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Archbishop Flores Residence Hall: A truly special place
The dedication of Archbishop Patrick Flores Residence Hall at Assumption Seminary was truly an historic moment of celebration and grace for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. For those who dared to dream what some called an impossible dream, it was a time of excitement and thanksgiving.
The dedication brought applause, laughter, tears and cheers for the many hours of hard work that made a $13 million capital campaign goal a reality, truly a bright reflection of the faith and generosity of the people of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Now, as the celebration has quieted, it’s time to reflect on the meaning of this new place, dedicated to the nurturing of the vocation to the priesthood of the men who have opened their hearts to answer God’s call with a profound, “Not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22:42)
In my reading of the Gospels, the life of Christ, it has always been fascinating to me to note the description of the “place” as an important factor for Jesus’ decisions.
Before he began his public ministry the place he chose was the austere and distant desert where he was tempted by devils and ministered to by angels.
When Jesus was confronted with the cross, he chose another place in order to prayerfully ask for the help of his Father to give him the strength to embrace the great purpose for which he was born.
He chose a garden, and in the dark quiet of this place, Jesus embraced all that the Father would lay before him. It was his calling, his vocation that he embraced, with its pain and victory.
In this place, our redemption was secured with his obedient prayer, “Not my will but yours be done.”
For the seminarians it is our hope that Archbishop Flores Hall will provide them with a quiet place of peace where they will find the strength to overcome the challenges that face them as they grow in their vocation; a place that will allow them to have a solid and prayerful setting for their spiritual, theological, pastoral and human formation.
With its own garden, dedicated to prayer, its chapel for adoration and in the privacy of their own rooms, these seminarians have been given a place to reflect on their vocation.
This will be their place to find the courage to listen to God’s voice, learning to discern his will for their lives, and in obedience, accept his plan for their lives as the psalmist wrote, “You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence.” (Psalm 16:11)
This is the new place, at Assumption Seminary, where our seminarians will continue their journey toward that moment when they will share fully in the priesthood that Jesus gave to the church in another special place, the upper room, on the night of the institution of the Eucharist.
They will share under one roof the life experiences of many countries and cultures and the faith experiences as diverse as their own personal backgrounds. It is my prayer that in this place, Archbishop Flores Residence Hall, the Holy Spirit will give them comfort and rest as they prepare to become “messengers of the Gospel and ministers of the altar.” (Order of Blessing of a new seminary)
The faith, generosity and love of all those who donated to the capital campaign and made Archbishop Flores Hall a reality, provided more than a building of brick, mortar and steel, but also a place where Jesus’ voice can be heard, just like another place so long ago when Jesus appeared to the disciples and said “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” (Jn 20:21)
Let us pray to Mary, the mother of priests, that through her intercession this place will always provide a safe harbor from the temptations that may distract our seminarians; that it will always be a house of prayer to help them in their discernment, and a sign of the faith and love of all who have made this holy place possible.
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