Our Holy Father Pope Francis has called on the Church community to foster and nurture vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. He noted that vocations grow within the Church, and stated, “Candidates gratefully contemplate the mediation of the community as an essential element for their future. They learn to know and to love their brothers and sisters who pursue paths different from their own, and these bonds strengthen in everyone the communion which they share.”
At Saint Brigid, we strive as a faith community to assist seminarians as they discern a vocation to the priesthood, and as they continue their training and formation. This past summer we were blessed to have two seminarians with us who are studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. They were Mark Piendel and Anthony Carosone.
Recently we welcomed another seminarian, Juno Lee, who will be with us for a Pastoral Year of formation. Juno is currently studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida. In addition to assisting at our liturgies, Juno will also assist in our Vacation Bible School, Confirmation conferences, and many of our Special Needs, and Youth activities. He will also participate in various aspects of our adult faith formation programs. He will be with us until next July, and then return to his seminary studies soon thereafter. Juno looks forward to interacting with our Saint Brigid faith community.
As we welcome Juno, we are encouraged to reflect on the following “Prayer for Seminarians” provided by St. John Seminary, in Boston:
O Lord Jesus Christ, great High Priest,
lead our seminarians in Your unerring footsteps
so that they may become priests who are models of purity,
possessors of wisdom and heroes of sacrifice.
Teach them generosity and detachment from world goods;
but above all, teach them to know You and to love You,
the One and Only Eternal High Priest.
Amen
As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to pray for Juno and all seminarians as they continue on their journey of faith.