Seminarian reflects on his pastoral summer experience

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

By Jose Alejandro Camberos Santana

SALT LAKE CITY — Every year during the summer, Diocese of Salt Lake City seminarians are asked to fulfill a pastoral experience in one of the many parishes in Utah. In this year I had the privilege to complete my Clinical Pastoral Education program, which is training to become a chaplain for people in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and hospices.

My training for chaplaincy was done at Saint Joseph Villa in Salt Lake City. This is a place where people in rehabilitation or requiring special care, and those with physical limitations are attended by nurses and other specialized personnel. Although the CPE program requires 400 hours to be completed, I did not pay attention to the time but to the needs of these lovely people who are in need of physical, moral and spiritual support. 

I think and I believe that chaplains really see Jesus’ face in this world. Here is the place where you can experience and fulfill the Gospel according to Matthew, when Jesus tells the people, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (MT 25:40)

Here is the place where I laughed when people were laughing, I cried when people were crying, I was happy to see the progress of many of them, and I felt powerless for the limitations and illness of others. One of the most touching experiences was to see Father Anastasius Iwuoha, who is the chaplain in charge of the Villa, give up his life for the service of these people. Fr. Anastasius is a living example of Jesus the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep, and his knowledge of him. 

Another very touching experience that has left a deep mark on my heart is to have gotten to know four of our diocesan priests who are residents of the Villa: Monsignor Rudolph Daz, Monsignor Lawrence Sweeney, Monsignor Matthew Wixted, and Father John Hart. To meet them, to share with them and to listen to them has been a treasure that I will keep in my heart for the rest of my life. Looking at them in their daily struggles, fragile humans like us, and weak as children, has made me think about God’s grace, which we carry in earthen vessels. Looking at these holy gentlemen who have given everything that they had, worn out, struggling with their physical limitations, and even losing their eloquence has pushed me to try harder and harder to be holy in my seminary formation in order to serve the people of God in the future.

I thank God for allowing me to have such an experience in my formation process and I ask the whole faithful community to pray together for the increase of vocations to the priesthood and to religious life. I also want to thank our beloved retired priests who have given up themselves for the sake of God’s people. These retired priests are normal people with many needs like you and me, and they need the care of their families; however, many of them do not have direct relatives so you and I might take care of them and their needs. You and I can make the difference for these holy servants of the Lord who have given us so much, even their lives.  God bless you all.