Cross Cultural Experiences

Damian Dempsey in the Philippines

Theology

Academic study is the backbone of a seminarians life. As our Founder, Jean-Claude Colin said: "The Society of Mary cannot achieve its mission unless its members are thoroughly equipped, intellectually as well as spiritually".

Constitutions n.26

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Faith, mission, pastoral zeal and effectiveness all rely on the ability to know what one believes and ultimately will preach to others. Theology therefore, is the chance for faith to seek understanding.

As a priest or Brother, you will find many people desire to know what the Church teaches and believes. A thorough grounding in theology allows us to engage not only with our own intellect, but to also dialogue with the people of God and the world at large.

Academic study at the Marist Seminary is wide and varied and includes a wide range of subject areas, including:

Most studies are done at our theologiate, Good Shepherd College - Te Hepara Pai which is located just up the road from the seminary itself in Ponsonby.

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A seminarian will take around five and a half years to complete all his academic training, usually obtaining on the way two degrees.

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Bachelor of Theology (B.Theol)

Awarded at the end of three years study from the Catholic Institute of Sydney which is associated with the Sydney College of Divinity

Training

Training

Training for Priesthood at the Marist Seminary is divided into five components, aspirancy, novitiate, post novitiate, cross cultural experience, final vows and preparation for ordination

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Aspirancy

Someone entering the seminary for the first time is called an aspirant.

An aspirant is someone keen to check out what seminary and religious life is all about - they aspire to become both a religious and priest. Aspirancy is a time of new beginnings, explorations and introductions to prayer, discernment, community life, pastoral experience and theology. It is a time when the seminarian introduces himself and the Marist way of life and spirituality introduces itself to him. As well as furthering his studies, an aspirant prepares to go to Novitiate.

Introduction to the Office Book

Aspirants usually take two or three papers in introductory theology and philosophy at Good Shepherd College, as well as undertaking some pastoral commitments. Other elements such as speech training may be included in these first years of aspirancy.

As an aspirant, you are fully engaged in the community and its life in order to see through participating, if this is the life for you.

Aspirancy, which can last up to three years, is a chance for both the aspirants and Marists to explore the call that has lead the person to the seminary in the first place. Through prayer, community life, various social and academic activities an aspirant is able to discern more clearly God's call in their life

Novitiate

Novitiate takes a full year and is undertaken away from the seminary. At present the English speaking novitiate is held in Australia. Novitiate is the time for novices in religious life to learn, pray and discern. It is designed to give a novice an opportunity to explore the call to religious life and priesthood more fully. As well, novitiate provides the opportunity to learn what it means to be Marist. By studying Marist spirituality and history, novices are able to discern more clearly if their call will find it fruition in this particular order.

The novitiate is a time to withdraw from the busyness of life and to spend time in prayer with God. In many ways it is the cliché of 'one step back in order to take two steps forward'. For a religious the aim of life is to actively and openly mirror the life of Jesus Christ as one who was chaste, obedient and poor. No mean feat eh! The novitiate then becomes a chance to begin this process of becoming as Christ was and is; to enter into totally giving yourself to Jesus Christ. In this way the novitiate is a time to test and recognise our vocation. Put simply, are we called to be religious priests or brothers? Prayer therefore, is the keystone.

All training is aimed at the taking of religious vows and ordination:

Post Novitiate

The novice having taken temporary vows, returns to the seminary to continue his theological training.

Good Shepherd College
Theological Training takes place at Good Shepherd College

Vows

Temporary vows are taken at the end of novitiate

The three vows are poverty, chastity and obedience and are taken on as a trial period, usually around two years before being renewed.

About one year before the end of seminary training a Marist seminarian is invited to make his final profession. Once again, the three vows are poverty, chastity and obedience, but this time they are taken as a life time committment. This is the end point for those wishing to become Brothers.

Cross Cultural Experience

Usually the sixth year, a seminarian is given the opportunity to participate in a cross-cultural experience. As the name suggests, this is a time to enter into another culture. Placements are for two years in order to give the seminarian time to learn the local language and engage fully in the life of the community that they are working in.

This is often the most exciting time for a seminarian as they explore not only a new culture, but also there own strength and weaknesses when placed in a completely different world. The experience is a chance to see God at work in other places as well as giving a seminarian the chance to develop their own pastoral skills in a challenging environment.

Since the introduction of cross-cultural experiences at the Marist Seminary, seminarians have been sent to:

Diaconate

Ordination to Diaconate takes place around six months before the end of seminary training. A deacon serves the bishop and is primarily concerned with proclaiming the Gospel and preaching. A deacon can also officiate at weddings, funerals and baptisms.

Priesthood

Priesthood, the final step.

Taking around 8-9 years to complete training, the time set aside for training emphasises the importance of religious life and priesthood within the Church