Formation in Teruel - an International CM Experience

Teruel. April 12-15, 2010

We three (Juan Julián Catalán - the Provincial, Julio Suescun - visiting from Rome, and I – visiting from Little Rock) arrived here yesterday late afternoon after a quick drive of about 170 km on good roads. For me this excursion was unexpected and I understood at the last minute that I'd be here for most of this week, leaving me in a bit of a panic changing plans, rearranging masses with the Daughters of Charity, alerting the teachers at CRETA (the Theology Center) of my absence, etc.  Of course everyone here responds, "Tranquilo!  Vále!  Venga!" (roughly -- "Relax!...okay, great!....Go-man-go! ...this last one I'm not sure about)   I'm staying flexible after having learned how "spontaneous" CM planning can be, especially here.  Actually, this uptight male-American is only beginning to get the hang of my confreres' concept.  But that's another blog.

Casa Padres Paúles is a multi-apostolate canonical house (parish, residence, and rooms aplenty, some leased) located across the huge gorge that for five centuries separated our barrio (neighborhood) called En Sanche from the historical town of Teruel.  The confreres simply call it Teruel (pronounced tay-roo-éll).  Today the house hosts nine months of the Internal Seminary, an intensively reflective period of formation and integration into the Congregation of the Mission. It is also an international program supported (remarkably) by many of the European provinces (CEVIM).  Juan Corpus Delgado, Zaragoza Province's previous "Visitor" -- provincial superior -- is Director.  Corpus is well suited to the task; he's an experienced formator, very skilled in spiritual direction, quite articulate (everyone understands his Spanish!), serious when appropriate but very welcoming and a delightfully funny man in Community. Alberto Quaglialori, two and a half years ordained from the Turin (Italy) province, is his young and enthusiastic assistant. There are four other full-time CMs residing this big house (it was Zaragoza Province's Preparatory Seminary in years past) which is attached to the Vincentian parish, Parroquia de La Milagrosa. "Teruel" is one, unified house. Everyone shares meals and participate in daily Eucharist (along with recitation of the Divine Office). The seven (six pictured here a in session on CM saints and beati with Fr. Juan Julián Catalán in the center) seminarians are:

1) Leonel, 33 our Frenchman for the Toulouse Province; 
2) José Alberto, early 28, for the Zaragoza Province. Nicaragua-born but long time resident in Spain;
3) Wilmer Alfredo, 28, for Zaragoza Province, a Honduran farmer;
4) Lorenzo, 35, for the Turin Province, a computer whiz;
5) Lorenzo "the second" – they call him Lorenzino  - 22,  for the Naples Province);
6) Agustín, 22, for the Naples Province); and
7) Enrico, the eldest at 38, for the Turin Province, flautist.

It's easy to notice the variety of talent and depth of previous experience in this group of young men, beginning with language. Most speak at least two languages which they expect to continue learning and using; of course Spanish is essential here in the international internal seminary, but the five non-native Spanish speakers speak it at least as well or better than I do…

Most had already been earning a living before entering the Vincentians. One was a successful professional agronomist for a few years, another made a living designing software and setting up computers, a third is a concert-level flutist – he performed an impromptu duet with our (quite famous) composer and long-time CM resident in Teruel, Jesús Maria Muneta.

My initial impressions? 
In most ways these young-to-middle-aged men would fit in well with the up-and-coming generation of seminarians in the United States: they are enthusiastic about the Church (and the Vincentian's worldwide mission!), are conservative theologically and seem inclined toward a more orderly church structure and more centralized (and respected) church authority.  But they are genuninely committed to Vincentian studies, serious about common prayer and Eucharist, are fun to be with, and are fanatics about futbol (not the real football we have in the States, but that can't be helped) and about sports in general.  Sure, one or two get teary-eyed about Latin, just in case we return to the good ole days ... and, of course they ALL want to learn English. Which means that most of them expect to travel, to see more of the world, to experience more places and things... sooner than later, if possible.

The Internal Seminary is designed specifically for candidates who have already discerned their call to be a Vincentian missioner; there are about four more years of formation in theology before these men can request and be called to ordination. Formation such as this -- not in your own culture and not in your native language would seem, well, more complicated than necessary to some.  Nevertheless, this is not the first international European Internal Seminary and it appears that results have been favorable for this approach and location -- there have been various programs here in Teruel before.  In any case Teruel is a CM acknowledgment that the world and church has changed; so must we along with our formation.

In the United States we have had to undergo similar changes in our culture, but we CMs have been slow to adapt ourselves and our pastoral styles to rapid changes in the socio-cultural make-up of our parishes and of our young. I suspect that we Americans are overly cautious about such matters, perhaps fearing (too much) making mistakes as we haltingly re-learn to reach out to the young and invite them to join us. Perhaps we are reluctant for fear that those same young people we recruit, mentor and form will change us as well...which will most certainly happen!  Personally, I am heartened to see such an upbeat group of young and not so young CMs living and working together, handling their differences of culture, language, work, and disposition with grace and good humor. I’m also no fool; initial formation is an art and can be hard work; choosing the right director, associate, and sponsoring house must all be done with care and ongoing reflection.  Perhaps this Internal Seminary works, in part, because the sponsoring provincial, Juan Julián, and many other CM leaders (i.e. in CEVIM) involved have themselves been formators and, most important, are no strangers to Teruel. 

Indeed, it’s a house I’d love to come back to myself.

dpb