There is no slowing down this summer for Arlington
seminarians who return home from months of studying. As soon
as their respective schools close their doors, a different
type of learning begins with either work or a parish
assignment.
Last year, seminarian John Paul Heisler, who attends St. John
Paul II Seminary in Washington, worked for his father’s
business in Front Royal installing hardwood floors. This
year, he is excited about the opportunity to serve and learn
from priests in a parish setting.
“Getting to learn from them is very beneficial because we did
not join the seminary to be seminarians,” said Heisler, who
is assigned to Church of the Nativity in Burke. “It is really
the parish life that we fell in love with. It rekindles the
flame.”
On a hot summer morning last week, Heisler spent a full day
jumping from one parish event to the next. He assisted with
daily 7:30 a.m. Mass, distributing Communion to the early
risers. Just an hour later, he traded vestments for a bright
tie-dyed shirt and was “dunked” into a pool by a group of
children during Vacation Bible School.
Heisler thinks the experience is teaching him how to be
helpful around a parish. He hopes to take what he learns
during his summer assignment with him after ordination.
“When a guy is first ordained, the big job of the parochial
vicar is to take as many of the responsibilities he can off
the pastor’s shoulders,” he said. There is a big ministry of
presence I have been noticing this summer. It’s very
important to have clergy at these kinds of events.”
Sundays are another opportunity for Heisler to meet with the
community. He assists at all five Masses on Sunday and two
Saturday evening Masses. He goes on Communion calls in
between.
“Not everyone works in the parish or has a kid in Vacation
Bible School, but everyone is going to be walking out of
church on Sunday,” said Heisler. “A big highlight of the week
is being able to meet everyone after Mass.”
All over the diocese, more than a dozen seminarians like
Heisler are on summer assignments. Ten of them are at World
Youth Day in Poland, while two others are in Guatemala
studying Spanish.
Seminarian Joseph Jacobeen, who attends St. Charles Borromeo
Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., is also in his first summer
assignment at St. James Church in Falls Church.
“I didn’t know what to expect. In addition to serving Mass, I
take Communion to the sick and to nursing homes. It is really
cool to be able to say ‘the Body of Christ,'”said Jacobeen.
“It is the greatest gift I could give them.”
On one of these visits, Jacobeen had just finished bringing
Communion to a woman when her son approached him. The son
started tearing up, thanking Jacobeen repeatedly for bringing
his mother Communion – an encounter that was encouraging to
the seminarian.
In addition to Jacobeen’s duties around the parish, which
involve writing in the weekly bulletin, he also has a
personal summer to-do list.
“My goal is to grow in my prayer life and work it into the
schedule,” said Jacobeen. “Everything I do as a seminarian
comes from prayer and goes out from there. I notice the
difference when I don’t (pray).”
Jacobeen will accompany a group of youths to Washington for
the Kraków in the Capital event. He also looks forward
to leading a group from St. James on a sailing trip in
Annapolis, which will include a tour of the Naval Academy
July 23.
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