INTEGRAL EDUCATION FOR LIFE
The seminary is a seed bed for priestly
vocation. It is a nursery where the seedlings are nurtured before they
can be transplanted to the vast ground we all call the mission. The
minor or junior seminary is the institution in every diocese where the
Bishop starts very early to prepare these seedlings for the major or
senior seminary. Quite a number of our Bishops including John Cardinal
Njue have often underlined the importance of seminaries by saying: “the
seminary is the pupil of the eye of the Bishop.” The Fathers of the
Church guided by this wisdom in directing that:
“Minor seminaries are erected to develop the seeds of vocations; the students should be prepared by special religious formation,
particularly through appropriate spiritual direction, to follow Christ
the Redeemer with generosity of spirit and purity of heart. Under the fatherly direction of the superiors,
and with the proper cooperation of the parents, their daily routine
should be in accord with the age, the character and the stage of
development of adolescence and fully adapted to the norms of a healthy
psychology. (The Decree on Priestly Formation, Vatican II Documents
-1963- – 1965, Optatum Totius <O.P.> 3)
The family plays a pivotal role in the
life of the young seminarian in providing the basic needs, guiding and
encouraging him to make the right decision. The Church Fathers therefore
advice that there should fitting opportunity for social and cultural
contacts and interaction with one’s own family. (O.P. 3) A young man who
hails from a family where prayer and responsible moral behaviour is the
norm has a better chance of fitting into the seminary life and later in
the mission.
The minor seminary for all interns and
purposes is a secondary school offering the K.C.S.E. 8-4-4 curriculum.
This is tandem with the wisdom of the Church Fathers, …. Also, studies
undertaken by the students -should be so arranged that they can easily
continue them elsewhere should they choose a different state of life.”
(O.P. 3) The young seminarian has therefore to excel to achieve the
requirement for entry into the tertiary level institutes which is also
the same for major seminary entry. Therefore, it is evident that
academic excellence the theme for this year at Queen of Apostles Junior
Seminary properly fits with what lies ahead for every student. Should
one choose to pursue another career path or answer the ‘Priestly call’
excelling in academics is a must.
This formation is continued in the major
seminaries for those who take this trajectory. The major seminarian is
schooled in Spirituality, Philosophy and Theology where it is paramount
that he exhibits high standards.
If high standards are a required of the
candidate, after ordination much more is expected. This then, translates
to the fact that education is not transitory but a continuum in our
lives. In fact it is for the very reason that we have this workshop. My
experience as a teacher is that those who study for exams and grades
only down load everything and are left empty. But, a good student
studies for life excels in his grades and his hard disk still remains
uploaded many years after the exams are over. A good student does all
that in his power to ensure that his stay in the seminary has the
characteristics of an “integral education for life”.
The Lord Jesus after choosing the
apostles and instructing them, he gives them power and authority and
sends them to do the very works that the Master taught them. (Luke
9:1-6; Mathew 10:1. 5-15; Mark 6:7:13). The Vatican II Council Fathers,
proclaims the extreme importance of priestly training and lays down
certain basic principles by which those regulations may be strengthened
which long use has shown to be sound and by which those new elements can
be added which correspond to the constitutions and decrees of this
sacred council and to the changed conditions of our times. Because of
the very unity of the Catholic priesthood this priestly formation is
necessary for all priests. (O.T.1). Mother Church further affirms very
clearly that before a man is ordained certain perquisites have to be
observed. These are seminary formation, proper instructions concerning
the priestly order and obligation, to be of sound faith, motivated by
the right intention, enjoy a good reputation, have moral probity, proven
virtue, including appropriate physical and psychological qualities.
(Cf. Code of Canon Law nos1027 -1029).
“The letter to the Hebrews clearly
affirms the ‘human character’ of God’s minister: he comes from the human
community and is at its service, imitating Jesus Christ, ‘who in every
respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin’ {Hebrews. 4:15}
(Postores Dabo Vobis 5). This at times may become an obstacle, but do
not get discouraged even Jesus tested this pill. ‘What good can come
from Nazareth? Is he not the son of the carpenter? Don’t we know his
brothers and sisters? Yet, “every High Priest chosen from among men is
appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God” (Hebrews 5:1).
This means that the priest has to be relevant to his ministry in this
third millennium. The priest of today gets his space in the world by
being an integrated person who is open to draw from academic excellence
and objective experiential knowledge.
To claim your space in academic arena
you must swim in the waters of the spiritual life which flows naturally
in the seminary. The daily Eucharistic celebration, the daily recitation
of the rosary, the frequent visits to the chapel, the regular
confession, the immersing of oneself in the various devotions like
Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Sacred Heart of Jesus. To be
integrated in academics you must be immersed in the spiritual waters.
Fr. Boniface Kariuki
Chaplain
Kenyatta University Catholic Chaplaincy
