Sunday, August 16, 1998

Prospective priests ponder the future

By TOM KISKEN

Scripps Howard News Service

CAMARILLO, Ca. -- A dozen prospective Catholic priests wear colored T-shirts, jeans and sandals that reveal white socks.

Rising from love seats and straight-backed chairs, they start to sing: "Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the middle of the night. I will go Lord, if you lead me."

This is Mass for St. John's Seminary students who are hip-deep in six weeks that could dictate their futures. Designed to help them understand the mindset and level of faith and commitment needed to make it as a priest, the special summer program involves give-and-take on obedience, simplicity and celibacy.

At the seminary surrounded by citrus orchards on Camarillo's southeastern edge, the students meet one-on-one with advisers who offer suggestions on strengthening connections with Jesus Christ. They spend the better part of a week in silence. They pray.

At a time when the number of seminary students nationally has sunk from 13,400 in 1967 to 1,545 three decades later, the summer session can be a turning point.

"We tell them to ask themselves gently 'Why am I doing this?' " said the Rev. Jack Stoeger, program director. "All I know is that God wants them to be happy."

Thuan Phan, 26, once thought of becoming a pharmacist but came here instead. Now, he's on the cusp of life as a priest, where he'll be celibate and on-call 24 hours day.

Why?

Because he wants to have fun.

"I want to live this life in a way that is not only fun but in a way that I can help myself find eternal life," he said. "But it should be fun and I should be happy."

If not, Phan said, he's chasing the wrong career.

The Intensive Period of Spiritual Formation, the ponderous label stuck to the six-week program, is free and mandatory for students entering the second of their minimum four years at the seminary.

The summer focus is on what Stoeger calls interior dispositions -- the religious foundation needed for a life dedicated to the church.

The students sit in a small room, around a burning candle that represents the light of the world, and talk about everything from the importance of prayer to the definition of obedience. They discuss physical fitness and spiritual inspiration offered by art and music.

For Phan, the most intimidating aspect of his future may be the role as a spiritual leader asked to guide and serve hundreds, maybe thousands of people.

He figures that learning to live with momentary feelings of inadequacy is part of the spiritual formation program.

Martin Hicks, 31, of Los Angeles, attended St. John's undergraduate college 10 years ago. He decided not to pursue the priesthood and became an insurance administrator. Now he's back.

"I decided to share the faith that was nipping at me," he said with a laugh.