What do you think seminarians do during the summer? Take more classes? Go home, get a summer job and forget about seminary? No, they actually have a very interesting summer with a wide variety of assignments. That's right.......they are assigned to a ministry based on their input and what the vocation team feels would be best for their development.

Ten of our seminarians are doing pastoral ministry, which means they live at a parish and do a variety of things to assist the pastor and staff. They may assist with funerals and baptisms, lead RCIA, help with vacation bible school, visit the homebound, attend parish meetings, and many other things. They are also expected to pray and share meals with the pastor as much as possible. This experience prepares them for priestly duties.

About six seminarians will combine parish ministry with another assignment. Several are working as counselors at the new Prayer and Action mission experience in Emporia. They will lead groups of high school students in a week of mission work such as cleaning and repairing homes. Three sessions are planned this summer. One seminarian will help the refugee program at Catholic Charities while he also serves the Cathedral of St. Peter. Another will teach a science class at Donnelly College, and another will work in a hospital chaplaincy program.

Five of our younger seminarians are spending the summer at Prairie Star Ranch as counselors at Camp Tekakwitha. Kids ranging from 5th grade through high school will have fun yet spiritual sessions there. Our seminarians can grow in their evangelization skills and be great examples to the young people and other staff members.

Three are in Omaha at the Institute of Priestly Formation, an exceptional program for seminarians on the Creighton campus.

Two are traveling around the Archdiocese doing Totus Tuus - a retreat type experience for kids, teens and adults in parishes. They stay in a parish home for a week and put on programs along with other team members.

Two seminarians are taking part in a special opportunity called "The Rome Experience". They began their trip in Ars, France for a week and prayed in many churches and holy sites - especially near the body of the Curé of Ars. Now they are in Rome learning a lot about the early Church, taking classes and then going to those very ancient and historic sites. They have already met with some very important church officials to be briefed on their role in the Church.

As a grand finale to summer, most seminarians will travel with Archbishop Naumann to Madrid, Spain in mid-August for World Youth Day. During that visit they will tour some historic religious sites and have a special Mass with the Holy Father.

So you see, the summer is anything but boring. It's a great way for seminarians to grow in faith and give of themselves. Please remember to pray for them this summer.