Originally published at National Catholic Register
In a world shaped by alienation and distraction, seminarians are learning to embrace silence, prayer and true community.
“Hey, Mom,” my son John began on a phone call, “Isaac’s seminary is only seven hours from Ann Arbor. We should visit him.”
We were planning a trip from Bismarck to Michigan to see my 99-year-old dad and for me to be interviewed by Dr. Ralph Martin with Renewal Ministries in Ann Arbor. After John’s call, we added a stop in St. Louis to visit the youngest of our 10 children, who just entered Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. My 6-year-old grandson, Xavier (oldest of daughter Teresa’s four children) would join us when we picked him up in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. He loves playing Wii Bowling with his great-grandpa and had what he described as “the best day of my life” attending a University of Michigan football game. He was excited to see his beloved Uncle Isaac.
Upon arrival, Isaac gave us a tour of the beautiful seminary, making introductions along the way, and he joined us for dinner. The next morning at Mass, the chapel was filled with the 14 first-year seminarians. The Gospel reading was Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus says to Peter:
