Peace of Christ to you!
Well, it has officially started! I began my parish internship at St. Ambrose in Brunswick. It has dawned on me that I haven’t gone into detail with you on what this internship is supposed to do. Yes, I’ve said some of the practical things, but there is a lot more than simply knowing how to run a parish office. And trust me, I’ll be under great tutelage for parish office dynamics under Fr. Bob Stec!
I’ll be following the priests at St. Ambrose to whatever is happening or going on in the parish — not simply to learn the nitty gritty, but to be changed by my experiences of living the life of a priest. My job is to absorb and be formed by the parish life, rather than just the intellectual life of studies at the seminary. There is something even deeper to the internship experience that causes this change, and directly connects to the Incarnation.
When we experience something firsthand, when we can hear, see, touch, and feel it, it leaves a deep impression on us. Who doesn’t remember what our favorite meal tastes like, or how powerful the hug of a loved one is? Similarly, God in His providence understood that we would be formed and transformed by interacting with a person, that person being Jesus Christ. It’s the basis for our doctrine on the Eucharist, that God wishes to dwell with His people across time and space.
For me, this is the goal of living at St. Ambrose. I want to be formed and transformed by the people of St. Ambrose. By serving them in person, I will learn more about the priesthood than any book or classroom could ever hope to. And don’t worry, parishioners — St. Joseph and Nativity, it was you that formed me first. The people of St. Ambrose are continuing the good work that has already been started here in our parish community.