very good friends with each other so they enjoy very much coming together when both parishes come together, the seminarians from both Communities.” The two parishes entrusted to Fr. Christopher are Saints Peter and Paul, Nandi Parish, and The Most Holy Trinity Parish, Andari.

 Both parishes have all the phone numbers of seminarians and according to Fr. Christopher, both parishes

have given many vacations to the Catholic Church. The parish of Nandi, he said is famous for the number of vocations and the quality of the vacations that have come from its ranks; as such it is something that the parish carries with great pride. Therefore when the seminarians were sent home at the end of February and in the beginning of March, the two priests Fr. Abel and Fr. Christopher has been taking turns teaching them simple classes of philosophy, theology, and human formation with a hope of keeping alive and fanning the flame of their vocation.

 “We can in this manner stroke the fire of God's calling, for we believe that each one of these young men has heard the voice of Jesus Christ saying, come follow me I have called you by your name. And this is the mystery of vocation, the mystery that we wish to preserve in them,” Fr. Christopher explained adding that each morning Jesus Christ offers each one of the seminarians unspeakable love, a calling they wish to nurture and allow to grow in the hearts of each one of these them.

 “This is the mystery of the vocational dialogue, sometimes the result of a struggle, the experience of one's personal incapacity, the conviction that one is not worthy, that one is not going to be capable of carrying out these particular calling. And that's why I stress very much the importance of parishes at this time of the pandemic when all seminarians have been sent home that we take very good care of them.”

 Fr. Christopher’s inspiration to take care of the seminarians at this time of pandemic when they have been sent home and are uncertain of when learning in the seminaries will resume stems from his belief that every vocation is a treasure and that the church is in desperate need not only of a greater number of priestly vocations but more importantly, they need for holy priests, saintly priests, men whose hearts and lives are configured with the mystery of Jesus Christ.

 “Priests who can say that they carry in their flesh the wounds of the passion of Christ where every vocation, every seminarian, every priest can say I live, but it is not I who lives, it is Christ who lives in me; so that people in seeing this young man, this seminarian, this young priest or this elderly priest, can say as they used to say of Saint John Vianney that our priest is not like the others, our priest is a saint, we have seen God in a man, that a priest is a transparency, a Sacrament, a visible sign of Jesus Christ, the high priest, shepherd and head of the church,” Fr. Christopher expressed adding that this desire of his springs from the love and the gratitude he experiences for the excellent formation he received during his formative years back in Spain and which he would like to share with the seminarians that come from his parish.

 Fr. Christopher and his assistant Fr. Abel is committed to journeying with the ten seminarians they are currently taking care of until when seminary learning will resume. “When they go back, we will definitely follow up and make sure that they are well taken care of and that their behavior in the seminary, in academics, in spirituality and pastoral work be of the highest standards. We have about 10 seminarians in each one of the parishes.

 He confessed that the seminarians are very diligent to help out in many chores and in many responsibilities as they are always around the parish and around the priests’ residence. Besides, the seminarians are always ready to help and are actively involved and this is something that he takes great pride and great care in the liturgy.

“I think one of the greatest responsibilities that the church has is to form these young men very well in the importance of the dignity and of the mystery of the liturgy; that they love the liturgy and participation in the sacraments as well as teaching them how to celebrate properly. It is so sad when you see priests being sloppy, or careless or plainly disobedient to the liturgical norms of the church,” he expressed adding that the two of them are trying to teach the seminarians how to celebrate Holy Mass and the other sacraments such as Baptism, Confession, Holy Matrimony, the anointing of the sick; the sacraments that are normally dispensed from a parish.

“We try to teach them to understand the dignity, the solemnity, and the respect as well as the importance of details regarding the celebration of every one of these sacraments I have mentioned. And needless to say that we will continue rendering this service to the seminary, to the diocese, and to these young men. As long as they are here with us, they are our top priority in our pastoral work.”

By Rurugene Team