Vocations

• Bruce will be completing a Clinical Pastoral Education Unit at a hospital in London, ON. He will then return to the diocese at the end of the summer to begin his pastoral year at Divine Mercy Parish in Dartmouth for the year.
• Greg returns to the Catholic Diocesan Centre this summer and will support the ministry and work of our team in the Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax Office.
• Morgan will spend the summer serving at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica assisting the pastoral team at the parish and taking on the role of Cathedral tour guide for the summer.
• Nathan joins the team in the Office of Pastoral Life and New Evangelization at Catholic Diocesan Centre. He will help out with a number of initiatives and projects, most notably our annual youth conference Steubenville Atlantic.

 Last week we shared with you an update from Bruce and Morgan. This week we offer a glimpse of what Nathan was up to this year.

Nathan Hoffman
Home Parish: Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica
Studying at St. Augustine’s Seminary, Toronto, ON

Over the past academic year, I have been completing a one-year Philosophy Diploma at St. Augustine’s Seminary. This is my second out of seven years in Seminary formation. St. Augustine’s philosophy program is an intensive introduction to Catholic philosophies. Through our courses we learn how to engage with different philosophical and social viewpoints from a Catholic perspective. It also provides a strong philosophical foundation for my future theological studies. Some of my favorite courses from this program include Metaphysics, Philosophy of Nature and Natural Theology, and Contemporary Philosophy. Metaphysics and Philosophy of Nature and Natural Theology were especially interesting for me as they tackle the fundamental realities of existence, being, at what we can learn and know about God through our reason. Contemporary Philosophy engaged me by presenting the philosophical origins of many of the worldviews found in the culture and helping me to formulate a Catholic response to them. Overall, the academics of the past year have made me excited to continue my theological formation in the coming years.

In addition to studies, I have been spending most weekends serving at a Parish just outside of Toronto. Some of my highlights at the Parish include: helping to lead children’s liturgy, serving at Mass, and giving a reflection and sharing my vocation story at all the Masses one weekend. All of these experiences have been a blessing and I look forward to applying what I’ve learned back home in Halifax.