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 community to assist seminarians as they discern a vocation to the priesthood and as they continue their training and formation. This summer we welcome Mark Piendel pauses in his seminary studies to gain some additional experience in parish ministry. He is currently studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida. Mark grew up in Roswell, Georgia, attended the University of Georgia, and was active in campus ministry prior to entering the seminary.
Mark has recently begun his summer assignment at Saint Brigid. In addition to assisting at our liturgies, Mark will also assist in our Vacation Bible School, Confirmation conferences, and many of our youth activities, including our youth service trip to Alabama. He will also participate in various aspects of our adult faith formation programs. Mark will be with us until late July, and then return to his seminary studies in August.
As we welcome Mark, 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 encouraged to pray for Mark and all seminarians as they continue their journey of faith.