A Seminarian's Diary: Beginning another year

This is the sixth post of a continuing Diary of a Seminarian. The author is Matthew Jordan, a member of St. Francis de Sales parish.

A Seminarian's Diary: Beginning another year

By MATTHEW JORDAN
As the air begins to get crisper and August gives way to September, I am beginning my second year at Borromeo Seminary. The second half of the spring semester got crazy with many projects, seminary events and exams not leaving me enough time to sleep, let alone blog. As I am now entering my third semester of college, I have a 3.80 GPA and have since joined the honors program.

My first summer as a seminarian presented many different opportunities. I worked full time by working three days a week at my home parish St. Francis de Sales, and two days a week at Queen of Heaven in Green. At both parishes I did mostly maintenance and grounds work giving me the opportunity to learn many different handy skills. For instance I now know how to landscape, how to trim hedges, and best of all how to use a zero turn mower! (Apparently they trusted me in a big machine.)

I had the very affirming experience of working with Fr. Anthony Suso, the newly ordained parochial vicar at St. Francis de Sales. Upon beginning his assignment, Fr. Suso seemed eager to take on the new challenge. I had gone to the seminary with him last year, but must admit he was one of the guys I knew the least. After hearing he was assigned to St. Francis de Sales, I tried to get to know him a little better, but was still unsure if he would fit. Watching him grow in his first few months of priesthood has been truly a blessing and something that I truly needed to see. God definitely had a hand in putting him at St. Francis de Sales. He has been very supportive of me and I am truly blessed to have been able to work alongside him.

I had the unique opportunity to help out with Vacation Bible School. Through working with VBS, I have found how much I enjoy working with children and how I actually have the skills to reach out to them. It was a very awe-inspiring experience watching their faith and how some of them were able to go out of their comfort zones. At Queen of Heaven, I had second and third graders which showed an enthusiasm for all the activities that shows a true desire to learn and grow in faith. At St. Francis de Sales, I had fifth graders and although they were the oldest kids there, they still showed enthusiasm and we were able to have great discussions. I even had a fifth grader tell me that she was considering becoming a nun! It is very comforting knowing that the next generation has zeal for the faith.

As I enter the next semester, I am taking a very full course load with 18 credit hours including two honors classes, two 300 philosophy courses, Old Testament based mostly off of memorization (not my forte) and Latin 201. I am challenging myself now so that I can have lighter semesters later on in college especially senior year when I am writing my thesis.
Despite a rigorous course load, I am very glad to be back at the seminary and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Thank you for all of your support and prayers. God Bless!