| Before
Resurrection Center was a retreat house, it was a Novitiate - a house of
formation for the young men who had vocations to religious life as a priest
or brother in the Congregation of the Resurrection. There was a time
when the building was home to dozens of young men aspiring to religious
life. Since becoming a retreat center, Resurrection Retreat Center
has at times also been the location for the Congregation's Novitiate, though
never for the large numbers of men who joined the Order in the 50's and
60's.
On August 14, 2001, the Center officially became a Novitiate again. That was the day Paul Smith arrived from Lake Arrowhead, California to begin his year of studies in preparation for religious profession as a Resurrectionist.
Novices need a Novice director, and Paul joined Father Richard Grek, C.R., a former full-time staff member of Resurrection Center, who is now the person who will oversee Paul's studies and spiritual formation during his year as a Novice. Each day, Paul and Father Rich follow a schedule of prayer, work and study. During his Novitiate year. Paul studies the history of his religious order, Scripture, prayer and meditation. Once a week, he and Father Rich travel to Techny, Illinois, to participate in an Inter-Community Novitiate experience with 35 to 40 other men and women who are Novices in one of the twelve religious orders that collaborate for this formation program. When asked why he is attracted to life as a religious priest, Paul replies that he is a "people person," who is attracted to parish work, possibly to teaching, and to life in a tight knit community. Father Rich reports that he finds Paul to be a young man with "four passions:" Love for God, Love for the Blessed Mother, Love for his family, and love for the sport of fishing (but only to catch and release!).
During this year of Novitiate, Paul will help with physical work at the Center in addition to his studies and prayer. After this rather isolated year, he will make his first profession as a member of the Order and move to St. Louis where he will pursue studies at St. Louis University and the Aquinas Institute, in preparation for ordination. This joyful young man is one of the new workers for the vineyard that God has sent us in answer to our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We welcome him and promise him our prayers to support him as he begins this journey that is so important, not only for him, but for all people in the Church. |
