2013 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge

140 JESUAN IN ROME I Jesus College Annual Report 2013
The Chapel, English College, Rome
(there is a lot football played in Rome!),
pastoral classes and pastoral work, ending
with Vespers before supper.
Students are engaged in a variety of pastoral
work once or twice a week: many have been
trained to visit men on remand in the Regina
Coeli Prison; others help the Mother Teresa
nuns looking after the destitute; still others
teach in local parishes. Every seminarian
spends the month of September in an English
parish.
The College staff is made up of five priests
all with good pastoral experience who bring
the seminarians together weekly to reflect on
their pastoral work and to “learn the ropes” of
celebrating baptisms and funerals, teaching,
counselling – in short, of being pastors.
I liked often to remind the students of Pope
John Paul’s saying that “the seminary is the
place where we await the gift of the Spirit for
mission”. I felt the call to be a part of this
mission from schooldays. I came up to
Cambridge to see more clearly if this was
indeed my vocation. As I began, about half way
through Tripos, to share with friends at Jesus
College my desire to be a priest, I found their
reactions to be gentle, respectful in tone and
surprisingly encouraging.
Like most Jesuans, I found my three years
living in Jesus Lane to be deeply formative.
I am often asked, “How many years did it take
for you to train to be a priest?” and I reply
without hesitation, “Nine: six years in Rome
and three at Cambridge!” The formation was
all of a piece; and one for which I shall be
eternally grateful.