Meet our new seminarians

Transcription

1 Meet our new seminarians This year, we welcome six new seminarians who just started their formation at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami in August. We also welcome back Joshua Bertrand who has returned from a leave of absence and is studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome studying 1st Theology. Joshua Bertrand Ryan Callahan Mark DeSio Christian Galvan Home Parish: Home Parish: St. Jerome Home Parish: Blessed Home Parish: St. Stephen USF/Corpus Christi Sacrament, Seminole Inside this Issue: Animus Christopher Marte Harry Quinones Khalil Selim Home Parish: St. Cecelia Home Parish: St. Joseph, Home Parish: St. Theresa Tampa Seminarian Perspec ves...3 Voca on News..6 Calendar...7 Our Seminarians...7 September/October 2016 Volume XXIII:IX

2 Summer is over! These three simple words can bring about a plethora of emotions. For some, these words bring about sadness, sleeping late, swimming, summer camps, sleepovers, and long days of fun have come to an end and the structured days of school, study, and early bedtimes have returned. For others, these words bring about a sense of excitement, new schools, new friends, and the return of football, to name just a few. For us in the Office of Vocations these words are met with mixed emotions. It is a time of sadness for us as the slower pace of the office, and vacations, gives way to another year of high school talks, parish visits, and vocation workshops. It is also a time of sadness, having said goodbye to our seminarians as they return to their respective seminaries. However, it is also a time of great excitement, as six new men entered seminary formation for our Diocese, their pictures can be seen in this newsletter, six other men begin their final year at St. John Vianney College Seminary, and one man begins his final year of formation anticipating priesthood ordination in May. This year we also anticipate three men being ordained to the Transitional Diaconate in April. It is also a time of excitement as we begin a new year of high school talks, parish visits, and vocation workshops, (I told you it is a time of mixed emotions.) As one can see, for Heidi and I, the excitement far outweighs the initial sadness as a new year begins! With the beginnings of a new year many young people, and some not so young, start to question what God wants of them and their lives. These questions, like the end of summer can bring a plethora of emotions, fear, worry, and anxiety to name just a few. However, those emotions, though very real, are not from God. God loves us too much to prey are on fears, worries, or anxieties. God desires our lives to be lived as one of fulfillment and joy. For us to really understand this reality we must see our vocation or call from God as an invitation to enter more deeply into a relationship with God. A vocation is, in reality, a covenant of the heart with God. It is entering into a covenant of love with God. In other words, as I said above, a vocation is a relational. It is an act of love by which God calls us into animus the life we are created to live and by us saying yes we live the life which we are created thereby living a life that is most fulfilling and joyful. When seeing one s vocation in terms of a covenant of the heart it helps take away the fears, worries, and apprehensions. It may not take them away completely but it does help. In saying yes to our vocations we are saying yes to this covenant of love. Saying yes to a covenant of love with our Lord is accepting the greatest gift God is willing to give. God Bless you all, Fr. Carl Melchior Director of Vocations September/October Volume XXIII:IX

3 Anthony Astrab, Pastoral Year (Nativity Parish) As my halfway point in seminary is behind me (4 years down and 3 to go) and I begin to see the class above me prepare for their ordination to the transitional deaconate in April of 2017, I cannot help but be filled with feelings of excitement, nervousness, unworthiness, gratitude, and trust in the Lord. But there is one more feeling, or maybe more of a movement, that I have noticed in my life recently that would like share with you in this article: maturity. This past summer I was blessed to be in a 10-week hospital chaplaincy program called Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). All seminarians at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary are required to attend this program. It is a national interfaith chaplaincy program available at hundreds of hospitals throughout the country. Joshua Hare, my diocesan brother and classmate, and I completed our CPE course at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa. Each week we spent 30 hours on the floor visiting patients and 10 hours introspecting and digesting our experiences in group-time. It was incredibly rewarding, challenging, and maturing. Throughout the summer I journeyed with patients and families through uncertainty, pain, fear, death, life, and sickness. I entered into all of those awkward, heart wrenching, uncomfortable, and down right difficult situations that I previously dreaded and feared. It was exhausting and life-giving at the same time. But most of all, it was maturing. For those 10 weeks I was in the trenches with people of every faith; I experienced firsthand their joys, pains, hopes, and sorrows, and I was the shepherd to whom they turned. I was paged for pre-operation surgery prayers, post-operation visits, fetal demises, receiving trauma patients, greeting trauma patients families, family meetings, code blues, deaths, suicide attempts, difficult prognoses, difficult patients, hopeless situations, and depressed and discouraged patients. Myself and the other chaplains were the ones whom doctors and nurses turned to when things got rough, tough, and difficult. I became well acquainted with James 1:19, Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak. People who were sometimes more than twice my age placed their complete trust in me and looked to me for guidance, hope, and a listening ear. In just 10 weeks, my outlook on life changed. My outlook on ministry, the needs of the people, God, and priorities changed. I became aware of the importance of prayer in my life, staying connected to the vine, and I began to desire a more fervent prayer life. I experienced how I am invited to be God s ears, mouthpiece, hands, and feet as a minister and how ineffective I am as a minister when I distance myself from him. The whole process was humbling, enriching, encouraging, and invaluable, especially as I begin my pastoral year at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon. Anthony Astrab - is a native Floridian born in Dunedin. His home parish is St. Ignatius of Antioch in Tarpon Springs. Anthony s parents are John and Rose, and he has one older brother John who is married with two children. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary and Middle School in Dunedin and then went on to Jesuit High School in Tampa (class of 2004). Anthony has a Bachelors in Accounting (2008) and Masters in Entrepreneurship (2010) from the University of South Florida. After college he worked for himself buying, fixing up, and selling houses. His hobbies include mountain biking, running, fishing, surfing, golfing, and working on classic cars. He enjoys stimulating activities that require creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. His summer assignments have been St. Raphael s Parish in St. Petersburg (2013), the Institute of Priestly Formation (2014), Guatemalan Spanish Immersion (2015), and a chaplaincy program (CPE) at Tampa General Hospital (2016). Anthony really enjoys working with the poor, youth, addicts, sick and homebound, and elderly. His attraction to the priesthood comes from wanting to serve others. Seminarian perspectives Joshua Bertrand, Pontifical North American College A few years ago I was sitting with a pastor and a couple that were going through the process of preparation for marriage. During that session the priest preparing the couple said a line that has stuck with me all these years later. He said this to the couple in his office that day, God has chosen this vocation for you to journey towards him to salvation. As I was sitting in a chair off to the corner in the pastor s office, only listening and observing, that line has stayed with me. The Lord Jesus Christ has called all of us to a special journey that can only lead to his heavenly kingdom. The ways in which we find our invitation to the heavenly kingdom is by become our truest self in the life of Christ. For each of us that journey to authenticity looks different, and feels different. For some it s through marriage, and for others it s through priesthood or religious life. However, the impact of that line for me has been to trust in the Lord s power, love, and path for me in my vocation to the priesthood of Jesus Christ for the people of God in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. For myself seminary is that place where I am tested, stretched, supported, and loved to become my truest self. I m excited to apply myself totally to priestly formation for the people of God, but also for the journey that ultimately leads me deeper and deeper into the eternal love of Christ Jesus. Joshua Bertrand - I was born in Orlando, Florida and grew up in Kissimmee, Florida. I attended Celebration High School and attended The University of South Florida, graduating in May 2012 with a Bachelors of Arts in History. While attending USF I became very active in the USF Catholic Student Union serving in various roles, including President, during my senior year. My mother and father reside in Kissimmee where my father is a licensed Land Surveyor, and my mother is a United States Postal employee. I have one sibling, an older sister who resides in Copenhagen, Denmark. My home parish is Corpus Christi in Temple Terrace and the USF Catholic Student Center. I have worked in the past in many different jobs such as land surveying, busboy, pizza delivery, and many summers and school years as a lifeguard for Walt Disney World Resorts. My hobbies and interest include working out, gardening, reading (especially about history), cooking, beekeeping, spending time with family and friends, and watching movies. I was attracted to the priesthood by the desire to preach the Gospel in a way that would spread and strength Catholic faith to the people of God. September/October Volume XXIII:IX

4 Seminarian Perspectives - continued Deacon Elixavier Xavy Castro, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary About a year and half ago I had the privilege of walking the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago de Compostela). It had a profound effect in my life as I now come to the end of my journey in seminary. I am reminded of the struggle that it was to walk 260 kilometers. I was not in the best shape to begin with, but I had the enthusiasm to continue this journey, and so I did. There were many obstacles that would slow me down: blisters; the fact that I was not as fit as I had hoped to be; the mental challenge of getting lost and sometimes being alone on a winding road, trying to find my way to the albergue; the heavy 20 pound bag that I carried on my back with all my belongings; and did I forget to mention blisters?? All these things weighed me down physically and mentally. Yet, I would do it all over again. As I look back, I saw myself become transformed by this journey, as I now see myself being transformed by God in this journey of seminary. My years in seminary have been very challenging, but at the same time wonderful and transforming. I have learned to truly understand theological aspects of our faith and to attend to the pastoral needs of the people of God. As a deacon, I am now preaching the Word of God to his people; something I never thought I would be able to do because of my lack of experience with public speaking. I have felt myself be transformed for the Church as a minister of His love to His people, while realizing that this work is done through the grace of God. Thus, I can truly say that the past 7-8 years have been full of many graces for me. I would not change one bit of my experience, for God has used it for his glory and for my own good. With this I must thank all of the people of our gracious Diocese of St. Petersburg. It is through your support and prayers that I am here. Therefore, I ask for your continued prayers and support as my classmates and I finish up our last year in seminary and begin the priestly ministry to which we have been called. May the Lord keep you all and bless you every day. Deacon Elixavier Castro - is a 4 th theologian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg and from St. Francis of Assisi parish in Seffner, Florida. He is 27 years old and just began his 8 th year in seminary. Elixavier, or Xavy as most people call him, loves to play sports, watch movies or TV shows, and travel, which usually includes some type of hiking. Xavy is one of four children (the rest being all women: Zul A. Castro, Aizuley M. Castro, and Jayrelix M. Castro) to Elix A. Castro and Luz D. Castro. Born in Puerto Rico, Xavy has lived most of his life around the area of Tampa for around 14 years, graduating from East Bay High School and attending the University of South Florida for 2 years. After 2 years at USF he answered the call to the priesthood and joined the seminary as a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate in April of 2016 and is looking forward to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in May of Christian Galvan St. John Vianney College Seminary On the morning of August 11, 2016, with my apartment freshly cleaned out and my car solidly packed, I set out to begin the first year of what I trust will be the most wonderful journey thus far in my life. During the four-hour drive from my hometown of Riverview to St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, I had ample time to reflect upon the weeks preceding my departure. Only two months before leaving, I held a job as a project manager with a general contractor, a job I worked at since Since that time, I also became heavily involved in the ministries of choir and middle school confirmation catechism at my home parish of St. Stephen. Despite my happiness in both church and working worlds, I began to feel increasingly divided. I found myself simply getting through the work day so I could return to working in the church ministries I so enjoyed. Though I didn t realize it at the time, this division of myself was the very seed of my discernment. Starting in 2015, I began to hear God s call to seminary, but instead of answering, I kept running from it. It was not until May of this year that I firmly accepted that God was calling me to the seminary. I then took the leap of faith by applying, and my leap was rewarded in my acceptance by the Diocese in July. Following my acceptance, a new challenge began. I only had four weeks to finish working at my job, move out of my apartment, and travel to Miami. The busyness that came from devoting this time to preparation for and attending the first year of seminary was simultaneously joyful and overwhelming. At times, the overwhelming aspect took over and I found myself thirsting for God s graces and consolation. I prayed that God would be my guide into this new life. God immediately answered my prayer. Two of my passions in life are singing and cooking. Within the first week of seminary, God gave me the following graces: first, to be accepted in the seminary s choir, and second, to lead a team of seminarians that prepare dinner on Sunday evenings for the community. In hindsight, I now see that God has been preparing me, without me realizing as such, to give the gifts of song and culinary arts to the seminary community. In doing so, God has also given me the grace of feeling that seminary is exactly where he wants me to be right now! When I spent some time reflecting on these events in prayer, I heard God speak within my heart: I know transition is difficult, but I am with you. I have given you these opportunities of service so that you may know that this is where you are called to be right now. To those who may be discerning, my advice is to be not afraid, for God is with you! Have faith and jump! He will guide your ways! Christian Galvan - I was born in Medford, NJ. My family moved to Riverview, Florida when I was three years old, and we have been attending St. Stephen Parish ever since. While I am my mother s only child, I have three great brothers and two wonderful sisters on my father s side. I attended H.B. Plant High School in Tampa where I found that math and science were my favorite subjects and chorus my favorite pastime. I truly enjoy singing and have sung in choirs throughout and after college. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame with my B.S. in Civil Engineering, then earned my M.B.A. at The University of Tampa. I participated in various lay ministries from altar serving to choir and serving as a Confirmation catechist. Despite building a successful career as a construction project engineer, I felt increasingly called to the priesthood thanks in large part to my love of ministry at St. Stephen and Notre Dame, which helped me hear the call to seminary. September/October Volume XXIII:IX

5 Seminarian perspectives - continued Connor Penn, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary As I recently rolled through the middle of Florida on my way to begin another year of seminary formation, I asked myself a question: Why do I keep coming back? After all, this particular car ride marked five consecutive years of seminary for me and, as I drove, I reflected on the motivation to keep making it. In my first years of seminary, I would have certainly answered that the community keeps me coming back. The opportunity to pray together with close to 100 (mostly) young adults in the seminary is a gift. I cherished the friendships forged while further understanding God s call for my life. I looked forward to passing time with close friends, sharing conversations that could delve into deep discussions of our God but also, as if only with the flip of a light switch, could then transition into a side-splitting anecdote or humorous story. And I still do continue to cherish the community that the seminary provides. But, strictly speaking, the community does not stand as the primary impetus for my continued return to the seminary. So, as I drove further down the two-lane highway that cuts across Florida and takes me (eventually) to St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, I thought further. Perhaps the opportunity to study is what lures me back to the seminary, I thought next. As these years have progressed, I have come to enjoy the blessing of studying in such a serene and conducive environment to learning. I walk away from practically every meal at the seminary having learned something from the conversation that took place around the table. Most of the time, the material covered in class provokes further thought, reflection, and discussion outside the classroom. In confidence, I can truthfully say that I have learned a great deal from these classes. But, as with the community, the studies and classes are not what motivate my return to seminary. To be honest, these two facets of seminary life do not hallmark the distinct opportunity presented to us who study for ordination to the diocesan priesthood. Although the seminary provides a tight-knit community, one can find fellowship and fraternity through many other organizations and groups. Although the seminary puts forth a rigorous course of philosophical and theological study for the benefit of its students, one can learn at any number of institutions of higher learning throughout the country and benefit in a similar manner. Perhaps above all else, what keeps me coming back to seminary is the opportunity to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I realized in my car drive back to St. Vincent de Paul this past August. The seminary allows us to grow in friendship with our God in a way that no other institution can provide: which, as a result, then involves a life of community, study, and prayer Seminarian Convocation Each year the Office of Vocations hosts the annual Seminarian Convocation. This retreat is for both our new and returning seminarians. It gives them an opportunity to gather for prayer, fellowship, food and fun before returning/beginning seminary in early August. This year we welcomed six new seminarians and one seminarian returning from a leave of absence. Below are a few photographs from the retreat. Fellowship Connor Penn - Born and raised in Tampa, Connor hails from Temple Terrace and calls Corpus Christi Catholic Church his home. He attended elementary and middle school there before studying at Jesuit High School. Prior to entering the seminary, he spent one year at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he pursued a degree in journalism. As the oldest of three children, Connor enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Drawing others to Christ through the sacraments and establishing life-long friendships centered on these sacraments most attracts him to the priesthood. Connor has greatly enjoyed his four years in seminary and continues to look forward to all that God has in store for his journey. He avidly follows Tampa Bay s sports teams and also enjoys running in his free time. Chef Christian! Bowling Fun! September/October Volume XXIII:IX

6 Holy Hour for Vocations Cathedral of St. Jude Sponsored by the Serra Club Every 4th Wednesday of the month (with a couple of exceptions) the Serra Club hosts the Holy Hour for Vocations from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. Please consider attending one of these holy hours to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Upcoming dates are as follows: October 26 November 16 December 21 January 25 Vocation events National Vocation Awareness Week We are the Children of God November 6-12, 2016 The Solemnity of All Saints is when the Church honors all saints, known and unknown. This is similar to the American holidays of Veterans Day and Presidents Day, when a group of people are honored on a specific day. While we have information about many saints, and we honor them on specific days, there are many unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been honored specifically. On All Saints Day, we celebrate these holy men and women, and ask for their prayers and intercessions. The observance of National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) began in 1976 when the National Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the 28 th Sunday of the year as the beginning of NVAW. Animae Via Animae Via is a discernment group for individuals who are reflecting on God's call in their lives and are considering the possibility of priesthood or religious life. This year we will rotate between four different parishes around the diocese, every other month. Sessions will be from 7:00pm-8:30pm. We will start with dinner followed by a talk, conversation and prayer and conclude with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. Without a doubt participation in Animae Via will help to make God's will in your life clearer! The evening is open to anyone high school age or older. Friends are always welcome. Meeting dates and topics are as follows: November 30, 2016, St. Timothy Parish (17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz) Topic: How to Hear God's Call January 18, 2017, St. Lawrence Parish (5225 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa) Topic: Receiving God s Grace March 15, 2017, Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle ( th Avenue North, St. Petersburg) Topic: The Courage to Respond to God s Invitation Please RSVP to Heidi Varley (hlv@dosp.org) or by calling (727) , in order for us to plan for dinner. Resources are available on the vocations website for parishes and schools. Come & See Weekend Retreat November 11-13, 2016 Held at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, these weekends serve to provide opportunities for male high school juniors and older to get a firsthand experience of seminary life and the opportunity to interact with other young men who are discerning a vocation. The Diocese will provide transportation and there will be no charge for the retreat. For more information contact Fr. Carl Melchior at (727) or spvocation@dosp.org SAVE THE DATES! Vocation Promotion Workshop Bethany Center, Lutz 8:00 am 2:00 pm Saturday, January 28, 2017 Focus 11 St. Lawrence, Higgins Hall, Tampa February 15-16, 2017 September/October Volume XXIII:IX

7 Calendar of Upcoming events October 2016 October 21, 2015 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Diocesan Holy Hour (Sponsored by SERRA Club) Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle November 2016 November 2-12, 2016 National Vocation Awareness Week We Are the Children of God November 11-13, 2016 Come and See Weekend St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami November 16, 2016 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Diocesan Holy Hour (Sponsored by SERRA Club) Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle November 30, 2016 (7:00 pm-8:30pm) Animae Via Discernment Group St. Timothy Parish, Lakeshore Rd, Lutz Parish Hall December 2016 December 21, 2016 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Diocesan Holy Hour (Sponsored by SERRA Club) Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle Our Seminarians St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary William Augensen 2nd Theology Kyle Bell 3rd Theology Deacon Elixavier Castro 4th Theology Israel Hernandez 1st Theology Connor Penn 2nd Theology Louis Turcotte 3rd Theology Timothy Williford 3rd Theology Mark Drew Woodke 2nd Theology Pastoral Year Anthony Astrab Nativity Parish Joshua Hare St. Lawrence Parish Pontifical North American College-Rome Ralph D Elia 2nd Theology Joshua Bertrand 1st Theology St. John Vianney College Seminary Donald Amodeo Pre-Theology II Zachary Brasseur Pre-Theology II Ryan Callahan Junior Year Mark DeSio Freshman Year Johnatan Fernandez Senior Year Christian Galvan Pre-Theology I Peter Gonzalez Pre-Theology II Reinaldo Jara Senior Year Patrick Lambert Senior Year Christopher Marte Freshman Year Harry Quinones Pre-Theology I Khalil Selim Pre-Theology I Mark Yarnold Senior Year Contact Us: Fr. Carl Melchior, Director of Vocations ( spvocation@dosp.org) Heidi Varley, Assistant Director ( hlv@dosp.org) P.O. Box 40200, St. Petersburg, FL (727) Website: September/October Volume XXIII:IX

8 2016/2017 Diocese of St. Petersburg Seminarians September/October Volume XXIII:IX