The first two parts of this series can be found here and here.

The Great folks at the Monomonakos Blog picked up  my first essay on priestly formation and posted there.  A lively discussion is taking place and that is exactly why I am writing on this subject.  We should always take a look at what we are doing and see if we can do it better.  I am not criticizing as much as I am being critical and I hope in a constructive way.  One of the commenters asked why we always focus on what is wrong so in this post I am going to focus on what seem to be working in some places.

Any discussion of priestly formation needs to include continuing education.  Priestly formation does not end when one graduates from seminary and is ordained I would suggest that is when it begins.  It have often been said that law school does not teach people how to be lawyers, it teaches the law.  They are not lawyer schools.  I guess the same could be said about seminary but we need to teach the skills that graduates will carry forward into their priestly life.

In some diocese around the country there exists a system of clergy continuing education.  I know that in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, His Eminence Methodious does a wonderful job of this.  The priests gather once each month for a business type meeting and then have a speaker on some topic related to ministry.  This might be something on liturgy, or ethics, or some such topic.  Then there is time for lunch and a time for the clergy to interact with each other.  I am sure this takes place in other diocese as well.

Here in Central Massachusetts we have an active clergy brotherhood.  We gather each month for breakfast and a time of support.  We have been meeting like this for over a year now and I find it very helpful in my ministry.  We all have things to learn, even the old guys can learn something from us young guys, and these are the best times to do this.

What of seminars or spiritual retreats

I would like to suggest that each priest, married or celibate, take time at least once a year, for a retreat.  Ideally this should be at an Orthodox monastery but that may not always be possible.  I would suggest five days of quiet retreat where once can get back in contact with God.  We all live very busy lives and our spiritual lives may not be the best they should be, but if we are going to be true spiritual leaders we need to take time to work on our own spirituality.  I suggested in a previous essay that we should all have a spiritual father, and I will suggest again, that we all are seeking our confession on a regular basis as well.

The seminaries, and some diocese, offer seminars usually during the summer months on a variety of topics.  Try to take in one of these.  We need to make our continuing education a priority and our bishops and parishes need to give us time, and in some cases the funds, to attend these conferences.  I count myself lucky that I live here on the east coast and I am very close to three seminaries that offer these types of programs and that I have a bishop and a parish that understand how important this is.

Another way to attend these conferences is via Ancient Faith Radio.  AFR works in cooperation with St. Vladimir’s to host and produce most of their conferences that they have on campus.  If you cannot attend these in person try to listen on AFR.  You can download the sessions and listen to them in your car or office when you have time.  The point is we have to make the time! I believe the OCA diocese of the Midwest and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey also produce similar session via video and they are available on their respective website.  There is a wealth of information available on both AFR and the Orthodox Christian Network.  I find it helpful and instructive to listen to sermons by other priests and some of the other programs offered there.  I would count those as continuing education as well.

In my own Archdiocese the Archbishop has made the commitment to provide sessions for us to participate in.  Over the last few years at clergy gatherings, deanery meetings, as well as our Congress we have sessions that are educational and not just business matters.  We have time to stretch our thinking and speak about these topics.  A few months ago we had a presentation at our deanery clergy gathering on Marriage and one on baptism.  These were very instructive from both a theological as well as liturgical.

Theological Journals and Blogs

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and St. Vladimir’s Seminary both offer journals that come out quarterly.  I subscribe to both and will admit that I am not always interested in the articles that are in these journals but I can usually find one or two that do interest me.  We need to make time for reading and study.  There are also some very instructive blogs, this one for example… (only kidding) and others.  We need to be cautious of the theology on some of these blogs but here is valuable information out there.

One last tool I will mention is the St. Vladimir’s book club that is offered.  Every few months a package arrives with the latest titles they have released.  It is not free, but you do receive a discount.  A package arrived just the other day with several books that look interesting.  Again, like with the journals, not all of the titles will be of interest, but I am sure one or two can be found that is.

The point of all of this is we need to make the time for educational as well as spiritual renewal.  Most every professional occupation requires continuing education and the priesthood should be no different.  We need the bishop to insist and the parishes to allow time for this to happen.  But, we the clergy, need to just do it!

Houston, TX (IOCC) — The sound of power saws and nail guns mingle with easy laughter and conversation as IOCC Orthodox Action Team volunteers work side by side, building homes and friendships at volunteer home-builds in Houston and Minneapolis. They have traveled from Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and New York to help construct homes for families left homeless by hurricanes in Houston and tornadoes in Minneapolis. Four home building teams have already completed their one-week commitment, with four more summer builds and critical home repairs slated for Minneapolis, Houston, and in Minot, North Dakota, which lost an estimated 1,600 homes to flooding last summer.

The 2012 team builds began in March with a pairing of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) college students and veterans of previous IOCC builds. The next three builds, including the first ever home built by IOCC volunteers in Minneapolis, also brought together a mix of Orthodox youth with older volunteers. Generation gaps vanished and friendships flourished among the IOCC Action Team members as they quickly bonded over shared triumphs of raising walls and roofs together. Kathy Hallas, advisor for the Maryland youth group, says it was gratifying to witness the unwavering enthusiasm among her young volunteers. “Sister Nektaria from India wrote, ‘We have to witness our faith through the actions of love.’ What more would an action of love be than providing shelter for someone who lacks it?” says Kathy. “This was such a great experience that we plan on making it an annual event for the youth of our parish.”

The camaraderie carried over to the Orthodox families who opened their homes and their hearts to the young humanitarians. Parishioners from St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston, as well as St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis hosted the IOCC Action Team members, while parishioners from many local parishes in both cities have participated in the builds and offered hospitality.

IOCC has provided more than 600 volunteers and thousands of man-hours since the devastating hurricanes in 2005 to help families rebuild their lives by building new homes or providing critical repairs to storm-damaged homes. Volunteer opportunities are still available this summer including:

You do not need to be skilled – just energetic! To apply as an IOCC Action Team volunteer for the Houston or Minneapolis builds, visit our website at www.iocc.org/actionteam. To apply for the Minot build, go to www.iocc.org/Minot2012. For specific questions, please contact the IOCC U.S. Programs Department at 1-877-803-IOCC or e-mail to dchristopulos@iocc.org.