Student examines Seminarians reasons

By Theresa Breault
Cardinal Staff

Whether you have stepped on to the Saint Mary’s University campus for the first time this year or have been around for several semesters, you have undoubtedly noticed the nicely-dressed men who always open the doors for you: the seminarians.
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SMU is a unique school in that we are given the chance to see those training to become a part of the Church in a way many of us have never dreamed of. Students are also given the chance to wonder about these men they see daily, and how they got to be where they are today. After interviewing several seminarians about why they chose the path that they are on, I received some pretty interesting answers.

Joshua Gardner (silent “ua,” as he so animatedly pointed out), is a junior at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Gardner said it was the love of God that brought him to Saint Mary’s, and that it wasn’t an easy decision for him to make. “There was a lot to consider and a lot of self-reflection that went into this decision,” said Gardner.

Ben Lynch, a sophomore in the seminary, gave a very interesting answer when asked `what he had to consider before going into the seminary. “I had to factor in the marriage issue, how I was going to pay for going to school for it, and giving up certain things in order to become a priest,” Lynch said. “But the priesthood is like a relationship in itself. It is a commitment.”

As I sat with the boys at their lunch table, I observed that they were not at all like I thought they would be. They were more casual, more down-to-earth than I expected. They laughed easily and joked around with one another. They told me their interests, including music, art, volleyball, football, ping-pong, reading, and hanging out with friends. They are not, as many have come to believe, the humorless and pious boys in the seminary. Rather, they are simply students studying in college to give back to life in a way that seems best for them.