Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

As part of their propaedeutic year at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, 20 first-year seminarians participated in a three-week poverty immersion from January 26 to February 16. This initiative was introduced following the Holy See's sixth edition of the Program of Priestly Formation in 2022, prompting the seminary to include a preparatory stage for new seminarians. The program combines coursework on Catholic faith with silent retreats and poverty immersion.

Father Benjamin Holdren, appointed as director of this stage by Bishop James Conley in 2023, learned about poverty immersion's value from other seminaries' directors. "Poverty immersion refers to a couple different things," Father Holdren explained.

The first aspect involved placing seminarians in situations where they served the poor through various missionary organizations across the country, such as Missionaries of Charity and Shalom House. The second aspect emphasized personal poverty, allowing each seminarian only minimal belongings and prohibiting technology.

"When control is taken away, what happens within you?" Father Holdren pondered. He noted that facing anxieties and frustrations helps seminarians reflect on how they handle these emotions spiritually and socially.

Each seminarian received an assignment envelope with travel details and $50 for three weeks after a holy hour and Mass on January 26. Leo Bykerk worked at a hospice run by Missionaries of Charity in San Francisco, where he faced challenges like feeding patients and changing diapers. "We just had to ask for everything we got – food, car rides," Bykerk said.

Alec Langan experienced similar challenges at Shalom House in Kansas City. Working with Little Brothers of the Poor, he observed their humble approach to seeking help from others. "They come to each door, and they need something," Langan noted.

On February 16, the seminarians returned to share their experiences with each other. Father Holdren encouraged introspection on whether they were bridges or barriers during their assignments. Langan acknowledged learning humility by apologizing for impatience with fellow seminarians.

Father Holdren expressed hope that this experience would profoundly impact the participants' future vocations: "Having this awareness for yourself, you can grow and become a greater gift to others."

Seminarians appreciated their growth during this period. "God just did a lot for me on this trip," Bykerk said, while Langan described it as one of his most faith-forming experiences.