Reflections on our being and becoming...

 Reflections on our being and becoming...

This would apply to our seminary formation onwards...

Let me start with mine:

I joined seminary in 1971 after my SSLC (11th Standard). Prior to that i was the only boy reader among the others  reading Holy Hour on Thursdays and 'Vanakkom' of St. Joseph every March in our church and to become one of the altar boys.

There was no electricity other than in the church, rectory and two more houses. No radio, no newspaper, no bus... The only mode of transportation was the boat service through the AVM Canal between Thengapattanam and Poovar.

Was not used to underwear even till i came to the seminary. 

That was the boy i was to join the seminary. 

Msgr. Gabriel D'Cruz, Fr. Martin Fernandez and Fr. Soosapakiam were the rector, procurator and prefect respectively.

Though not really going hungry at home, life in the seminary was of regular rich food on time. Life rolled around the bell from 5 am to 10 pm.

Rules like silent time and zone to rule the two, seemingly to save the teenagers from 'private' friendship, determined this life. 

We were expected to comply with them rather blindly! No questioning nor reasoning and no explanations! 

The feeling of 'set apart' was enforced through uniform white dhothi and shirt. After a year of English, Latin, etc Salvation History, we were sent to St. Xavier's College, Thumba for Pre-Degree Course. Most of us were given the Third group, that is, History, Economics, Logic, English and Latin. We were residing at St. Andrew's rectory with the Parish Priest, Fr. Ladislaus Mendez... More than half of us left while me and Alphonse Ligouri were sent to St. Joseph's Pontifical College/ Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye (and Raju and Josephath to Papal Athenaeum). Fr. Dominic Fernandez OCD was our rector... Stalwarts like Alexis, Louis Mary, Antony, Athanacious Almeida, Boco, all Carmelites and Frs. John Kunnappally, A. James, Thomas Chakkiath, Njarakkunnel, Cyriac Kanichai CMI etc in Philosophy and Nemesius, Datius both OCDs George Koonthanam MCBS, Joseph Pathrapankal CMI, Antony Thannikkot, George Fernandez, Bosco Puthur, Thomas Paul Urumpackal etc in Theology...

Here also real inquiry, questioning was not expected of other than to swallow what is fed, taught, though i was questioning certain concepts with my limited reading books even the ones kept in index, with special permission... I was a little above average in studies, sports etc. I was not afraid of and not seeking to please the formators as well as 'professors', staying there in the seminary...