Seminarian realizes childhood dream

Michael Joosten and other local men make up half of the St. Joseph Seminary community

- WCR photo by Bill Glen "The seminary feels like home and the seminarians and priests feel like family." - Michael Joosten

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Talk about a childhood dream coming true. At eight years old, Michael Joosten began arranging his younger siblings and upwards of 50 stuffed bears so that he could play Mass. He was the priest and his parish was a room in their Olds home.

His mother made his vestments including a white robe. There was the Bible, a table holding candles and a plastic goblet filled with water serving as the cup.

Childhood Mass

"The bread was usually the cut-up end of a loaf. I don't know if my Mass followed a proper pattern, but it wasn't bad for an eight-year-old."

Now 19, Joosten has entered St. Joseph Seminary, a step in his life he finds quite natural.

"The seminary feels like home and the seminarians and priests feel like family," he said.

"My dream and intention is to be a parish priest somewhere in the (Edmonton) Archdiocese."

Joosten is one of 26 seminarians studying at the seminary this year, with seven others away in their home dioceses for their year of internship.

Joosten is currently an unclassified student because his high school credits require him to take university courses in philosophy prior to commencing his studies in theology.

Upon obtaining a BA in philosophy, seminarians have to take two years of theology, a year of internship and then another two years of theology.

Father Shayne Craig is entering his second full year as seminary rector. He said he was highly impressed by Joosten when they met.

"There is a wonderful community spirit in the seminary. It's normal with the guys who are starting, but also with the guys who have returned from their pastoral internship year," Craig said.

Confirmed vocations

"They are full of enthusiasm after a year spent in the parishes of their various dioceses. Often they have had wonderful experiences of the heights and depths of ministry. They come back confirmed in their vocations to a mix of new people."

The number of men at the seminary has remained constant over the last few years, Craig said.

"We are usually around the same amount - somewhere in the mid 30s."

From his own experience 15 years ago when he and perhaps two other men were the lone representatives from Edmonton, Craig says the Edmonton Archdiocese has been the one showing significant growth with local men now comprising half of the seminary community.

"There has been a strong and conscious effort on behalf of (Archbishop Thomas Collins) and Father Paul Moret and other vocation directors before him, that has paid off.

"They encouraged people to pray. They created a culture of vocations because it really can't be left up to one priest, like Father Paul Moret.

"There has to be a context in which people see vocation to religious life or priesthood, as a positive thing that at least the members of the Church value for the sake of the world."

Prayer has always been a big part of the Joosten home, says Father Vic Perron. He became a close family friend while pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Olds.

"Michael mentioned a number of times that he wanted to be a priest," said Perron, current pastor of St. Andrew's in Edmonton.

"The prayer aspect permeated the whole of the family. It was a positive thing in terms of his vocation. It is the type of thing that fosters vocation. He will definitely be a good priest. I hope everything goes well for him."

St. Joseph's has also expanded its embrace nationally as a growing number of seminarians are from the Maritimes. Two men from Antigonish, N.S., are currently doing their internship while another is in-house at St. Joseph's.

"We have a seminarian from Saint John, New Brunswick, for the first time. Maybe the word is getting out," Craig said.

"So we have all of Western Canada and now the Atlantic provinces represented."

Money talks

In a prosperous culture, it can be more difficult to hear the Lord's voice because of the availability of distractions.

People are not turning to God for help as often.

There has been a certain amount of inattention, Craig said.

Pope John Paul's dedication to World Youth Day was a way for more than a billion young Catholics to proudly share and express their faith, Craig said.

Such a wave of emotion was not lost on Joosten.

The weekend before he moved into the seminary, he received a standing ovation from St. Stephen's parishioners following the announcement he had been accepted.

The young seminarian is certain their prayers will continue.

"For the first time in my life, I'm roaring to go to school," Joosten said.

"If God doesn't want me here, he has eight years to let me know."

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter