Human Formation

2020-2021 Annual Report

Alex Kramer ’22 (Des Moines) prepares to toss the bocce ball as Reed Flood ’21 (Des Moines) and Zachary Jones ’22 (Sioux City) watch. These Iowans can often be found playing bocce ball on Sundays after brunch.

Human Formation:

Expectations Limit the Capacity for Joy

Brent Durschmidt ‘23, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

As we pulled up to the College after the long flight across the pond to return for another school year, I noticed a feeling of joy in being back with my brothers, but also of fear in what the year would look like. After leaving prematurely the previous year and returning to so much unknown back in the United States, the reality that we were not in control soon became clear. Arriving back at the College again reminded me of that fact.

The fear that I was experiencing represented what many have felt over the past year. It was a reminder that grasping for control and setting expectations for how we think things need to be ultimately limits the joy that we can receive through a situation that is given to us. Despite the challenges, I have witnessed countless examples of the seminarians here letting go of their expectations and learning to be receptive to the Lord’s gift of the unknown.

We are fortunate here to live on a beautiful campus with plenty of space and an incredible view. It is not difficult to find a spot around the College with a clear vantage point of St. Peter’s Basilica, a constant reminder of the universal Church and the reason why we are here. The periodic lockdowns throughout the year have served as an opportunity to slow down and take in the beauty of Rome and our campus. They have also led us to spend more time with each other, on a deeper level that would be normally impossible with a busier schedule. For this reason, we have improvised with more social and sporting events that provided the gift of Christian fraternity. We may have returned to an environment with limitations, but seeing everybody meet those challenges with creativity and receptivity gave me hope for the Church’s future.

As this year comes to a close, I can look back and see a growth in maturity. Things may not have played out as we expected, but letting go of those expectations allowed us to experience the joy Christ was offering us this year. As I take one step closer to entering full-time ministry as a priest of Jesus Christ, I am not afraid of a future that will not go as expected, and thanks be to God for that!

The cooking crew stops for a photo as they prepare a BBQ lunch for the community during the annual Spaghetti Bowl football game. From left: James Morgan '22 (Washington), Jeffrey Filipski '24 (Rockford), Samuel Anderson '23 (Fort Wayne-South Bend), Daniel Scanlan '23 (Venice in Florida)