Thursday, June 18, 2015

"The Church needs more number of Ex -Seminarians"


Perhaps, we would strongly disagree on this syllogism about why the Church needs more number of ex-seminarians. Whereas, our stand would be that the Church needs increased number of pious and dedicated priests. What do we have to do with these ex-seminarians and what good would come from them?

The syllogism "Church needs more number of ex-seminarians" is said in the context that it is a great force within the Catholic Church, which could be used for greater things and glory of the church, but still remains untapped force. The current ex-seminarian was once upon a fellow seminarian of the priest in the Church and most of them could be equally talented and smart as our priests perhaps even smarter and cleverer. Because all of them were inducted to seminary after strict security and examination.

It is a general notion that in a batch of seminarians with 15 in the squad, the more talented, skilled would go out of the seminary as the four walls of seminary can't hold their energy and zeal. Because of their high level of adrenaline, they can't be easy obedient to their superiors.

In the long formation period all of them get trained well, as well as get good exposure. It would be a tough decision to take to quit seminary (to be an ex-seminarian), perhaps, it is not possible for all to take such a decision. Though we define vocation as a divine call to priesthood, there are other factors like family, financial, social and geographical backgrounds influencing the same.

Most of them opt out of priesthood on their personal grounds, family related issues or because they could not adjust with the way of life. It doesn't mean that they are anti church and rebels. A few of them could have a feeling of missing the bus - priesthood, so getting a platform in the Church would be a relief for their feelings of missing out. The ex-seminarian, being a fellow seminarian of the priest in the church while they were together in seminary, would better understand the wave length of the priest and could be well associated with priests than the other laity.

Ex-seminarians would be ten times more in numbers than the entire number of priests in the Catholic Church. This is a stronger force than the priests when it comes to Church's administration purposes. In an era where there is great scarcity of priests, the ex-seminarian who would have crossed certain years (may be a minimum of 5 years - completed philosophy) of formation in the seminary, and who has an ardent urge to serve the church, could be given certain orders like Deacon based on the formation he had done through. For an ordinary laity so much of training would be required to be raised so, whereas ex-seminarians are already trained.

The Church needs more number of ex -seminarians; all seminarians were given same formation, therefore, all ex-seminarians could contribute equally to the Church like their fellow seminarians who are currently priests, in varying degree. 

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