Seminarian Spotlight: Words of Encouragement 

By: Paul Collins and Brad Easterbrooks, AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarians who attended Forum 2018 in San Diego

Paul Collins shares: I try to remember that every cross is an opportunity for spiritual growth, though we may not see it. I think a good place to start with the current situation’s potential for growth is in the following quote: 

“Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear, and panic. I will cause churches to lock their doors. I will cause Christians not to worship together on Sunday. I will cause the sacraments not to be given or received. I will cause fights to break out at the grocery stores and on social media and inside the home. I will cause greater animosity between nations. I will cause turmoil inside and out.”

Jesus: “I will restore the family. I will bring husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters closer together. I will greatly strengthen the communal life of religious brothers and sisters. I will greatly strengthen the spiritual lives of my priests. I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table and to the refectory. I will help my children slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not on what is of this world. I will deepen my children’s faith in me. I will renew their prayer life. I will deepen their love for me and for one another.” 

-Fr. Jerome Zeiler

This is my prayer for this time: that the forced slow down of our lives brings families closer to each other and gives priests a chance to rediscover the heart of their vocation, which is their relationship with Christ. 

Brad Easterbrooks shares:  During times of uncertainty, I have learned that we have an even greater opportunity to rely on God’s guidance.  Jesus assures us that no matter the storm that rocks our boat, he gives us a deep peace through our faith and relationship with him (cf. Matt 8:23-27).  For the first time for many of us, we lack access to a public mass, which reminds us that there are many around the world who do not ordinarily have access to the sacraments.  We hunger for the sacraments because they bring God’s grace into our lives. I hope to use this time to pray even more, in hopeful anticipation of the day when we can return to mass as a community to raise our voices together in prayer.  I am keeping everyone in my prayers, especially those affected by this virus. Keep praying, because Jesus is still with us in the boat. God bless you this day.