When I first arrived at the seminary, I was filled with excitement and a bit of trepidation. The rigorous academic environment, the spiritual challenges, and the community dynamics were all new to me. Yet, even as I navigated this complex landscape, I felt a deep connection to my family back home, who were cheering me on from a distance. This distance is often minimized when the seminary opens its doors for weekly guest nights, and special events like this year’s “Parent’s Day”. On Sunday, September 22nd, the parents of seminarians were invited to join us for Mass and brunch. This was a unique opportunity for us because Sundays are the most important, and most celebratory, here at the seminary. Showing a noteworthy glimpse of our current lives to those who held such a vital role in bringing us to this point was an uncommon, yet fulfilling experience. Our parents got to experience the most anticipated part of our week, and it was certainly a joyous day getting to share in it with them.
My family has visited me at the seminary, and those visits have been particularly meaningful. When they walk the halls, share in meals, and engage with my friends and mentors, they gain a tangible sense of my world. I remember the joy on their faces as they met my brother seminarians and experienced the vibrant community that has become my second family. Seeing them interact with the seminary faculty and with my new brothers has made my journey feel more complete; it was a reminder that my aspirations are not just mine alone but are part of a larger familial narrative.
In many ways, sharing the seminary with my family has been a journey of mutual discovery. Each class I attend, every challenge I face, and every triumph I achieve reverberates through our familial connections, creating a legacy of faith and learning. Moreover, my family’s involvement in my seminary life has helped them grasp the importance of this calling. They witness the dedication and the passion that goes into discerning a call to the priesthood. It has transformed their perception of my journey from a solitary endeavor into a shared mission, one that they can celebrate alongside me.
In Fr. Griffin’s homily at Mass on Parent’s Day, he said, “When we give ourselves generously, without counting the cost, [Jesus] returns the favor by giving us all the grace, all the love, and all the strength that we need to persevere.” What are we being called to give? Is it our life, our child, our free time? Each one of us must discern what the Lord is asking of us, and we can be assured that when we give back to Him, that God’s reward will exceedingly surpass our expectations. I can speak on behalf of all of my brother seminarians when I say that we have been rewarded from the Lord far more than what we have sacrificed. The gift of this seminary, and all that comes with it, is an immeasurable blessing that I am so grateful we are able to share with our families.
Kieran Sullivan is a College II Seminarian for the Archdiocese of New York