EUDISTS - A VOCATION

EUDIST HOUSE OF DISCERNMENT
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Starting in 1998 our congregation has rented the second floor of a former convent at Blessed Sacrament Parish in San Diego and converted it into the Eudist House of Discernment. The house is bright and comfortable and can accommodate a director and up to six residents. The mission of the project is to help men who have been thinking of dedicating their life to God, as a priest or as a dedicated layman, to live in a special community and engage in a set process of discernment to determine whether they have a calling to the ministry or not. Prior to taking residence at the House, these men would have been in contact with one of the Eudists for a period of about six months. Once they have been accepted they are expected follow a flexible program of common prayer, community sharing and service.

As part of the process of discernment each resident selects a spiritual director from the members of the Eudist local community and is assigned a mentor that monitors his progress in the program. The regular stay at the house is usually of six months. The process can be lengthen or shorten depending on the evaluation of the Discernment Team, which is composed of four members of the local Eudist community. At the end of the process the resident is expected to make a decision. If one decides in favor of joining the Eudists he would enter the next stage of preparation that we call the formation process. One would then proceed to registering for the appropriate course of studies, either in philosophy or theology.

The residents are either pursuing studies or working during their stay at the House. They are expected to contribute towards their room and board and help in the upkeep of the house. Part of the experience is to learn to live in a community of peers with the joys and the difficulties that sharing life and space with others entail.

For a variety of reasons someone may wish to participate in the discernment process but are not living at the House. These men will join the residents for prayers, conferences and fellowship usually on a regular schedule.

For more details on the House of Discernment contact Father Ricardo Chinchilla, C.J.M. at:
rica-ch@pacbell.net

Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla, C.J.M.
Ordained on december 12th, 1993, worked as Assistant Director, editor and producer of "Magazine LUMEN
2000" Spanish speaking version (TV Magazine made in Holland by LUMEN 2000 and distributed worldwide), member of the formation Team in "El Minuto de Dios" Formation House
worked as Director of "Minuto de Dios" Radio in Colombia,
Director of the "Minuto de Dios School of evangelization",
Director of prayer groups and Evangelization activities in Santafe de Bogota, Colombia, Advisor and Archdiocesan director of Charismatic Renewal in Santafe de Bogota, Colombia, Advisor for the Catholic Charismatic  Renewal office in Colombia,


Fr. John H. Howard, C.J.M., has been a priest since 1967. Trained in clinical psychology he as served as a therapist, in parish ministry, as consultant to women religious superiors, as teacher and in leadership positions in his local Eudist community. He is the founder of Saint James Mission Circle and co-founder of Esperanza International.