Seminary Living.....

In response to many questions from friends and family, I decided that I would reflect on what my day to day looks like as a Catholic Seminarian.

I am currently studying for the Austin Diocese here at St. Joseph Seminary College (SJSC) in St. Benedict, Louisiana! The Seminary is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, which is 45 minutes north of New Orleans. The Seminary is ideally situated upon a 15 acre campus in the midst of the piney woods of the Ozone Belt. However, the Seminary is also a part of 1200 acres of rich forest land which houses the Benedictine Monastery (monks) and their beautiful Abbey. A small river, the Bogue Falaya, deriving its name from the Choctaw Indians who once inhabited our the site, borders the western side of the campus. With the exception of the Monk's cloister around the Monastery, we are able to walk and explore the 1200 acres at any moment. We have had some amazing walks and runs through the woods and along the extensive trail system. This place is ideal for retreating into deep prayer and contemplation in light of God's immense beauty all around us.

Saint Joseph Seminary College is a community of faith and learning, rooted in the Benedictine tradition. We are truly blessed to live amongst the Benedictine Monks and their way of contemplative life. Many of the classes at the seminary are taught by the Monks whom impart such wisdom and inspiration. They are from all walks of life and love to hang out with the Seminarians when time allows. Many of us also go to the monks for confession, spiritual help, and spiritual direction. I am truly blessed to have Abbot Justin Brown, the Abbot of the Monastery, as my Spiritual Director. He is a very holy man and lives his spirituality to the fullest. He is by far the best confessor that I have ever been to and for that reason, I chose him as my spiritual director. He has taught me so much about prayer and contemplation and helps me grow in faith and formation as we meet every other week.

Our daily lives are quite busy with prayer, classes, study, and community events. My day starts bright and early by waking up at 6:30am on weekday mornings to shower, clean up, pray, and get a cup of coffee before morning prayer. Morning prayer begins at 7:30 in the prayer room where we pray out of the Liturgy of the Hours as a community.

After morning prayer, we are able enjoy a nice breakfast in the refectory if we would like. Most classes then start at 8am. My weekly schedule is as follows: On Monday's I have no classes in the morning, so I usually spend that time studying, cleaning, reading, watching the news, running errands etc. At 10:50, I have Schola rehearsal and at 11:15, we have Mass in the Abbey with the Monastic community where the Schola sings and cantors. Directly after Mass we all walk over to the refectory together for lunch which has been prepared by our great food services staff. After lunch, afternoon classes start, but again, I have a nice little gap until my first class at 3pm, which is World Religions. After my 3pm class I have my last class at 4:15, my Formation class. Starting at 5:45pm we have our daily "Lectio Divina," which is the practice of "Divine Reading." It involves quiet spiritual reading, intense meditation over what we read and lots of prayer. It is perhaps my most favorite part of my day. After 30 minutes of Lectio Divina we all go to the prayer room for Evening Prayer with the community. Dinner then follows in the refectory....

.......More to come about the daily schedule, the formation process, the travel/mission experiences, the food, our pastoral assignments, the incredible Benedictine liturgies etc etc etc.....check back soon!

May God Bless you and keep you close to Him!