Students at St. Vladimir’s Seminary benefit from new orientation program
Recognizing
that a proper orientation is essential to a good beginning, some 33 incoming students were the first to benefit from the revised
orientation program at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. Starting on Sunday, August 26, 2007, the students were introduced to and integrated into seminary life with seminars, presentations, and several exciting social events. This process was a full week of various activities and events.
“This orientation has been intense and engaging. It’s shown me that Saint Vladimir’s Seminary is really investing in its students, and has made me feel welcome and a part of the community already,” said Juliana Mecera, a first-year Master of Arts student.
Intense is an appropriate word to describe the multitude of activities that have been transforming the new into the familiar for this incoming class. For four evenings in a row, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, dean emeritus, spoke to the students, basing much of his presentation around the life and teachings of Saint Anthony the Great as well as the sayings of many other holy Desert Fathers and Mothers. Father Thomas balanced warnings of the temptations and struggles that come while seeking God with reminders of the joy we feel in knowing that God’s mercy and love is always greater than evil.
Throughout the orientation the students gathered many times in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, not only to be edified by a former dean, but also to learn about the vision of the seminary from the new leadership. The Rev. John Behr, dean, led the first orientation session where he introduced the dynamic and creative changes in the seminary curriculum. The Very Rev. Chad Hatfield, seminary chancellor, led the second session centered on the vision of the seminary as we move deeper in the challenges of the 21st century. The associate dean of academic affairs, Dr. John Barnet, described the practical elements of the curriculum in greater detail with an emphasis on pastoral as well as academic formation. In conclusion, the associate dean of student affairs, the Very Rev. Steven Belonick, presented a revised student handbook and gave an overview of seminary life.
Social gatherings included icebreaker activities, cookouts on the seminary lawn, and a picnic at a local park. A highlight of the week was an excursion to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in nearby New York City. At the museum, the Rev. Alexander Rentel, assistant professor of canon law and Byzantine studies, gave a guided tour of the permanent Byzantine collection.
An orientation reception, including time for questions and answers, was held exclusively for the wives of seminarians with the seminary chancellor and the dean. Questions ranged from how to get a priest’s blessing to clarification about the new spouses’ program.
Meeting the faculty, being introduced to the staff, getting to know the library, learning about technology services, and choral voice testing were other orientation activities. Great Vespers and a celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist brought the students into the Three Hierarchs Chapel, which is the center of community life at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.