Teach What You Believe

Homiletics Practica

JACOB LIVECCHI '23, DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

In the second year of theology, formation grows more intense and focused on learning skills for the future—one such skill is preaching.

I was excited to start learning how to preach this year, especially since it will be such an important part of my ministry as a priest. At the same time, I found it a little surreal. After four years of formation, beginning homiletics practica helps me realize how close I am to ordination.

The practica began in September with a week of workshops taught by Fr. Randy Soto. First, he taught us what the Church desires in a homily,

ROMAN ECHOES 25TH YEAR

NAC FACTS

In 1999, the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics was established at The Pontifical North American College through the generosity of the family of the late Fr. Carl J. Peter. Fr. Peter was an alumnus and faculty member of the College. Fr. Randall Soto C’96, C’02 currently serves as the Carl J. Peter Chair of Homiletics and oversees the College’s preaching workshops, practica, and the annual Carl J. Peter Lecture. One aspect of the homiletics program is that seminarians, over the course of two years, prepare and deliver twenty-one practice homilies to their peers and a faculty moderator. Jacob Livecchi '23 (Toledo) delivers a practice homily during a Thursday Night Formation session in one of the third floor practice chapels.

what a homily is not, and different styles of preaching. He explained that the homily’s purpose is to attract people to follow Jesus by explaining the mysteries of our faith. Second, he taught us that a homily needs to be fed by prayer and delivered with good rhetoric. For me, this preparation involves connecting my personal prayer with the Scriptures and the liturgical celebration, as well as considering the assembly to whom I am preaching. Since this is practice, I picture my home parish as the assembly. Throughout this year we will deliver a total of twelve homilies. I deliver the homily to three of my classmates and a faculty member, who together provide feedback and advice on what went well and what needs improvement. Preaching these practice homilies has been formative and fruitful, especially in developing a style of preaching and becoming more comfortable with public speaking. Since this is a process of trial and error, of discovering what works and what does not, it can also be nerve-racking.

What has been most fruitful for me, though, is seeing how preaching has affected my discernment and formation. There is a certain fatherly love that motivates and forms my preaching. I am discovering it as a way to give of myself, to pour out the gift of myself and the fruit of my prayer for those I am called to serve. This experience has cultivated a deeper desire for the priesthood and an excitement for ordination. n