Freshmen Perspective: Discernment
By Alan M. Guanella

Each and every day at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS) is filled with discernment; this is a seminary, after all, isn’t it?  No two days are exactly the same but throughout the halls, in the chapel, and in the rec room, discernment is taking place.

For freshmen, the major step in their discernment thus far brought them to IHMS.  As years go by, discernment leads seminarians deeper into their vocation from God.  Through the walls of IHMS, discernment always takes place.  Each day begins with Mass or Morning Prayer followed by breakfast, eaten together in community in the seminary refectory. 

Classes continue throughout the day.  Some of these classes are filled with seminarians and some have perhaps only one or two.  Discernment takes place throughout the day.  As the noontime approaches, the seminarians travel to the cafeteria at Saint Mary’s for a lunch.  Even here in the cafeteria, discernment takes place.

Classes resume after lunch or perhaps a few men go to their apostolic work in the Winona area.  Discernment takes place there, too.  Returning home to IHMS in the late afternoon, the men may take some time to do homework, get some laundry in, or just chat with a brother seminarian.  All this is part of the discernment needed in the seminary.

Evening functions (Mass or Evening Prayer) bring the men together as a community to offer prayer and praise to God, the One who calls us.  After the function, as a community we eat dinner together.  At waitered meals, seminarians learn the role of being a servant to others—each seminarian gets his chance to learn.  After dinner, a conference or formation class helps us to learn what discernment is and what to do with what we have discerned.  Night prayer (prayed individually or in small groups) allows the seminarians to end their day with prayer to God.  Discernment does not stop here but continues on.

For freshmen, discernment may be something a bit new—but it did bring them here, to IHMS.  Discernment is why the seminary exists.  It does not end in the chapel, in the refectory, or in the assembly room.  The seminary is for discernment and as the freshmen continue in their seminary life—and their discernment—they will learn that God’s calling for them is heard in all aspects of their daily lives.

Note: This article was written in January 2006 when Alan Guanella was a freshman at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.  Each seminary has its own unique schedule and order of the day.  This article provides a glimpse into the life at IHMS during 2006.