After high school and prior to entering the college seminary, I attended Neumann University in Aston PA pursuing a degree in Communication and Digital Media. Throughout my time at Neumann, I had the sense that I just wasn’t being “myself”. I did enjoy going to school and working my part-time job, but something was missing. I had always desired to be a priest growing up but looking back, that desire was always with me, but I feel that I had pushed it away because I wanted to be “normal” like all of my friends. Through careful discernment, I decided to pursue this desire since I discerned this might also be God’s desire for me in my life. Now, after spending three years at the college seminary, I realize everyday that I do not regret this decision.
College seminary has given me all types of new experiences. The most important of these experiences was self-awareness. I can firmly testify that I have come to know myself better than I did before, that is, both my strengths and weaknesses. I learned what gifts and talents God has given me and how I can use them to manifest His heavenly kingdom here on earth. I am also more aware of my weaknesses and how to properly overcome them. Everyone has weaknesses but one must never let their own weaknesses rule them. In seminary, I learned that I am totally dependent upon God and, through Him, I am able to overcome anything, most importantly my weaknesses. God has even used my weaknesses in many mysterious ways! This also applies with my strengths. As I depend on God, I am aware that my strengths will not be wasted, but rather, be used to their fullest potential. As a result, I know better what it means to be human and how much I am not my own, but how much I belong to God.
The college seminary has taught me what it means to be a man of prayer. As a potential priest, I must devote a significant amount of time to prayer because a priest not only prays on his own behalf, but on behalf of the faithful. Seminarians must do as such. Prayer is also a priest’s personal relationship with God. Just like a husband and wife spend time together, so does a priest with our Lord. Prayer is where we come to know God. We gain knowledge of God in our studies, but it is in prayer that we actually know Him. Prayer is where I learned to bask in God’s love and to experience his love directly. Prayer allows my relationship with Christ to be personal and intimate, which makes my relationship with Christ “real”. A priest cannot be a priest if he doesn’t pray. This applies also to a seminarian. If a seminarian does not have consistency in prayer, then he will not become a priest. I have learned that prayer is the highest priority in seminary formation, but it can also be the most challenging.
Another lesson that the college seminary has taught me is how to think about God in a deeper manner. I feel this is the result of the philosophical studies I had to undertake. I feel philosophy did not teach me to be a philosopher, but instead, taught me how to know God through the things that surround my human nature. Because of these studies, I can know God, not merely with faith, but with both faith and reason which coexist together.
The college seminary experience has allowed me to learn many things that helped build the foundation to the priesthood. I also feel college seminary also prepared me well for my entrance into the major seminary, which I will begin in August. The things that I learned in the college seminary must be brought with me if I am to become the holy priest that I may be called to by God. There was never a day during college seminary life that was wasteful, even during unpleasant times. I believe the college seminary accomplished what it was supposed to do and I am grateful to Almighty God for allowing me the opportunity to build this solid foundation there.
Timothy Mulranen
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