After seven years of seminary formation, I am now in the infamous 4th Theology year of seminary. I am a transitional deacon and only a matter of months away from the priesthood.
When you are young and starting out in the seminary, you look at the 4th year men, the deacons, and view them as little less that immortal and privileged to be where they are. Being in their shoes was unimaginable reality, but now it is!
This semester I am taking courses geared heavily towards the practical and ministerial aspects of both the diaconate and the priesthood. Going back to the parish every weekend will be an invaluable lesson and enriching experience. I will be able to bring my experiences from my ministry in the parish back to class and synthesize everything and hear the experiences of my classmates.
I have a mixture of feelings and emotions. I am very anxious for this new seminary experince and being able to get back to the parish which I have come to love and feel at home at. It also excites me to think that this is my last year of school and seminary. It is rather intimidating though to think that within a matter of months, I will be assuming the role and responsibilities of the priesthood - it is getting real!
I was very anxious and antsy to be ordained a deacon. You wait years for it and you desire to do all that the deacon can do. Now that it is here, I am very content and peaceful in that I am now a deacon. I now have been entrusted with a lot and I am comfortable with waiting one more academic year for priesthood. I really want to take full advantage of what the diaconate can offer for me and how I can grow in this role.
Also, I see how awesome the responsibilities of being a deacon are and I appreciate the reminder prep time to get ready for the even more surmounting tasks and responsibilities entailed in the priesthood.
Let's crack open those books...for one last year!
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