BOT Meeting: Spiritual Life Committee

Talk by Mark DeSio (Draft)

Hello! My name is Mark DeSio and I am a seminarian for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. I am currently in Second Configuration. While this is my second year at SVDP, it is my sixth year of seminary formation (as I completed four years of college seminary at SJVCS).

Fr. Steven approached me at the beginning of this year and asked if I would be willing to speak about the Spiritual Life here at SVDP, so here I am!

During my first semester here at SVDP, I was elected to represent my class, (then: First Theology), to the Spiritual Life Committee.

The spiritual life committee at St. Vincent’s is structured, well-organized, and exemplifies good communication. I believe this is true for all of the seminary’s committees, but it is especially true for this one. And the spiritual life committee seems to have a reputation of getting back to seminarian’s requests more quickly!

Rather than speak on what the meetings consist of, I would like to focus on what the spiritual life of the seminary here is like as this is reflective of the committees efforts. So, here’s the inside scoop:

First, the horarium. Yes, this might seem like an odd place to start but it is crucial. Why? Because if a seminary’s horarium isn’t structured the right way, it won’t allow for the spiritual growth and development of the men for priestly formation.

Well, thankfully, that is not the case here! The horarium is impressive. I say that because it has a way of challenging each of the men by bringing them out of their comfort zone, yet it remains breathable. This latter part is crucial because having room to pray and deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ is necessary!

All around me, I see men of prayer. Many of whom pray (in addition to the Liturgy of the Hours) a daily holy hour, or maybe a rosary, divine mercy chaplet, etc. Even if there are those who aren’t praying like that yet, I know that the seminary makes it possible and encourages us to be authentic men of prayer.

The retreats here are also life-giving. Silence is particularly helpful for hearing the voice of God in one’s life. Breaking away from the noise and learning how to put God first is a gift. It’s a gift that we have here at St. Vincent’s in the form of desert days, our annual 5-day retreat in January, programs like IPF, and even the 30 Day Spiritual Exercises Retreat. Men are being formed into true contemplatives in action.

Seminarians are able to take the initiative to invite others to pray a novena (for the feast of St. Vincent de Paul for example), to get a group together to be consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, etc.

In addition to this, we are able, as men becoming diocesan priests to choose from the various spiritualities offered by the Catholic Church. No one feels pressured to have to pick one form over another, rather, each has the freedom in Jesus Christ to pray and be formed spiritually in the way God is leading him.

In conclusion, the spiritual life of the seminary at SVDP is reflective of the efforts of the Spiritual Life committee. This group of disciples works together for the greater glory of God and for the good of the Church. I am thankful to be a part of this prayerful community that seeks to serve, praise, and reverence God when we gather together for the Eucharist and to abide in Jesus Christ in a spirit of prayer each day.