Xaverian Theology Community in Chicago, IL

the Theology Community - Chicago, IL

Suharno, Francois, Valery and Pascal practice Clinical Pastoral Education in hospitals "We are all in the Hospital, during the Summer"

t just happened that this summer all the theology students are taking part of Clinical Pastoral Education, an intensive 3-month course in a clinical setting. Begun in 1925 as a form of theological education that takes place not exclusively in academic classrooms, but also in clinical settings where ministry is being practiced, CPE include in-depth study of "the living human documents," meaning both the people who receive care as well as a study of the givers of care. Through the practice of ministry and the reflection thereon with supervisor and peers, the experiential learning that is CPE takes place.

Suharno drives everyday for 45 minutes one way to the south side of Chicago at Christ Medical Center Hospital. It is considered as one of the best hospitals in the neighborhood of 95th Street. The completion of this training for ministry in a hospital setting will allow him to complete the Master of Divinity. “It’s been tough – Suharno writes - I’m the only non-American in the group… but I’m not losing faith.”

Francois is also in Chicago, at University of Chicago Medical Center, till Aug. 15th. Pascal is doing the same program at St. John Hospital in New York, and he started the program on May 29th. Finally, Valery is at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, and will be finished on Aug. 12th. The exact dates might change because of internal arrangements at the various hospitals. Happy Studies and Ministry to them.

Suharno joins Pascal as Acolyte

n the presence of friends and community members, with the Provincial Fr. Ivan presiding at the Eucharist, Suharno received the Ministry of Acolyte, one of the four steps of service in the ministry of the Church. The ritual expresses well its meaning: "As people chosen for the ministry of acolyte, you will have a special role in the Church's ministry. The summit and source of the Church's life is the Eucharist, which builds up the Christian community and makes it grow. It is your responsibility to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry, and as special ministers to give Holy Communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick. Because you are specially called to this ministry, you should strive to live more fully by the Lord's sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in its likeness. You should seek to understand the deep spiritual meaning of what you do, so that you may offer yourselves daily to God as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Jesus Christ. In performing your ministry bear in mind that, as you share the one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. Show a sincere love for Christ's Mystical Body, God's holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick. Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to his apostles at the Last Supper: "Love one another as I also have loved you."

Graduations, Ordinations and Destinations

he Theology community hosted a farewell party on Friday May 18th, to some of his members who have reached a goal in their lives, and are getting ready for new beginnings in the Xaverian family. The evening before, Wawan, Ignatius, Denny and Alejandro graduated from CTU, while Fr. Willy is on his way of finishing his MA studies in psychological counseling at Loyola University. All five of them will be saying “goodbye” to their studies, for the next assignments.
The party included international foods, a great variety of friends from surrounding parishes where Xaverians exercise pastoral work, a simple prayer service at its beginning, and varied conversations (in many languages too).

The ordination to the priesthood of Wawan, Ignatius and Denny will take place Aug. 15, 2007 at Saint Matthew in Bintaro Jakarta, with 5 Xaverians and 3 Diocesans, and after a few weeks of visiting in their native Indonesia, Wawan will sail for Taiwan (Chinese Delegation), Ignatius for the Philippines, and Denny for Japan (via a 6-month study of Italian in Ancona).
The priesthood ordination of Alejandro is set for Sat. Aug. 18th, together with five other Xaverians from Mexico. Alejandro is assigned to the Philippines.