Full Swing

Full Swing

The Fall semester is in full swing. At least it is trying to be. Here at Seton Hall, the campus is a lot emptier than it usually is. Many students have decided to take courses virtually rather than come on the campus. There are not a lot of students walking around on campus in between classes.

Here in the seminary, life has changed with needing to wear masks when outside of your room and making the seating in the chapel to be socially distant. However, with all of that in mind, I believe that we are still called show Christ’s presence to each other.

It has been four months to the day that I was ordained a deacon. I have enjoyed the ministry of Deacon at Christ the Redeemer Parish in Atco, NJ. I have enjoyed getting to know the people and ministering in different ways especially in the time of the pandemic.

I think that God is calling all of us in this time to provide hope for people in the midst of uncertainty. Even though some things have changed and what we are accustomed to seems to have been pushed aside, yet the Lord is still our Rock. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the One that we need to turn to even more during difficult times.

There are many ways to approach our Lord, such as at Mass and even in Eucharistic Adoration. I would suggest also going through His Blessed Mother. The month of October is the month of the Rosary and maybe a good time to start a habit of praying it. The Blessed Mother promised many graces from Her Son to those who would make a devotion of praying the Rosary. It is easy to become frustrated with the situation that we are in and to let our mind become enveloped by all kinds of thoughts. When that happens, pick up the Rosary and begin to pray it. There are many websites with materials to help you pray it if you are not exactly sure how to do it. I know that when I do it, I feel more at peace in that moment. The Lord Jesus is with us even in these times and I am preparing myself to be a minister to people in every situation. I pray that the Lord Jesus grants to each of you brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Camden the graces you need to keep following Him on the road of discipleship. Let us keep one another in prayer.