Dear Friends in Christ,
We write to you with hearts full of gratitude for your generous support of vocations in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Without your prayers and encouragement, our own journeys to the seminary might look very different.
As brothers, our paths to the priesthood have been distinct, yet beautifully intertwined. Growing up in a family of eight, faith was present in our home, but as we got older, it often gave way to academics and sports. It wasn’t until college that the Lord stirred our hearts in new ways, through campus ministry, retreats, and the witness of faithful priests and lay leaders.
For Ben, that stirring began during his time at the University of Maryland, when the joyful witness of a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary invited him into a deeper relationship with Christ. Daily Mass, holy hours, and leading Bible studies became central, eventually leading him to serve as a missionary himself. For Mark, it was the encouragement of a pastor, the Mount 2000 retreat, and the joy of leading peers in their own faith journeys that opened his heart to God’s call.
God’s timing is never our own. When Mark applied to seminary, Ben thought he might wait a year. But the Lord had other plans, and soon enough, we both found ourselves saying “yes” together. What began with initial hesitation, our early “no”, was transformed by grace, prayer, and the support of so many, into a resounding “yes.”
Now, as seminarians, it is a joy to walk this road together. Though we are at different seminaries, we share our experiences, encourage one another, and continue to see how the Lord is shaping us for His service.
Most importantly, we recognize that our vocations are not ours alone. They belong to the Church, to the people we are called to serve, and to you, who have prayed for and supported us. Your generosity sustains not only our formation, but also the future of the priesthood here in Baltimore. To those who have already supported the Vocations Appeal, thank you for walking with us on this journey. If you haven’t yet made a gift, we invite you to prayerfully join in. Your generosity helps form the priests who will serve our parishes for years to come.
From the bottom of our hearts: thank you. Please continue to keep us, and all seminarians, in your prayers. Please be assured of our prayers for you as well.
In Christ,
Ben and Mark Boegner
Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Baltimore
