Holy Week for a Seminarian
We hear from another of our students for the priesthood. Alexander
Wilson gives us insight into life as a seminarian as we join him for
Holy Week.
Monday
It’s my day off and I went back to my flat to check mail and sort things out there.
Went to London to see my spiritual director (and sneak into the Royal Academy for the “Three Emperors” exhibition) then back to Bristol.
Tuesday
This day was the quiet before the storm of the Holy Week services. I, therefore, spent it preparing myself for the week: checking what I would need to do for the rest of the week, preparing music for singing in the services and not least praying to enter into the event of Holy Week and the Triduum.
Wednesday
Day of the Chrism Mass. I helped the cathedral staff welcome people to the mass and helped another seminarian take photographs of the occasion. Afterwards, I diary-swapped with various priests with whom I shall be doing some work (e.g. prison visiting) and then had lunch with the other seminarians and the Vocations Director. After this, I visited several housebound members of the parish and brought them Holy Communion. I then had a choir rehearsal that evening.
Thursday
Although the morning was light, there was a sense of preparation for the Triduum. I had lunch with the hospital chaplains at the BRI to organise some work there. I then rushed back to the music department offices at the Cathedral to help make the service booklets for that evening's mass. I then played the organ at a nearby convent's Holy Thursday Mass before returning immediately to the cathedral for choir rehearsal and for the mass at the Cathedral. This was the first time I had spent Holy Week in a cathedral and I was deeply moved by the liturgy over this period.
Friday
After the Office of readings and Morning Prayer, I returned to the music service offices to help make the service booklets for the Easter Triduum services. This took the rest of the day and evening, with breaks for Stations of the Cross, choir rehearsal and the Liturgy of Good Friday.
Saturday
After the Office of readings and Morning Prayer in common at the cathedral, I finished off the service booklets for Vigil and Easter masses. I had a little time spare for spiritual reading and entering into the Easter event, before a choir practice and preparation for the Vigil Mass. The time passed remarkably quickly as it was a joyful and moving occasion with three people baptised and many others received into the Church or confirmed.
Sunday
Easter day itself started with another choir rehearsal (by this stage my voice was tiring!) and then solemn mass at the cathedral. This was a beautiful end to a hectic week. I was lucky to be given lunch at a convent near the cathedral before I went for a digestive walk round the downs.
Alexander Wilson
Alexander Wilson is spending time on placement on Clifton.
To find out more about becoming a priest in the Clifton Diocese, please contact our Vocations Director Father Robert King on 0117 914 0003 or email robert.king@cliftondiocese.com.
Monday
It’s my day off and I went back to my flat to check mail and sort things out there.
Went to London to see my spiritual director (and sneak into the Royal Academy for the “Three Emperors” exhibition) then back to Bristol.
Tuesday
This day was the quiet before the storm of the Holy Week services. I, therefore, spent it preparing myself for the week: checking what I would need to do for the rest of the week, preparing music for singing in the services and not least praying to enter into the event of Holy Week and the Triduum.
Wednesday
Day of the Chrism Mass. I helped the cathedral staff welcome people to the mass and helped another seminarian take photographs of the occasion. Afterwards, I diary-swapped with various priests with whom I shall be doing some work (e.g. prison visiting) and then had lunch with the other seminarians and the Vocations Director. After this, I visited several housebound members of the parish and brought them Holy Communion. I then had a choir rehearsal that evening.
Thursday
Although the morning was light, there was a sense of preparation for the Triduum. I had lunch with the hospital chaplains at the BRI to organise some work there. I then rushed back to the music department offices at the Cathedral to help make the service booklets for that evening's mass. I then played the organ at a nearby convent's Holy Thursday Mass before returning immediately to the cathedral for choir rehearsal and for the mass at the Cathedral. This was the first time I had spent Holy Week in a cathedral and I was deeply moved by the liturgy over this period.
Friday
After the Office of readings and Morning Prayer, I returned to the music service offices to help make the service booklets for the Easter Triduum services. This took the rest of the day and evening, with breaks for Stations of the Cross, choir rehearsal and the Liturgy of Good Friday.
Saturday
After the Office of readings and Morning Prayer in common at the cathedral, I finished off the service booklets for Vigil and Easter masses. I had a little time spare for spiritual reading and entering into the Easter event, before a choir practice and preparation for the Vigil Mass. The time passed remarkably quickly as it was a joyful and moving occasion with three people baptised and many others received into the Church or confirmed.
Sunday
Easter day itself started with another choir rehearsal (by this stage my voice was tiring!) and then solemn mass at the cathedral. This was a beautiful end to a hectic week. I was lucky to be given lunch at a convent near the cathedral before I went for a digestive walk round the downs.
Alexander Wilson
Alexander Wilson is spending time on placement on Clifton.
To find out more about becoming a priest in the Clifton Diocese, please contact our Vocations Director Father Robert King on 0117 914 0003 or email robert.king@cliftondiocese.com.
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