5th Annual Theological Conference

This whole week has been busy.  It is the 5th annual Theological Conference hosted by the Seminary.  Earlier in the year they also host a Philosophical Conference.  It is a big event in the life of the Seminary and is important because it is when the Seminary "puts itself out there" academically for all to see.

 The event is well attended and apart from the seminarians (both Augustinian and Diocesan) who sort of have to be here, there is a wide selection of the sisters working in the Diocese, some of the clergy, the deacons who are preparing for ordination (some of them with their wives), the members of the Archdiocesan Family Pastoral Care Programme, and quite a few professors of various types from the universities in Panama City.

The Seminary is in the process of affiliating itself with the Universidad Bolivariana (Bolivar University).  This is an important step because it means that the students will leave the seminary with a recognised qualification.  It also means, that if they want to do further studies (Master's or Doctorate) that their seminary studies will be taken in to account.

Each day one of the seminarians gives one of the talks but there is a also quite a variety of other speakers.  On the first evening the talks were given by a Doctor who is the head of Panama's Transplant Programme - he is also involved in working with families at a diocesan level.  On the same night the Panamanian Minister of Social Development also gave a talk.  The following evening we heard a married couple sharing their experience of rearing a family in Panama.  I have to say, it was really quite harrowing - they get up at 3am so that their children can be in school by 7 (breakfast, family time, and travel which is an absolute nightmare here).  Last night we heard a Salesian priest who has studied the Bible and one of the seminarians who spoke about the family in church teaching.  Tonight myself and another priest, Fr. Oscar Valderama OP, will speak about theology and the family.

I'll be glad when it's over as it certainly does involve a degree of pressure.  That said, better go and finish my power point presentation...
N