Settled into the Jesuit Novitiate

Este posting é efectuado com a autorização do autor...
Vou deixá-lo anónimo, apesar de muitas pessoas terem conhecimento de quem é e de também terem recebido o mesmo mail.
Na minha perspectiva, é algo com interesse acompanhar... por alguns motivos, mas principalmente pelo desconhecimento que existe em mim (e julgo falar por muitos outros) da vida religiosa vivida pelos religiosos... consequentemente, quando recebi este mail pedi automaticamente autorização para publicar no meu blog... e foi Endorsed!!
E como tal aqui vai o primeiro de (espero) outros postings.
Nota: Postings vão ser efectuados conforme forem recebidos.

Greetings to all from the Jesuit Novitiate!

Now that I have passed what is known as the first probation and am officially considered an 'nSJ', I thought it would be a good time to write you all and give you an update on my life here. The first week was devoted mostly to getting adjusted to the routine and rythm of life here, with the exception of the last three days of probation. For the new novices, and there are seven of us, these were spent in silence, and allowed time for personal reflection.

A typical day in the novitiate tends to run like this (I know some of you on this list may be familiar with the routine in the novitiate, so feel free to skip this section):

6:45-7 AM Get up - With me, it tends to be more towards 7 AM
7 AM - 8 AM Personal Prayer, which ends with 10 minutes of community prayer in the Chapel
8 AM Breakfast, followed by what is known as Scullery. Scullery is the term used for kitchen and house clean up following a meal. Each novice has a different task assigned to him by the scullery boss. During the morning, I assist the brooms boss with vacuuming and taking out the trash in the halls. After lunch and breakfast, I help out with putting food away, drying dishes, and setting the tables in the dining room.

The time between breakfast and lunch (which is always at noon) and lunch and dinner, is taken up by classes and work ordos. The first week during class we went over the General Examen of the Society, I guess what you might consider the criteria that all people who are admitted should have. This week, we have a two-day training on pastoral ministry by a lady that has a PhD in psychology and has over 10 years of experience as a hospital chaplain. Work Ordo consists of handy work around the house. Last week, I helped clean out the basement. Luckily, I wasn't assigned to help trim the vines on the fence -- but I'm sure the day when I get that assignment will come.

At some point during the day we have mass. 6 PM dinner is preceded by another hour private prayer. There is usually some free time in there to go for a swim in the the pool, use the gym, or go for a run.

After dinner, is free time for spiritual reading and ocassionally we might have what is known as a haustus, or social gathering with drinks, snacks, etc.

Soon we will be assigned an apostolate, to work in twice a week -- one of the reasons we are undergoing the pastoral training this week. We will be able to choose to either work at a local hospital, juvenile hall, or a soup kitchen. We are supposed to take tour of the places next week and discern where we would like to work, so next time I write I'll be able to tell you where I am and what I'm doing.

For those of you who are religiously inclined, you may want to remember one of my brothers and his family. After one week here, he had to fly back to Korea. His grandmother is near death. On top of this, he has been battling a throat infection over the last couple of days.

I know some of you may have additional questions about life here, especially the people I live with. As for the people I live with, I can honestly say that I think we were terrified of each other for the first couple of days but finally the ice has started to crack, and we are all getting to know each other. No one has gotten under my skin...at least yet.

Sorry if this email was a little boring, but initially I wanted to give those on the list who may be unfamiliar with the Jesuits an overview of what training is like. I apologize too if this email is in a second language for you, too. Our translation department is closed for the moment...