Diocesan Seminarian Witnesses History In Rome

No one expected the resignation of Pope (now Emeritus) Benedict XVI, especially not Haubstadt native Keith Dewig. He also did not anticipate being in Rome for the historic event.

Dewig is spending this semester in Rome, as part of his formation for becoming a priest in the Catholic Church. This is his first year of seven—three years for a degree in Catholic studies, with a concentration in philosophy, and four years for a degree in theology.

“Not only is studying in Rome such a gift, but also having the chance to be with so many wonderful seminarians, formation staff and lay students to share this experience,” Dewig said. “What none of us were prepared for was that this opportunity would become even more of a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

Pope Emeritus Benedict’s resignation was the first papal resignation in 600 years. Dewig described Rome during that time as sad but excited.

“The humility and courage he has taught us all by this decision only proves his love for us. It was a very sad time, but I sensed that all here in Rome knew the wonderful benefits this decision would reap,” Dewig said. “Being a part of his final public papal mass on Ash Wednesday proves the true thankfulness and sadness people feel towards all of this. People refuse to let go of this wonderful man.”

Following the resignation was a two-day conclave, which resulted in the installation of Pope Francis on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph.

“Not only was it crazy seeing all this take place, but hearing our New Shepherd talk about what his mission is only makes me feel even more confident about my vocation,” Dewig said. “Watching the Church receive our new Holy Father on the balcony of St. Peter’s has been the most amazing thing I will ever experience.”

Now that a new pope has been selected and installed, a sense of normalcy is returning to Dewig and the rest of Rome. A regular day starts with attending Mass at 7 a.m. From Monday through Wednesday, Dewig and his colleagues then have three classes, with time set aside for praying in adoration and as a community. Classes are taught in Italian, and Dewig said his favorite class so far is “Church and Culture in Italy.”

On Thursdays, they only have one class, and Thursday through Sunday is theirs for travel. So far, Dewig has visited Siena and Assisi to see the tombs of St. Catherine of Siena, St. Clare of Assisi and St. Francis of Assisi, the same St. Francis who inspired Pope Francis’ name.

“St. Francis of Assisi was key in helping the Church and the papacy develop into what it is today,” Dewig said. “Many of us went to Assisi and prayed before the tomb of St. Francis. I believe many of us here, just like many others across the world, in this regard, have played a huge factor in preparation. Knowing we were there at St. Francis’s tomb and touching it before [the pope] took this name, only more deeply shows how much God’s divine providence truly exists.”

Studying in Rome is helping Dewig understand how aware a priest needs to be of the universal Church, for priests are called to bring all of God’s children to heaven.

“This is critical for me because the Church is my Bride,” Dewig said. “Though I am not marrying a young lady, I am marrying the oldest, most beautiful bride on earth as a priest in the Church. I am finding my spiritual relationship with her in a deeper sense by being here. This can only give me more to preach about and a greater love that I want my parish to feel to help bring them to heaven.”

He is also learning more about the beginnings of the Church and how key a role St. Peter played in its foundations.

“Without his calling and generous acceptance to start our Church, where would we be?” Dewig said. “This is not just true for Catholics, but all Christians. Peter was a sinner as we all are, and without his calling, we may have never realized how Christ still calls us all to live in Him.”

“Yes, Christ wiped away our sin, but Peter made us realize how we must still answer Christ’s call, despite our sins leading Him to die for us. He is the center to realizing we are called to be fishers of men like Christ and that God is calling us to be like Him. Though we will never reach His divinity, we must do everything in our power to become Christ-like.”

Dewig is one of three seminarians from the Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis in Rome this semester, and they spent several months filling out the appropriate applications to be able to participate in the program. They also did some fundraising—the total costs, according to Dewig, are around $20,000. With support from his parish family at Sts. Peter and Paul in Haubstadt, St. Bernard in Rockport, St. Martin in Chrisney, and the Diocese of Evansville itself, Dewig was able to bring the costs down.

“I can’t thank all of these people enough for all the support,” Dewig said.

God began calling Dewig to the priesthood through the loss of a friend in a car accident and the priests who helped him during that time. They showed him how to cope with the pain and how all people are called to something greater than they think they deserve.

“Knowing that even though we are not worthy of God’s call, we are still called by him, is where we find the greatest joy in our lives. Because of this, I have better learned how to love not only what I am created to be, but every one of my brothers and sisters in Christ as well,” Dewig said.

Dewig accepted the call while praying in adoration at a retreat. He said it felt like someone had dropped a brick on his head. The idea of not having a family was “a piece of debris,” or an obstacle, for a while, but eventually he realized he will have his own spiritual family, and that piece of debris could become a stepping stone.

“Desiring to become a wonderful dad can only make me that much better of a priest because we become spiritual fathers who are called to bring everyone together as one body in Christ,” Dewig said. “Though the idea of not having a family still becomes a piece of debris here and there, it only makes me realize the wonderful love I will give and receive from the sacrifice I am making.”

Along the way, Dewig has been inspired by many priests, lay people and saints. Fathers Tony Ernst, Gary Kaiser and Dave Fleck have a joy in living out their vocation that helped Dewig accept his calling.

“I’m impressed with how he works with people, his faith life and his willingness to share it with others,” Fr. Fleck said. “He’s a very energetic young man and has a lot of potential.”

“God to me is an ultimate goal. What I mean by that is, I have realized nothing in this world can every truly give me the love and joy that he has,” Dewig said. “There are always challenges to making this happen, but ever since I have said yes to him, I have never been happier. God to me is the only end any of us should ever want to achieve.”

While living in Rome is a great experience, Dewig is excited to come home to Haubstadt in June.

“Haubstadt can just never be beat in my book. My parish, the people and love that is in my town is one of the greatest gifts of my life,” Dewig said. “Being here in Rome is something that has helped me grow tremendously and the experience is fantastic, but I would never want to live here permanently. Some people may say I am crazy for this, but you can thank the wonderful people of Haubstadt for that, because they are the best.”

This story originally appeared in the South Gibson Star-Times and has been reprinted with permission.