Over the weekend, seminarians Nicholas Hershbine (left) and Joseph Beale (second from right) were admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders by Bishop James Ruggieri at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. Also pictured is Fr. Alexander Boucher, parochial vicar of St. John Paul II Parish, Scarbrough. Please continue to pray for our seminarians!
The Rite of Admission to Candidacy is an important step for each seminarian on his journey toward the priesthood. The rite is an opportunity for a seminarian to express publicly his intention to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders as a deacon and later as a priest. The Rite of Admission to Candidacy includes three components: The call to candidacy, the scrutiny of the candidate, and the blessing of the candidate.
The bishop accepts each candidate with the words, “The Church receives your declaration with joy. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
