Students permitted to stay, with precautions in place
Story by Reagan Scott
SEWARD (SNR) - As COVID-19 continues to spread and people remain quarantined in their homes, the seminarians at St. Gregory the Great Seminary (SGGS) in Seward remain quarantined together, navigating a new normal.
On Tuesday, April 7, the Seward City Council issued an ordinance prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people, which would go into effect the next day and last until May 6, with the option to be extended should it be deemed necessary.
SGGS, as a congregate living setting, is exempt from this restriction, but the men who live there are doing everything they can to stay safe, and healthy.
As the coronavirus spread, the seminarians had the option to choose to go home or stay at the seminary and finish the semester there. Since classes were being moved online, even those who went home would still have the opportunity to take their classes remotely.
Father Jeffrey Eickhoff, the rector at SGGS, told all of the men to speak with their vocation directors, in accordance with their diocesan bishops, to determine the best course of action. Four seminarians made the decision with their vocation directors to go home. The rest stayed.
Jonah Brox, a student from Lincoln, made the decision to stay and finish his last semester at SGGS with his fellow seminarians before graduating. While he admitted that the circumstances have brought their challenges, he said the Lord has allowed him and his brother seminarians to grow in fellowship with one another, and in their love of Christ.
While some of Brox’s classes, like Greek, have been made more challenging in the absence of being able to meet and talk with his professor in-person, the staff have been accommodating.
“The transition to online classes has been a gradual process,” Brox said. “Since we first started, the staff and faculty have done a great job with helping us transition to online classes, while also making sure that our needs as students are met.”
Now, the men have been adapting to living in their home away from home under much different circumstances. Everyone is taking extra precautions to limit potential exposure to the virus.
In addition to taking online classes, the seminarians have spread out when they are in classroom, in the chapel and the dining room, and they limit the number of people who are able to leave the seminary grounds. One seminarian is sent to Walmart each week to pick up items, and SGGS staff have been working from home, or limited hours at the seminary in their offices, avoiding contact with those living there.
Unable to go to their apostolates each week since schools are not meeting in person and nursing homes are closed to visitors, the men have been able to increase the number of hours they spend in Eucharistic Adoration each week, praying before the Blessed Sacrament when they would have gone to their apostolates.
Brox said that with the increase in Eucharistic Adoration, his spiritual life has improved for the better as he’s come to realize and better understand the importance of praying for other people during quarantine.
“I have been amazed and very thankful for the fruits that have come in my spiritual life,” he said. “More specifically speaking, I have found great joy and peace in praying for other people, especially for all those that are directly affected during this time and do not have access to the Mass or to the sacraments. I never knew how much praying consistently for the needs of another could bring so much joy and peace.”
Taking advantage of the warm weather, the seminarians may go outside to go on socially-distant rosary walks or use the opportunity to order take-out once a week to support local businesses and eat outside.
Without the option to leave campus on Saturdays that they used to have, the seminarians are spending even more time together. Brox said that living together during this quarantine has brought its challenges, but also many fruits and blessings.
“With every day presenting new challenges and yet still a provided sense of a normal routine, we have been able to continue to grow in our fellowship through prayer, classes, meals and community recreation, while also growing in virtue as we all persevere and help each other through this pandemic,” Brox said.
Faculty members agree.
“I would say that the adjustments made during COVID-19 have tested us and taught us to be more patient, flexible and charitable to each other,” said Rafael Rodriguez, dean of men.
“More important,” he said, “this whole situation has helped us to put our trust in God’s divine providence.”
While this isn’t the way any of the seniors attending St. Gregory the Great would have chosen to end their senior year at the seminary, Brox said he’s been able to cherish his final time with many of his brother seminarians, as well as the last few weeks he has to call Saint Gregory the Great his home.
He said, “These circumstances have made this year a year that I will not forget and yet, I’m very thankful to God for the blessings and fruits that he has been able to give me during these hard times. It is my prayer that one day I will be able to look back upon this year and be thankful for all the lessons I’ve learned during this time of crisis.”
Graduation at the seminary will be live-streamed on the Saint Gregory the Great Seminary Facebook page at 5:30 p.m., Central Standard Time Wednesday, May 6. While only the seminary community will be present in person, all are invited to attend online.
