Off to Rome!

   I greatly enjoy being a pastor and I love being a priest. It is strange that it is those qualities that motivated the Bishop to agree with the seminary rector when he asked to consider me for the seminary staff. As part of the formation staff at the seminary I hope to share my joy in ministry with the young candidates for ordination and ministry in our diocese. My personal goal centers on remaining rooted in pastoral work of the diocese.

     Starting in October I will be attending the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Formation of Priesthood and Consecrated Life Educators at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. What a mouthful! It is the prefect course to prepare me for my work at the seminary; giving me the psychological tools and spiritual background to form young priests. The only draw back in that the course is taught in Italian. I can write my papers in English but everything else is in Italian. I am assured that three months of intensive language courses in Sienna should get me ready. To that end the great adventure begins June 24th as I head off to Italy. As always you will be able to keep up with me here.