Hello St. Anthony Parish,
Robert here, your Adopt-a-Seminarian seminarian. I hope February is treating you well. It is below freezing here at Mundelein Seminary, but I’m keeping warm with your thoughts and prayers. I have some good news! On January 20, 2021, I got instituted as an acolyte. As an acolyte I serve at mass in a function that is similar to an altar server. I can help with holding the Missal for the priest, assist with incensing, hand items to the priest during preparation of the gifts and the offertory, and I can also help with holding the cross or candles during the procession. My duties and functions as an acolyte also include exposing the Blessed Sacrament and distributing Holy Communion to the sick. It is a beautiful ministry, and I am grateful for it. Praise God!
Regarding my seminary formation, this coming March I’ll participate in simulation-based learning at Rosalind Franklin University (RFU). Through this program, I’ll be put into scenarios where I’ll practice and be assessed on how I pastorally minister to patients in a medical environment. Due to COVID-19, my sessions will be online, but typically they are done in person on the RFU campus. All of this will help prepare me for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) – basically how to be a hospital chaplain. The date for my simulation is tentatively March 24, 2021. I will keep you updated on how it goes.
Thank you to all who have written and reached out to me. It is such a comfort to hear from you. Please know of my prayers. As we hope for an end to this pandemic, let us pray for consolation for all who are suffering through this. Let us also pray in thanksgiving for those who are helping others and bringing the love of Jesus Christ to their neighbors in this difficult time. I am grateful for you and I pray that God continues to make His love present to you every day.
Continued prayers as we continue on.
Godspeed,
Robert
