Educating Future Priests

Fr. John Parks, Diocese of Phoenix
When he first enrolled in Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in the fall of 2005, Fr. John Parks, would return home to find that people wanted to know what seminary life was like. “I would say, ‘It’s as if we’re all chickens and we’re being marinated in goodness.’”

And while his answer was mostly a joke, he feels there’s some truth to it. “It is just the full experience—human, pastoral, spiritual and academic formation. ”Each aspect of formation helps round out the whole person who is studying to become a priest," says Fr. John, who was ordained to the priesthood on June 5.

“Saint Meinrad helped me to love learning, which I didn’t before,” he explains. “I don’t think I saw the proper role of education, and I didn’t really realize how exciting it is and how much I love to do it.”

That education involves more than just theology, Fr. John says. “My love for literature, poetry, art—I really didn’t have those things—I mean I had them in small doses because I was a theater major [in college], but I have a much higher interest in those things and their ability to make me more human.”

But not every lesson in the seminary came easily. When it was time to sign up for ministry assignments, he was challenged by another seminarian to meet his fears head on. “They have all these different options,” he explains, “and I had never worked with the physically or mentally handicapped. I was more afraid of that than working at the prison.” With a leap of faith, he signed up for a ministry assignment at a local residential home for handicapped adults and enjoyed the experience immensely.

“After that, that’s what I would do—just look at the five things on the list and say, ‘Which one am I most terrified of?’ Not only did I realize I could do it, now there’s kind of an excitement. You’re going to grow more if you choose the thing you’re most afraid of.” Fr. John believes he has more confidence as a result of his varied ministry experiences and his interactions with the diverse student body at Saint Meinrad. “I think that experience has helped me to see that we basically all want the same things.”

He also points to other ways he grew: a deeper prayer life; a sense of his own leadership style; a stronger love for the Church. “I availed myself of the formation enough to let them form me into this better person,” he asserts. “That’s the greatest thing they did for me is give me a true education.”