No siesta for seminarians studying Spanish at NU

Given the demographics of many parishes in the Diocese of Wichita, a priest who speaks Spanish is almost a necessity.

That is why Bishop Carl A. Kemme and the priests who oversee seminarian formation make sure the newly-ordained priests for the diocese “entienden y hablan español” – understand and speak Spanish.
The Spanish immersion program at Newman University teaches about a semester of Spanish in two months – depending on the initial level of understanding the seminarian has.

Immersion began on June 3

Seven seminarians from the Diocese of Wichita, the Diocese of Salina, and a Newman University graduate studying at Sacred Heart Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, began their immersion on June 3 and will emerge on Aug. 1.

“It’s a one-room schoolhouse kind of multi-level experience,” said Sonja Bontrager, assistant professor of Spanish. “They’re not divided up according to their proficiencies. They have different backgrounds. For example, one of the lowest levels has an extensive background in French and so he has a framework to build on.”

Bontrager and Professor Cinthia López teach the men from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday in an Eck Hall classroom at Newman. Lopez, a native of Honduras, also teaches Spanish at St. Jude School and has taught at Wichita State University. Sr. Dani Brought instructs the students in Catholic Social Teaching for an hour on Wednesdays – via Zoom when she’s not in town. Jennifer Sissell, a middle school Spanish teacher, teaches reading for an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The men are reading and studying a story of a young, fictional Guatemalan man and the reasons he chose to emigrate.

Bontrager added that the seminarians study and discuss the daily Gospel readings to learn vocabulary that will be useful to them as they prepare for ordination.

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ host the seminarians for their Zoom classes with Sr. Dani at the motherhouse south of Newman U and are getting to know the sisters who live there at a post-class lunch in their dining room.

Guatemala visit led to seminary study

One of the seminarians, Matthew Ralls, is a Newman graduate who honed his Spanish during an NU Guatemala Study and Serve program in 2012. The program has a spiritual connection as to why he is studying for the priesthood. (See related article on page 7.)

Although the intensive Spanish program is supposed to end at noon, it sometimes runs into the afternoon, Bontrager said, because the seminarians are so enthusiastic.

“I just love the seminarians and Cinthia feels the same way,” she said. “I love that it’s free from some of the constraints of a typical class. I love there’s a shared culture, a shared commitment to serving God and expressing their faith. They’re so humble, so respectful.”

Daily Gospel readings

She said one of her favorite aspects of the program is discussing the Gospel readings each day.
“The Gospel readings tend to be more vibrant, more narrative – there’s more dialogue. It’s an exciting, direct way to interact with the profound meaning of Scripture and it has so much language-teaching value to it,” Bontrager said.

The seminarians continue their studies off-campus with families who host them on Monday evenings and Sundays.

“I’m so grateful to these families for offering their support to the seminarians. We learn so differenly when we’re welcomed into homes or doing other kinds of activites. These family members are teaching the men language and culture in ways we can’t in the classroom,” she said. “Their loving welcome creates an openness to learning.”

Other off-campus activities are adoration, prayer, and Holy Hours at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

Seminarians reflect on their language studies

Conrad Sissell

Conrad Sissell (Jennifer Sissell’s son) a second-year theology student at Mundelein Seminary north of Chicago, said using his Spanish at various parishes has been helpful for his understanding. “It’s in the real world…seeing how Hispanics use their Spanish and how much they want us to learn their language.”

Thomas Elliott

Thomas Elliott, a first-year theology student at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland, said the class has helped him grow in confidence to converse in Spanish outside of the class. “Encountering people who – this is a part of their lives, this is part of who they are – and realizing I can enter into that with them through this language.”

He added that he is incorporating the language into his way of thinking and living and developing new relationships as a result.

Dominic Jirak

Dominic Jirak, a second-year theology student at Mundelein, said his ability to speak has grown tremendously. “But the greatest lesson I’ve learned this summer is to have a heart for the people, especially the Hispanic people. Being able to sit down with them and talk with them in their own language, you see the joy and the appreciation in their eyes. And that’s been beautiful.”