Priests go back to school to relax, refresh

As students arrive at The College of St. Rose in Albany this week, Rev. Chris DeGiovine will be heading back to school himself -- in California.

The college's director of campus ministry and chaplain will spend the next three months on sabbatical at the Vatican II Institute at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park.

He will spend a semester learning about Scripture, the sacraments, Christology, ecclesiology and counseling. He looks forward to the educational and recreational opportunities that his sabbatical should provide.

Adventure

Father DeGiovine is one of several priests who will be on sabbatical during the next several months. Joining him at the Vatican II Institute, for example, will be Rev. John Provost, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary's, St. Joseph's and Holy Cross parishes, all in Schenectady.

Next January, Rev. Richard Carlino, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Schenectady, and Rev. James McNerney, pastor of St. Paul's in Troy, begin their sabbaticals at the North American College in Rome.

"I'm seeing this as the grand adventure of my mid-life," Father DeGiovine said. "It's a time for prayer, study, quiet, new input. I really do see it as a great blessing, a great gift, and I want to treasure it."

Updating

Generally, a priest must be ordained for 10 years before he is eligible for sabbatical, according to Rev. Thomas Powers, director of the Continuing Education of Clergy program in the diocesan Office on Initial and Ongoing Formation. He is also pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Church in Albany.

The purpose of a sabbatical is threefold: to provide theological training, to enhance spiritual renewal, and to offer priests a chance for rest and relaxation.

There are several places from which priests may choose to spend their sabbatical, including Ireland, Belgium, Chicago, Rome and Menlo Park, California.

"You go to the place that best suits what you're looking for. They have some similarities, but there's always something unique," Father Powers said.

Going west

Father DeGiovine wanted to go to the Vatican II Institute because he had heard many positive comments from Father Powers; Rev. Anthony Chiaramonte, director of the diocesan Consultation Center; and Rev. Donald Czelusniak, pastor of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Gloversville, all of whom had spent their sabbaticals there. Father DeGiovine also wanted to see the West Coast and figured the institute would be the perfect spot.

He will leave on August 31 in his Honda for his West Coast stay, which will last until mid-December. Most of his sabbatical will involve attending workshops and presentations on an array of theological and spiritual topics.

One day each week is devoted to spiritual direction and counseling; there also is a retreat for priests. On weekends, they are invited to go to different liturgical celebrations throughout the area to get a feel for different styles of worship and celebration.

Led by Spirit

Although Father DeGiovine has an idea of what he'll learn during his sabbatical, he believes there will be more than just classes and study.

"I'm really going on sabbatical trusting the Spirit, that what the Spirit needs to have me see, I will see," he said.

One reason Father DeGiovine is particularly excited about spending time at the Vatican II Institute is because it is run by Theological College and Seminary at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he was in the seminary.

Since a sabbatical also offers time for recreation, he hopes to do some biking, camping and hiking. He especially wants to visit Yosemite National Park and other parts of the Northwest.

Off to Rome

Father Carlino was "delightfully surprised" to learn that he would be spending his sabbatical at the North American College in Rome. He will leave in mid-January and will return in early May.

However, this won't be his first trip to Rome; he spent three weeks there with his parents in 1980. He hoped that he would make it back someday.

"I threw the three coins in the fountain so, apparently, my request got granted," he said, referring to the Trevi fountain in Rome into which people throw coins in hopes they will return.

Father Carlino speaks Italian, having spent seven years as pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Schenectady, where he celebrated Mass and preached in Italian. Although he doesn't intend to travel much, he would like to see Assisi.

He wants his sabbatical to be a restful yet rewarding visit and thinks it will help him to get into a routine of study and learning.

"I think the opportunity to be in the Eternal City is going to be exciting in itself, especially for that length of time," he said. "I'm hoping to brush up on my intellectual powers and get back more into reading."

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