Keep Praying for Our Seminarians!
As the Spring Semester draws to a close in a few weeks, we celebrate the accomplishments of these men and pray for God’s love and mercy to surround them every moment of their journey, so their hearts and minds are filled with confidence, mercy, and joy!
A gracious example of that joy was certainly obvious at Mass on April 11th at St. Patrick Church’s in Weston as seminarian Joseph Derico’s candidacy to the Holy Orders was accepted. During the Mass he declared publicly his desire to be bound in Holy Orders for the service of God, the diocese, and mankind. What made it extra special? His acceptance, declared to Bishop Mark Brennan and Vocations Director Fr. Brian Crenwelge, was in front of his pastor Fr. Douglas Ondeck, St. Patrick School Principal John Riley, faculty, students in grades K-8, family, fellow parishioners, and friends.
Derico, who is finishing his fourth year of college seminary at Pope St. John Paul II College Seminary (in Washington, DC), is an alum of the grade school. Typically, the Rite of Candidacy happens at seminary, however, Derico upon seminary college graduation in May will be off to begin studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Therefore, he and Bishop Brennan chose to have the significant celebration “at home.”
There are three significant rites for seminarians discerning and preparing for the priesthood. These steps may vary depending on the seminary. They are Candidacy, Lector, and Acolyte.
Candidacy is the formal recognition by the Church of a seminarian’s commitment to study for Holy Orders. The title of Lector gives the seminarian the privilege of “proclaiming the readings from Scripture (except for the Gospel).” The Ministry of Acolyte is the final ministry seminarians receive before ordination as a transitional deacon. The instituted acolyte is appointed to assist the deacon and serve the priest in the celebration of the liturgy.
Seminarians that are Lectors include: Timothy Kawash, Michael Tupta, and Nathan Schmidt.
Those who are Acolytes are Bryan Tedeschi, Michael Aiello, Dominic Re, and Clifton Mastran
Seminarian Jourden Travis Moger, now Deacon Travis Moger will be ordained to the priesthood on May 30th at St. Joseph Church, Martinsburg.The following is a list of our seminarians noting the level they are completing this year, their seminary, and what parish they are from:
Clifton Mastran
Fourth Theology
Pope St. John XXIII Seminary
St. John, WellsburgDeacon Jourden Travis Moger
Fourth Theology
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
St. James the Greater, Charles TownMichael Aiello
Second Theology
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, CharlestonDominic Re
Second Theology
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
Sts. Peter and Paul, Oak HillBryan Tedeschi
Second Theology
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
St. James the Greater, Charles TownTimothy Kawash
First Theology
Pontifical College Josephinum
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, CharlestonNathan Schmidt
First Theology
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
Our Lady of Peace, WheelingMichael Tupta
First Theology
Pontifical North American College
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, CharlestonJoseph Derico
Fourth College
St. John Paul II Seminary
St. Patrick, WestonDonvito Cortese
Third College
Pontifical College Josephinum
St. James the Greater, Charles TownPeter Russman
First Philosophy
Pontifical College Josephinum
St. James the Greater, Charles TownChristian Davis
Propaedeutic Year
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
St. John University Parish, MorgantownAndrew Dean
Propaedeutic Year
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
St. John University Parish, MorgantownReece Lopatka
Propaedeutic Year
Pontifical College Josephinum
St. John University Parish, MorgantownSebastian Lasko
Propaedeutic Year
Pontifical College Josephinum
St. Francis Xavier, ParkersburgChristopher Nelson
Propaedeutic Year
St. John Paul II Seminary
St. James the Greater, Charles TownDavid Hensler
Propaedeutic Year
Pontifical College Josephinum
St. John, Marietta, OHSend them a note of encouragement this week as they approach finals and their summer assignments.
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727
The Pontifical College Josephinum, 7625 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43225
Pope John Paul II College Seminary, 145 Taylor Street NE, Washington, DC 20017
Pontifical North American College, 00120 Vatican City State, Europe
Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, 558 South Avenue, Weston, MA 02493
