On-the-job training helps priest-to-be

His current assignment is St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Gloversville, where he's learning about liturgy, prayer life and preaching, and getting to know the administrative and pastoral responsibilities that await him in priesthood.

Mr. Childs, who recently was ordained a transitional deacon in preparation for his ordination as a priest next June, looks at this and other summer assignments as important opportunities to enhance the knowledge he's gained in the seminary.

Taste of priesthood

Each summer, seminarians from the Albany Diocese spend 10 weeks in parishes to get a better feel of priestly life and parish ministry. These summer assignments, which are handled by the diocesan Formation for Priesthood Board and approved by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, also give seminarians a better idea of the size of the Diocese and its various types of parish ministry, according to Rev. Thomas Konopka, a member of the diocesan Vocations Team.

"I want the guys to get a sense of what the Diocese is about," he said. "We're not just the Capital District."

Getting around

He came to St. Mary of Mount Carmel in Gloversville June 1 and will remain until August 15, when he will return to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.

Other seminarians on summer assignments include Paul Butler, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Granville; John O'Kane, at Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy; Peter Tkocz, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany; and Thomas Babiuch, at St. James Church in Albany.

Sampling ministry

He also attends staff meetings and Renew 2000 sessions, and sees some of the administrative tasks that come with priesthood. Parishioners have welcomed Mr. Childs warmly and invited him to their homes for dinner.

This is the first time a transitional deacon has been assigned to St. Mary of Mount Carmel, so Rev. Donald Czelusniak, pastor, is trying to think of advice for Mr. Childs that the pastor wishes he had received in his formation for priesthood. Two things Father Czelusniak hopes Mr. Childs will pick up on during his stay at the parish are running a school and overseeing a cemetery.

Hands-on work

"You have the chance to make mistakes and learn from them," he said. "I can draw from the best components of all the different experiences I've had. The seminary gives you the textbook stuff, but the parish gives you the life stuff."

Summer assignments also bring parishioners into the discernment process as seminarians decide whether or not priesthood is for them, Father Konopka pointed out.

"It allows the community of faith to play an active role in the formation of people in priesthood," he said. "Priesthood is God's call, but the community has an important place in that call."

(07-15-99) [[In-content Ad]]