Even before the closing of St. John's Seminary College, the former undergraduate formation institution for the diocesan priesthood in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, our Office for Vocations envisioned the need for an alternative type of priestly formation for undergraduates.

Integrating all of the key elements of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Plan for Priestly Formation (Spiritual, Human, Academic and Pastoral), in 1999, Guadalupe House was opened on the grounds of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in East Los Angeles. Guadalupe House has, as a primary focus, the acquisition of English as a second language for pastoral and academic purposes, in addition to undergraduate studies.

Last summer, the Office for Vocations added a second house of formation to its mission, called Juan Diego House. Located on the grounds of St. Anthony Church in Gardena, it too exists having integrated the key elements of the Plan for Priestly Formation. The year began with eight members in the community, and is ending the year with seven. Guadalupe House, on the other hand, is ending the year with four members. September promises to bring both houses to capacity: ten at Juan Diego House, and seven at Guadalupe House.

During the season of Lent, both communities focused on developing in each individual, a deeper understanding of masculine spirituality. Using the insights and themes of Father Richard Rohr OFM, and Father James Clarke, director of Spiritual Life at St. John's Seminary, the communities spent time reflecting and working with the elements of masculine spirituality that often get overlooked and simply ignored in the lives of many young Catholic men.

During each week of Lent, the communities convened a Eucharistic Adoration, and included in the celebration Lectio Divina (the ancient practice of reflective spiritual reading), using the book "Soul Brothers," by Father Rohr (Orbis Publications, NY, 2004). By reflecting on Father Rohr's writings on biblical men like St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John the Evangelist, Moses, the prophet Isaiah and St. John the Baptist, the community members were able to engage themselves in the spiritually virile energy and lived realities of these men.

Taking these reflections to prayer, and integrating them through spiritual conferences, spiritual direction and eventually in the weekend retreat conducted by Father Clarke at St. John's Seminary, the men were challenged to grow in their sense of self and their spirituality as men of God. Part of the mystogogia experience of Easter was to share what was learned personally through this experience, using media and shared reflection as tools to bring out the enlightened experiences for each person.

"Reality formation" a descriptive term created by the vocation directors who oversee these two Houses to describe the nature of the formation program, is indeed a challenge. Alongside the day-to-day experiences of being full-time students at colleges and universities, like their peers in secular life, these men have to take care of the daily tasks of living. No "kept" men here! Rather, they are challenged to grow in the Lord, while serving God's people as lay volunteer parishioners, as students and as everyday members of the people of God.

With the help of priests, religious and lay people (including seminary faculty) who provide weekly conferences and homilies for the community, the members receive a good experience of the church today in Los Angeles, while taking important steps toward their dreams of one day being ordained diocesan priests.

Father Robert Juárez is Priest Director of Juan Diego and Guadalupe Houses, and Vocation Director for the Hispanic People of the Archdiocese.