A Maryknoll seminarian at Glen Ellyn is a future missionary priest
and a man of dedication who has expressly devoted his life to the
service of God and his neighbor. As the student goes through the
routine of seminary life and experiences its spiritual,
intellectual and social situations, he has the satisfaction of
seeing himself mature as an integrated person. The seminary life
enables him to learn to balance his activities according to values
rather than expediency and to adjust to his personal
responsibilities without neglecting the needs of others.
This maturing process is uniquely helped at Maryknoll Seminary
through the "Unit System." Under this system, an average of thirty
classmates live in an architectural unit of the seminary
building. The members of the unit thereby profit from the personal
contact and direction of their priest-prefect who shares their
unit, and from the rapport, work and friendship of their unit
classmates. As the individual matures, the unit matures; as the
unit matures, the community matures. Ultimately, then, student
life at Maryknoll trains the individual to be responsible toward
himself, others, and Maryknoll.
Spiritual Life
The student's first responsibility is the development of his
spiritual life. This development means a growth in union with
Christ and in the practice of Christian virtue. All character
formation and personality development look toward Christ - His
life being the model of all priestly and missionary endeavors. As
a result, the life of Christ as found in the Gospels and in the
various commentaries is read, meditated upon and discussed; then,
daily efforts are made to make these reflections a part of one's
daily life.
Prayer, both public and private, is an indispensable means of
growing in imitation of Christ. Periods of silence are provided
for the cultivation of the habit of recollection and personal
prayers. Daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament give the student
the opportunity of developing an intimacy with Christ. Each day
begins with Daily Mass, and every convenience is provided for
frequent and daily Communion in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
On Sundays the entire community gathers in the Chapel to
participate in the Solemn Banquet-Sacrifice of the Mass. Kneeling
around the altar, the Seminary renders communal worship to the
Father and the Spirit through, with, and in Christ our Lord. In
the afternoon, Vespers or a Scriptural Service is held; in the
evening, Compline is sung.
Self-denial and voluntary acceptance of inconveniences,
misunderstandings, hardships and physical sufferings are
inculcated. The future missioner and apostle must learn in his
days of formation to take up his cross and follow Christ. Not to
do this is to avoid it.
The Unit System (Glen Ellyn)
