Reflection on the recent Discernment Weekend at Ushaw in June2007
The first in a series of reflections written by those attending the weekend
I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I mean, what was I thinking of?? Me, taking part in a discernment weekend?? I have never been through so many emotions in such a short journey from Gateshead to Ushaw….’I am going, I can do this’, to ‘what on earth were you thinking of, idiot, you can’t do this, turn the car around’ In the end it was a few deep breaths, and go for it.
There was no need for nerves; I don’t think I’ve been made to feel more welcome anywhere I’ve ever been, the staff and the seminarians made it feel like they had known me for years and wanted me to be there.
The sessions led by both the seminarians and Father Drainey were both easy going and quite deep at the same time. I know that seems like a contradiction, but there was no pressure put on anyone to join in, but just listening to the others was enough, their thoughts and ideas regarding God and the Priesthood and how they were similar and different to mine.
There was plenty of free time to talk and socialise amongst each other and with the seminarians (especially in the bar on an evening, but that’s another story!!). They were all happy to answer any questions we had, no matter how daft or trivial we thought they were.
I left feeling that I made a lot of new friends, had had a lot of questions answered, but had a lot more new questions to ask.