Seniors from St. Cecilia High School in Hastings spent Wednesday, Sept. 11, immersed in the daily life of religious sisters, priests and those currently studying at convent or seminary.
Sister M. Xavier and Father Scott Nemec, along with a handful of volunteers, guided the seniors on their vocations field trips.
The students of the senior class first joined together for morning Mass in the Our Lady Chapel at St. Cecilia High School (STC), before departing on their separate Vocations Day field trips. Sister M. Xavier traveled with the girls to Marycrest motherhouse of the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln in Waverly, while the boys were led by Father Nemec to St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward.
While at St. Gregory the Great, senior boys toured the seminary, ate lunch with the seminarians, and prayed a holy hour.
“I really enjoyed the holy hour we had in the beautiful church at the seminary,” said Killian Heckman, a senior at St. Cecilia.
A highlight of the visit was spending time with the five St. Cecilia alumni who are in their first year at St. Gregory: Leo Bykerk, class of 2020; Matthias Clark, ’24; Emmanuel Consbruck, ’22; Collin Kuzelka, ’23; and Isaac VanSkiver, ‘24.
“It was great to experience the everyday lives of seminarians and to see them as normal people whose hearts are totally centered on the Lord,” said Heckman.
On the girls’ field trip to visit the Marian Sisters in Waverly, seniors met the sisters, toured the convent, had prayer time, ate lunch with the sisters and played card bingo. The day concluded with a question-and-answer period, in which students were encouraged to ask the sisters questions.
“I love when the senior girls see that the sisters are normal and that they have a very beautiful life,” Sister M. Xavier said. “Their interactions with the older sisters are always most beautiful. I love to see how respectful our students are, and how much the sisters delight in them and they in the sisters.”
Sister M. Xavier said she did not remember ever meeting a religious sister when she was a high school student, and that’s one thing she loves about the vocations field trip. She is honored to give the girls a chance to meet more women in religious life, and to encounter Jesus through encounters with His brides.
“I hope that the more interactions the students have with sisters, the more normal they will see the vocation to follow Christ in the religious life,” Sister M. Xavier said. “I remember having visited different communities and simply loving being with sisters, I want to give others that joy as well.”
In light of the number of St. Cecilia alumni who currently serve or have served in religious life, especially the five seminarians starting their journey this fall, Sister M. Xavier said these are all examples of Hastings Catholic Schools fulfilling the mission in helping students encounter Christ.
Sister M. Xavier encourages all to fall in love with Jesus and to “know that He will lead you.” She also noted that God does not wait until students are out of high school to begin to call them. Adding as much quiet to one’s day as possible will allow someone to better hear God’s voice.
She added that the seeds of vocations are within each person, starting at the Sacrament of Baptism.
“Following God is the greatest adventure we can ever have,” she said. “All vocations are beautiful and paths for us to follow Him to eternal happiness. When we truly follow the desires of our heart for Him and trust that the Lord knows the best way for us, we discover that His way is actually what makes us happiest here and now.”
HCS currently has three sisters and six priests teaching at HCS, plus three priests who provide support through visits and Masses.
“The opportunities STC offers for vocational discernment are very unique to our school,” Heckman said. “I’m especially grateful that we have so many priests and religious sisters that witness to us each day.”
Courtesy photos
