(In early September parishioner Paul Hattrem began his first year at Hellenic College, Brookline, MA. The narrative by his mother presents a description and impressions of the orientation program for first-year students. Following the narrative are some photos from the orientation provided by Doug Hattrem.)
Who wants to be a Millionaire?
By. . . .Catherine HattremIn actual fact, the game the Resident Assistants played, which was very loosely based on the famous TV show, was called: 'Who wants to be an HC/HC student?'
Over the Labor Day weekend, 2002, the faculty and staff of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, in Brookline, MA, welcomed the incoming class. The five-day orientation included a number of activities for the new students, made up of freshman at Hellenic College and first year students at the seminary, Holy Cross. The activities included vespers in the chapel every day, a delightful bus tour of Boston, and social events each evening.
'Who wants to be an HC/HC student?' took place during one of the orientation sessions. It was the RA's method, amidst fun and laughter, of giving the students the information they needed to have a successful year. The moderator has been a female student at the college for several years, and is usually the catalyst for whatever fun is going on. The 'contestants' were other RA's or second year students who had volunteered to help with the orientation. The 'ask the audience' group were the Director of the Office of Student Life and his assistants, and several faculty members.
This attitude of having fun while getting the necessary task done is only one of many favorable impressions my husband Doug and I had as we spent a few days at HC/HC making sure our son, Paul, the first one to leave home, the first to go so very far away, was well settled!
Other impressions:
-The brick buildings on this small, beautifully landscaped campus are well kept but have seen a lot of use. The jewel at the center of the campus is the Chapel. Architectually similar to churches found in Greece, in its simplicity and beauty, it has the feel of a miniature cathedral. The Chapel was packed on Sunday morning. Two groups of chanters, which included experienced chanters and first year beginners, sang antiphonally as they led the congregation. We felt right at home, and were reminded of the singing at our church this summer. With the diversity of nationalities present, from Africa, Eastern Europe, and all over the U.S., we also had the sense of being a part of the larger worldwide Church. There was a sense of unity and joyful, reverent worship among these people who are training to become the future leaders of our church.-The students, whether first or 7th year, are a diverse lot. There was a mid-westerner of Greek descent, who speaks the language fluently, who is certain that he will be a priest at the end of his time here. And there was another mid-westerner, whose parents are converts, who does not (yet!) speak Greek, who was not certain he would last the weekend. A young man from Romania, who unconsciously radiated a gentle, almost spiritual manner, shared his delightful sense of humor with us. And a soft-spoken man from Lousiana, in his fifties, shared his joy that a lifetime dream has finally come true. One of the returning students was referred to by everyone as the resident rock star, an interesting moniker for a future priest. Another student walked around dressed like your every day run of the mill custodian, janitor, jack of all trades, and he is all that, but when we had a chance to talk with him, we also discovered that he had a breathtaking grasp of Orthodox theology, and a kind and accepting manner with everyone around him. He reminded us of someone else we at HT all know and love, who also was once a student at this school. We did not have a chance to talk at length with the female students, but we could see that they have the same sense of purpose, the same sense of joy, the same sense of feeling privileged to be here, that the male students have. And everyone always had time for fun and good conversation.
The most special part of the weekend was seeing all the little children who live on campus. There is married housing on campus, as many of the incoming seminary students are married. Because the campus is so small, and there is a common dining hall for everyone, the children were everywhere. These beautiful, lively, happy children, most under the age of six, ran their parents ragged, and were adopted by everyone on campus by the end of the weekend. Everyone at this school thinks of themselves as members of a family. The children are the glue that holds this diverse, committed group of men and women together.
Chapel, Hellenic College
1st Year Students, Fall 2002
Paul and Doug at the Dorm
