By sharing in the life of the College seminarians can learn how to express themselves and how to accommodate others. This giving and taking can be hard work; it can also be a practical way of exploring what Christians mean when they talk about their lives being an expression of the life of the Trinity.

In so far as their other obligations allow, all seminarians are urged to participate ungrudgingly in the daily life of the College: in community celebrations, hospitality, common meals, pastoral work, studies, community chores, group work, recreation and indeed all the things that need to take place when a  group of people lives together. The compassion, tolerance, affection, thanks and support that members of the College give each other are ways of enfleshing the Gospel and helping one another to grow.

All members of the College are indebted to countless numbers of generous people throughout the region who give it their financial support. There would be no seminary  without their help. With this in mind, it is important for each one of us to develop an attitude of respectful thanks for all that has been given to us and a desire to serve with generosity.

The College depends greatly on the commitment and dedication of the women and men who look after the staff and seminarians and the College buildings. The support staff, along with the domestic, administrative and maintenance staff, provide an essential service, and should feel that their unending work is truly appreciated and never taken for granted in that it is never increased by carelessness or slovenliness on the part of others in public areas of the College. It goes without saying that each resident’s room should be kept clean and tidy. The College retains the right to use all seminarian rooms for particularly large conferences outside of term time. It is essential, therefore, that rooms are left clean and tidy at the end of each term.

It is the responsibility of each seminarian to keep all the rules which the President and the Director of Estates and Facilities make for reasons of safety (e.g., about electrical appliances), avoidance of waste (e.g., about signing for meals) or the general smooth running of the College (e.g., about booking in guests or visiting groups).  A warm welcome should be given to all our visitors and guests.

There will inevitably be tensions when many people are living together. There can also be necessary and genuine support and respect for one another. There is always someone around to share our times of joy or struggle. But we need to learn to respect the space and private time of one another.

In order to foster the habit and spirit of contemplation, it is very important that the quiet of the cloister and Chapel should be respected at all times. Everyone should avoid disturbing the atmosphere we all need for prayer, study, recreation and sleep. This will exclude, therefore, the use of noisy equipment at any time and any noise whatsoever on corridors between 10.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. Visitors are to leave quietly by 11.00 p.m., and anyone resident returning to the College after 10.00 p.m. should do so without disturbing others. If a group of seminarians intends to celebrate a particular occasion, the celebration should take place in the common room on the ground floor.

Overnight absences from the College require permission from the President. It is also helpful if the President has a contact number for anyone away from the College overnight. This is for use in case of emergency. In addition, as an essential precaution in case of fire, any overnight absence must be signalled in advance by a note in the folder labelled ‘Fire Precautions’ kept at the Front Door.

Seminarians needing to live in the College outside of term time require the permission of the Director of Estates and Facilities and must also sign the fire-precautions list for temporary residents.

CONSULTATION

Each seminarian is encouraged to attend and take an active part in the regular meetings of the seminarian body, where matters of common interest to all the seminarians are discussed. Seminarians and lay students in the degree programme are represented on the Staff-Student Liaison Committee, which has an important role as a channel of communication and generator of ideas.   The Seminarian Representative is a member of the Governing Body of the College.

STYLE OF LIFE

At Ushaw there is opportunity for a reasonably healthy life, exercise, sport, diet and recreation. Newcomers to the region will find plenty of opportunity for lively social recreation, visits to the theatre, enjoyment of the arts and the history and culture of the area.

The College bar is there to be enjoyed, yet self-respect as well as respect for others demands that each person be aware of the danger of excess, as well as misuse of alcohol, whether in public or in private rooms. In visiting licensed premises it is important to avoid any scandal through unacceptable behaviour, late hours or the amount of money spent.

Ushaw College is a smokefree workplace.  The College’s policy on smoking is currently to be found in the DTL Reference folder on the Intranet from which the following extracts are taken:

Smoking will not be permitted within the buildings, or within 25 metres of any entrance to the buildings.

 

….The only exception to this relates to those in permanent residence here, who may smoke within their study and bedroom spaces, which are regarded as private, provided that they exercise consideration for other members of the community.  No other area of communal living space may be used for smoking.  Private rooms occupied by smokers which may have previously been used for teaching, tutorials or College group meetings may no longer used for such activities, and alternative venues should be arranged.

 

College staff may decline to enter smokers’ rooms to carry out their duties, and they will be supported in this decision by Line Managers, and the Senior Management Team.

Formal dress should be worn for Sunday Mass and lunch, for Mass on Solemnities and when visitors are invited to College functions.  Smart casual dress should be worn for Wednesday evening dinner.  It is expected that the whole community will be present on these occasions, and permission is needed to be absent.

Seminarians should dress appropriately for pastoral work after discussion with the Pastoral Department and those who are supervising them, e.g., the head teacher in school work, the chaplain in hospital or prison, the priest and parishioners in the parish.

RECREATION

Recreation is essential if we are to become contemplative and integrated people.  There are no College obligations on Saturday, which provides an opportunity for a variety of recreational activities.  It is important that future priests appreciate the value of a proper balance between work and recreation.

Holidays are part of that recreation.  The long summer break includes an extended period of pastoral work and, like Saturday, it can also be a helpful testing ground for our daily rhythm of reflection and prayer that needs to develop throughout the year.  There is also an expectation that each seminarian make himself known to his local priest.

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