Deformed Formation

“Act like seminarians!”

Those words summarized the after-mass-sermon of Rev. Fr. Cipriano “Jojo” Alnas, Jr. to the seminarians who served at the Holy Mass last Sunday morning at the St. William’s Cathedral.

Fr. Jojo is presently one of the youngest priests of the Diocese of Laoag. Yet his aura and usual disposition exude his dedication to the Roman Catholic Church – perhaps, his experiences as a formator at the San Pablo Seminary in Baguio City honed such firm devotion to his religious vows.

Thus, when he witnessed the appearance and demeanor of some seminarians during the celebration of the Holy Mass, he seemed to have felt a shock of his priestly life – made transparent by the short but solid rebuke he gave to the seminarians inside the sacristy.

A few months ago, I published in this column several complaints and observations of churchgoers regarding the behavior of some seminarians assisting in the celebration of the Eucharist: too playful and noisy; unruly and unkempt; singing mass songs or mouthing responses with obvious irreverence; and when they are tired chatting, they intentionally position themselves to sleep in front of the altar.

Surprisingly, only the seminarians are observed to act this way – “altar boys” from other catholic schools in the locality unfailingly hold themselves properly during the mass.

Well, like what I have said in a past article: Boys will be boys. But if young athletes and scholars can act according to the demands of their training and studies, why can’t young seminarians act according to the spirit of their calling?

I don’t intend to be more popish than the pope, but I believe that such contention of mine is consistent with Optatam Totius, a decree on priestly training proclaimed by Pope Paul VI, which underscored that: “The discipline of seminary life should be regarded not only as a strong protection for community life and charity, but as a necessary part of the complete system of training. Its purpose is to inculcate self-control, to promote solid maturity of personality and the formation of other traits of character, which are most useful for the ordered and fruitful activity of the Church.”

Formators are aware of the consequences of wearing the seminarian sotana – that once a seminarian dons it, he already holds the name and image of the Church, regardless of the true state of the seminarian’s calling. And once the wearer “stains” the sotana, even in the least of all ways, the entire community of the faithful may be affected, or worse, infected.

Therefore, even in their early seminary days, future priests must be given a strong training, especially in the aspects of dedication and reverence to the works of the Church – short of these, the future of priesthood might fall into the scandalous pit of deformed formation.

But, of course, the Church will not let that happen.

I believe that the stance Fr. Jojo exhibited on the behavior of seminarians is a clear indication that the Diocese of Laoag will not tolerate any display of contempt and irreverence to the Holy Mass – especially from future priests.

To the seminarians, there are two things that you can do in the course of your training: grow up or get out of the seminary.