ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD

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1 ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD Bishop Gregory Parkes will ordain Rev. Mr. Elixavier Xavy Castro to the priesthood at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the. All are invited to attend the ordination and reception immediately following in the Parish Center. The ordination will be live video streamed and broadcast on Spirit FM Rev. Mr. Elixavier Castro is from St. Francis of Assisi parish in Seffner, Florida. He is 27 years old and will be completing his 8th year in seminary when he graduates from St. Vincent de Paul Inside this Issue: Regional Seminary on May 11, Elixavier, or Xavy as most people call him, loves to play sports, watch movies or TV shows, and travel, which usually includes Animus some type of hiking. Xavy is one of four children (the rest being all women: Zul A. Seminarian Castro, Aizuley M. Castro, and Jayrelix M. Castro) to Deacon Elix A. Castro and Luz Perspec ves..3 D. Castro. Born in Puerto Rico, Xavy has lived most of his life around the area of Around the Diocese5 Tampa for around 14 years and has gone to school here, graduating from East Bay High School and attended the University of South Florida for 2 years. After the 2 Voca on News..6 years he answered the call to the priesthood and joined the seminary as a seminarian Calendar...7 for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate in Our Seminarians...7 April of 2016 and looks forward to being ordained a priest on May 20, April/May 2017 Volume XXIV:V

2 Of all the things a Diocesan Bishop gets to do, of all the Masses he is privileged to celebrate the one event that brings the greatest joy is the Ordination Mass of a new priest. I might add it is also one of the most joy filled days in the life of a Diocese. That joy will be felt in our Diocese on Saturday May 20 th at 11:00 AM at the Cathedral of St Jude the Apostle as Bishop Gregory Parkes will have the privilege and joy to Ordain to the Sacred Priesthood Elixavier Xavy Castro. It will, indeed, be a joyful, fun, and, most importantly, a prayerful day! Xavy is a wonderful young man who was born into a very loving family. Xavy is one of four children, three sisters, to his parents, Elix, a Permanent Deacon, and mother Luz. Xavy was born in Puerto Rico but has lived the majority of his life in the Tampa Bay area. He is a graduate of East Bay High School in Seffner. After graduation from high school Xavy began studies in engineering at the University of South Florida, but after two years of study the pull of priesthood could no longer be ignored. He applied to the Diocese of St. Petersburg and began formation at St John Vianney College Seminary in Miami as a seminarian for our Diocese. After completing his undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Xavy entered St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida. Xavy is a competent young man with a true heart for service and leadership. Both of those qualities were noticed by his fellow seminarians as Xavy served the seminary community as Student Body President his final year at St. Vincent de Paul. The people of the Diocese and, in particular, the people of Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O Lakes, his first priestly assignment, will be blessed to have Elixavier Xavy Castro serving our Diocese as a priest. Xavy s vocation story is rooted in a very loving family that always supported him and his call toward priesthood. Unfortunately, that cannot be said for everyone in the seminary. Nationally about half of all seminarians have a family member, most often a parent or grandparent, who is actively discouraging the vocation to priesthood. Now I must say this discouragement is not rooted in a hatred of the priesthood or the Church. Nor is it rooted in a desire that the young man not follow his heart or anything such as that. In fact, the discouragement is rooted in love. Parents and grandparents love their children and grandchildren and want the very best for them. They ANIMUS have dreams and aspirations for them. The parents and grandparents want them to be joyful and content with their lives. However, too often these dreams and aspirations are rooted in what society says will bring joy and fulfillment, money, prestige, fame, etc True fulfillment and joy can only come from God and in living the life, vocation, that God created us and is calling us to live. As much as the parents and grandparents love their children and grandchildren, God loves them all the more and desires them to live a life that is fulfilling and joyful and His call for them will bring that desire to reality. All, we have to do is say yes! As we enjoy and experience the joy that will be felt here on May 20 th lets us pray for all parents, grandparents, and step parents, that they will let go of their dreams and aspirations for their children and grandchildren and help these young people to say yes to God s call for their lives. For it is in saying yes to the vocation God is calling us into marriage, priesthood, religious life, or devout single life, that complete joy and fulfillment will be achieved and experienced. God Bless you all, Fr. Carl Melchior Director of Vocations April/May Volume XXIV:V

3 Donald Amodeo St. John Vianney College Seminary The phone was on vibrate, humming incessantly in my pocket. Didn t Dad know that I would be in Mass at this hour? The final blessing was given and we headed to breakfast, five unanswered calls begging a reply. I never did eat breakfast that morning. Upon getting in touch, my father s voice was heavy as he explained that my younger brother had been found unconscious. Blood had hemorrhaged into his brain and he wouldn t be waking up again. Breathing deeply, I sank, my back against the wall. Are you okay? Dad asked. Yeah, I managed after a pause. I ll be there as soon as I can. I will always remember the kind support of my brother seminarians and the priests I encountered as, with a few brief words, I rushed to make the journey home. I ve seldom prayed as hard as I did on that drive. I love my brother, yet he and I had grown apart. There was a rift between us one that I d always imagined would be mended at some fortuitous point in the future, only now that future had been whisked away. An avalanche of should-have s, if-only s and what-if s threatened to bury my soul in grief. I couldn t share those things I yearned to share with Michael. I couldn t tell him those things I wished to say. Laying it all at the foot of the Cross, I did the one thing that I could do. I prayed. The following weeks would prove to be a difficult time, but amidst suffering, Our Lord also pours out graces. It was a great comfort to know that so many were offering prayers for the repose of my brother s soul, and it meant a lot to our family when several priests and my diocesan brothers joined us for the funeral. The dear friends I d met at St. John s were always there for me. Those were painful days, but good days to be a seminarian. A magnet for trouble, my brother Michael had led a turbulent life. However, his passing revealed a surprising legacy. Unbeknownst to most, he had chosen to become an organ donor. In parting from this world, he left a final gift a gift of hope and health for several who were facing medical emergencies. There is mercy in all that the Lord does, though it doesn t always feel that way. I can t know what might have been, what sufferings my brother was spared by leaving us when he did. I can only trust in Christ and continue to pray. Through it all, I know that I was never alone. For the many who ve kept Michael and our family in their prayers, I am deeply grateful. This year has been rich in reminders that without a doubt, we seminarians are truly blessed in Saint Pete to have so many loving parishioners supporting us! SEMINARIAN PERSPECTIVES Mark DeSio St. John Vianney College Seminary I am nearing the end of my freshman year at St. John Vianney College Seminary. Though I have a long way to go, I know I have grown much and I can honestly say that I have fallen in love with this place. In the last 8 months, I have deepened my relationship with God, gained some of the best friends of my life, and have come to know myself better. I never valued prayer as much as I do now. If there is one thing I learned this year, it is that God always needs to come first; not because He needs me, but because I need Him. Without God, I am lost and all else fails: but with Him, I have everything. The transition from attending mass every Sunday to everyday was challenging at first, but if it weren t for God s grace in the Mass and in time spent in front of the Blessed Sacrament, I would not have the strength each day to take care of my responsibilities as a seminarian. I appreciate the dedication of the faculty and staff here. The teachers encourage the students to persevere and strive towards graduation. The priests remind us to focus on Christ and emphasize the importance of building one s life on God alone. The cooks, maintenance men, librarians, etc. treat the seminarians like family and truly live a life in service to others. My brothers are always here for me and can relate to whatever challenges I may face because they are also walking in the footsteps of the Lord. Whenever I am feeling down, there is always a friend nearby who reaches out to remind me that I am not alone. Whether we re laughing, praying, or getting on each other s nerves, I know that my brother seminarians will always be with me through thick and thin. The area of formation where I have improved the most, is in coming to know myself. Jesus doesn t just reveal the Father to us, he reveals us to ourselves. I have come to know my strengths as well as my weaknesses and even with my imperfections, my identity is in Christ. The seminary is not easy by any means, but I m glad to call it my home. Even in the most difficult times of formation, I would never change the decision of coming here. St. John Vianney College Seminary provides the environment that is necessary for me to become the man God is calling me to be more and more each day. Overall, I am grateful for what the Lord has done, what he is doing, and what he will continue to do in my life. God Bless. April/May Volume XXIV:V

4 SEMINARIAN PERSPECTIVES - CONTINUED Joshua Hare Pastoral Year (St. Lawrence Parish) Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes are the exact number of minutes that make up an entire year. When we re children it seems like it takes forever for each of those minutes to tick by. We are always looking forward to what s next. Children are always looking forward to summer, teenagers can t wait to get their driver s license, young adults want to be twenty-one and seminarians just want to be priests. A couple of weeks ago I was helping at a youth retreat that was hosted by several neighboring parishes. I was frantically searching the schedule trying to figure out what the next activity was, when one of the youth reminded me to participate not anticipate. Such a simple little statement that almost sounds cliché has such a powerful truth. In my own life, I can get so focused on what s coming up next that I forget about what s right in front of me. Being on pastoral year at St. Lawrence has driven home this message even further. As a seminarian in a parish, there is a lot we can do, but there is also a lot we cannot. We can t celebrate mass, hear confessions, or even anoint the sick. Sometimes the only thing we can do is be present. This year, more than any other has taught me to be present with the poor and the sick who are right in front of me. It has taught me to participate in the joy and graces that Christ gives to us in our everyday lives instead of constantly looking forward to the seemingly bigger and better things that lie ahead. Last weekend I went on a road trip with Father Chuck, who is the associate pastor at St. Lawrence, to see the class ahead of mine be ordained deacons. I know this class of deacons better than any other because of their relative distance to me in the formation process. It s such a powerful moment to see your friends give their lives to Christ in such a unique way. What seemed like forever when I first joined seminary is now only about five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes away. Now more than ever I must participate so that I can be ready for what lies ahead. I still have a few months left at St. Lawrence before I head back to seminary for two more years. Although when I go back to seminary this time, I ll be doing so with a renewed sense of the importance of all the work that goes into seminary life. I have realized over pastoral year, more than anything else, not what I know, rather what I don t know. When I return to seminary this fall I ll still be looking forward to what lies ahead, but I ll also have a deeper appreciation of all the papers, exams, and books that are right in front of me. Timothy Williford St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary Six Years in the Making At times, the seminary can be frustrating, constricting, taxing and it is always challenging. Some days, I m left feeling fatigued and overwhelmed by the process. But, it would be a falsehood to say that these first two sentences that I just wrote describe the totality of seminary formation. In my quiet moments, as I reflect on these last six years of my life, I have a feeling of gratitude for my seminary experience of living within the heart of the Church of Florida. For it is here that I have felt the support, appreciation and prayers of all those who genuinely root me on to the goal of priesthood. It is here that I have experienced the love and admiration of so many priests who have my best interest at heart and encouraged me and showed me how to grow along the way. It is here that I have learned and experienced about how to be a good pastoral leader, a good shepherd for the people who comprise the Body of Christ and it is here that I have walked alongside so many great friends who also have chosen to give their life to the ministry of Christ s Church. As I write this article, I am a week and a half away from my Diaconate Ordination. By the time you read this, I will be a Deacon! This has been over six years in the making. As I stand truly at the Eve of my ordination, I am filled with gratitude for this gift that I will receive and all the gifts that I have already received while in seminary. It feels surreal in a way that this day is finally here! Yes, no doubt, the seminary experience has hurt at times, but I often think to myself that I d have it no other way than to be a priest, and this is the way to do it. I think about it a lot, and through the challenges and struggles, I ve continued to orient my life to this call. It s a good feeling to recall all of the papers, classes, tests, prayers, workshops, retreats, formation meetings, evaluations and spiritual direction sessions that I have attended over the last six years and to know that it all culminates in the goal of active ministry for the Church. I am aware of God s presence in my life, because trust me when I say, there is no way that I could have gotten this far on my own! Thanks for all the prayers! April/May Volume XXIV:V

5 VOCATIONS AROUND THE DIOCESE Congratulations to our seminarians Kyle Bell, Lou Turcotte and Tim Williford who were ordained transitional deacons on Saturday, April 1, Below are some pictures from the ordination. The entire photo album can be viewed on the vocations website. Many thanks to all who attended the Annual Altar Server Appreciation Mass on March 26, 2017! The Cathedral was filled to capacity and over 400 altar servers processed in! Save the date for next year on April 15, 2018 for this celebration! April/May Volume XXIV:V

6 World Day of Prayer for Vocations This year we celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations on May 7, The theme for this year is Led by the Spirit for Mission. The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publically fulfill the Lord s instruction to, Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2) As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. White appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission ad gentes marks the 54th Anniversary for World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Francis message can be found on the vocations website, in both English and Spanish. 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: May 24, 2017 June 28, 2017 July 26, 2017 VOCATION NEWS Upcoming Events Ordination Vesper Service Friday, May 19, :00 pm at Christ the King Parish (821 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa) Ordinations to the Priesthood 11:00 am, Saturday, May 20, 2017 Bishop s BBQ June 20, 2017 Contact the Office of Vocations for more information. Save the dates for 2018 February 3, 2018 Annual Vocation Promotion Workshop Bethany Center (8am-2pm) February 20-21, 2018 Focus 11 (9am-1:30pm) St. Lawrence, Higgins Hall, Tampa April 15, 2018 Altar Server Appreciation Mass (3pm) (reception to follow) More information on all of the above events, and more will be forthcoming. April/May Volume XXIV:V

7 May 2017 Calendar of Upcoming Events May 19, 2017 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Ordination Vesper Prayer Service (reception to follow) Christ the King Parish 821 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa May 20, 2017 (11:00 am) Ordination to the Priesthood (reception to follow) May 24, 2017 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Diocesan Holy Hour (Sponsored by SERRA Club) June 2017 June 20, 2017 (6:30 pm) Bishop s BBQ June 28, 2017 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Diocesan Holy Hour (Sponsored by SERRA Club) July 2017 July 26, 2017 (7:00 pm-8:00 pm) Diocesan Holy Hour (Sponsored by SERRA Club) 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 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 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: April/May Volume XXIV:V

8 2016/2017 Diocese of St. Petersburg Seminarians April/May Volume XXIV:V