Laerth Ferreira is a 31-year-old seminarian from the Diocese of Bonfim, Brazil. He is a student of the Bachelor of Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and lives in the International Seminary "Sedes Sapientiae" in Rome. He gave an interview to CARF to tell us how 83 seminarians from 23 countries live locked up inside the Seminary, almost without being able to go out.
Hello, Laerth! Thank you for sharing this testimony of yours and your colleagues with us....
You are welcome, it is a pleasure. Both the Rector of Sedes Sapientiae and ourselves seminarians living in Rome We want our benefactors to know that we are doing well and that we are praying hard for them and their families.
One month locked up
How long have you been locked up?
Almost a month. It all started at the beginning of March, when an emergency situation was declared throughout Italy. due to the covid-19 epidemic. Since then, didactic activities at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross have ceased, and the seminarians and formators have remained on the premises of the Ecclesiastical College Sedes Sapientiae, wishing to collaborate as much as possible with the authorities to prevent the spread of the virus.
Long enough, then... And is it difficult?
Well, quite a lot. However, the seminarians of Sedes Sapientiae in Rome, although physically isolated, have been accompanied by many people, and continue to be so, since the beginning of this situation: there have been numerous calls and almost countless messages from all over the world interested in our health and well-being.
Relatives, friends, priests, former seminarians of the Sedes, benefactors, people we have met during our pastoral work in Italy... and, of course, our Bishops, all promise us their prayers.
Everyone has turned and continues to turn to us, and we try to reciprocate by praying more generously for those who need it most at this time and offering for them the inconvenience that comes from the enclosure.
Caring for each other
What do you do all day?
Above all, we take care of each other, which is a school of life and helps us to grow, because the atmosphere at Sedes Sapientiae is an atmosphere of study and formation but also a big family, an atmosphere of serenity. We adhere to a fixed schedule of work, assignments and moments dedicated to prayer, which sets the tone every day and helps us to make the most of our time.
What happened to your university studies, did you drop out?
No, not at all, since many professors at the University of the Holy Cross are teaching their classes. onlineWe have quickly become familiar with these platforms where we can ask questions: YouTube live with its chat, Skype and Zoom have been some of the most used platforms.
However, there are also teachers who prefer to record their lesson on a simple mp3 player: it is always possible to contact them to clarify doubts or for further information. Since there is no shortage of teachers who have taken advantage of the circumstance to ask us to do some written work, the conclusion is that we are probably spending more hours studying than we would normally do.
Seminarian of the International Ecclesiastical College Sedes Sapientiae.
"We are praying more."
Well, great! You seem to be busier than before....
Yes, also because we are praying moreespecially for our benefactors and their families. In addition, there are those who have set out to improve their own cultural education by reading a valuable book, watching a higher quality film, making virtual visits to museums...
In this line, the Ecclesiastical College even offered us the possibility of participating in front of the screen in an interesting conference that an expert gave us online about his specialty: climate change and global warming. Thus, we varied our topics and thoughts, forgetting for a few moments about the health emergency. We seminarians of Sedes Sapientiae in Rome made the most of our time in this situation.
Sports, study and prayer
What spaces do you have for sports and entertainment?
The Ecclesiastical College Sedes Sapientiae does not have a large garden - there is a price to pay for our location in the historic center of Rome - but we have a smaller one that is used by jogging enthusiasts, who have designed a route that allows them to burn off energy on a daily basis.
Others have done the same in the gym, with the help of some exercise bikes and weight machines. Along with that, work in the sacristy, gardening, housekeeping, regular cleaning of the windows, washing dishes and preparing the dining room, and other chores are also helping us to stay busy and serving others, which is perhaps especially healthy at this time.
You were telling us earlier that you have intensified prayer
Of course! Neither the formative activity nor our spiritual life has ceased. Being in Rome, in the heart of the Church, we have followed very closely the words that the Holy Father has repeatedly addressed to Catholics in this situation.
Thus, we have seconded the invitations of the Vicar of the Diocese of Rome to offer a day of fasting on Wednesday, March 11, and of the Pope and the Italian Bishops' Conference to offer the prayer of the rosary for Italy on March 19 at 9:00 p.m. We have also sought to unite ourselves wholeheartedly to the pastoral exhortations of each of our Bishops. And we continue to unite ourselves to all that Pope Francis asks of us.
Almost a praying heart in the heart of Rome and of the Church
This is how it is.... We try to abandon ourselves into the Lord's hands so that, with his grace, these humanly difficult circumstances may mean for each one of us an interior growth in faith, hope and charity. In this precarious situation for the whole world, we try to help through the communion of saints so many of our brothers and sisters who are suffering in this beloved country that welcomes us and in other parts of the world.
Texts: Gerardo Ferrara
Seminarian of the International Ecclesiastical College Sedes Sapientiae.