A Maryknoll seminarian reflects on his visit to the Vatican for the Jubilee of Seminarians.
I am grateful that I was able to attend the Jubilee of Seminarians, along with my fellow Maryknoll seminarian Samuel Mutuku, last June 23 and 24. Rome’s summer heat was unmerciful, but fortunately most events were held indoors. The main gathering was the meditation led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Basilica, which is spacious enough to accommodate all 4,000 participants.
In his meditation, the Holy Father called on seminarians to engage in sincere, ongoing examination. “Keep in mind Saint Augustine’s constant invitation to return to the heart,” he said, “because it is there that we will find God.”
In my vocational discernment, I have been told that no matter how many spiritual direction sessions we have, we must turn to quiet prayer to truly know what God is asking of us. In silence we can return to our hearts and hear God’s voice. No spiritual director can take God’s place. God is like an intimate Father who wishes to speak directly to our hearts. As Saint Augustine said, “The Lord is closer to us than we are to ourselves.”
In his Jubilee of Seminarians message, Pope Leo said, “Unless we encounter God, we will never really be able to know ourselves.” I believe that frequent prayer and listening to God in the silence of our hearts help us know ourselves more deeply.
As a Maryknoll seminarian, I am grateful that Maryknoll gives me the freedom and space to cultivate my own interior life. In our formation, we are reminded that beyond our daily communal prayers and Mass, we must also make time for personal prayer to receive God’s strength and guidance. Building this habit is essential for a foreign missioner, as there are times when we must carry out our work without the immediate support of a community. Without the habit of personal prayer, sustaining mission would be very difficult.
I hope that Pope Leo’s advice will help me and other seminarians to walk faithfully on our vocation journeys. I see Our Lady as a perfect model for anyone discerning a vocation. She constantly pondered God’s word in her heart and treasured it within.
Our Lady of Maryknoll, pray for us!
Featured image: Maryknoll Seminarians Samuel Mutuku and Raymond Lee (left, right) traveled to Rome for the Jubilee of Seminarians, held June 23 and 24, 2025. (Courtesy of Raymond Lee/Vatican City)
