Annual Theological Seminar

It was a joyful time at the IVE St. Patrick Retreat Center in Cairo, New York this past week as the priests of the Province of the Immaculate Conception gathered for their annual theological seminar.

More than fifty priests traveled from their parishes around the province to reunite for the seminar. Father Miguel Ángel Fuentes, IVE traveled from the Province of Our Lady of Lujan in Argentina to preach the seminar.

The Faith Threatened formed the theme of the theological seminar, referring to the many challenges facing individual Catholics and the Church as a whole. Each of the conferences during the seminar covered a particular aspect of this topic.  Some of the individual lectures included: "The Crisis of Faith in our Days," "Understanding the Faith," "How Ought We to Believe," "The Faith and Salvation," "Arriving at the Faith from Incredulity," and "Fighting for the Faith."

The Institute's 2012-2013 novitiate class also attended the seminar with their novice master, Father Javier Ibarra, IVE.  For the novices, it was a busy few days, making repairs around the retreat center in between cooking food and cleaning the facilities.  It was also a valuable opportunity for them to meet the priests of the province and to learn more about their missions.

In addition to continuing their theological formation, this seminar offered the priests of the IVE the great blessing of gathering together for some priestly fraternity. There were exciting games of soccer each day and much storytelling about mission and parish experiences.  For the priests, the three-day conference was a wonderful occasion to strengthen their witness to the faith.

May Mary, the Ark of the Faith, intercede for all Catholics that they may grow and deepen their faith over this coming year.

St. Patrick, pray for us!