for the New Evangelization...Building the Bridge deAcoN JAcK KNIGHt Go into All the World Jose e. loPeZ Faith Through the Storm MoIse stAël dANtes The Lord calls each of us to follow

Backyard Evangelization lou turcotte

From the Seminarians of St. Vincent de Paul Regional SeminaryBoynton Beach, FLIssue xvIII FAll 2017

Building the BridgedeAcoN JAcK KNIGHt

Go into All the WorldJose e. loPeZ

Faith Through the Storm MoIse stAël dANtes

The Lord calls each of us to follow Him from wherever we are to wherever He leads us.

for the New Evangelizationfor the New Evangelization

� FALL 2017 | St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy SEEDSOFHOPE SEEDSOFHOPE St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy | FALL 2017 �

STAFFMsgr. DaviD ToupsDiocese of St. Petersburg / Rector

Fr. reMek BlaszkowskiDiocese of St. Augustine / Vice RectorAdministrative Moderator

Ms. Daniella CoyDirector of Development andPublic Relations

Ms. sharon MelanConAssistant of Development and Public Relations

E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F

ChrisTopher CaMMaraTaDiocese of Orlando, II Theology

M A N A G I N G E D I T O R

Don aMoDeoDiocese of St. Petersburg, I Theology

W R I T E R S

JohnarMon s. anTolinDiocese of St. Augustine, II Theology

DeaCon Blake BriTTonDiocese of Orlando, IV Theology

DeaCon JaCk CaMpBellDiocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, IV Theology

sean CrepinArchdiocese of Atlanta, Pre-Theology

Moise sTaël DanTesDiocese of Venice, II Theology

zaCkary grayDiocese of Orlando, I Theology

DeaCon JaCk knighTArchdiocese of Atlanta, IV Theology

Jose e. lopezArchdiocese of Miami, III Theology

elkin sierra Archdiocese of Miami, III Theology

DeaCon lou TurCoTTeDiocese of St. Petersburg, IV Theology

G R A P H I C D E S I N G E R

JuDy Johnson

CONTENTSIssue XVIII Fall 2017

p. 18

p. 16

p. 12

p. 14

p. 21

eDiTorial

REFlEcTionS FRom ThE REcToR / p. 4 Msgr. David L. Toups

miSSionARy DiSciplES AS STuDEnTS / p. 5JohnArmon S. Antolin

FAiTh ThRouGh ThE SToRm / p. 6Moise Staël Dantes

ThE FiRST STEpS / p. 8 Sean Crepin

SEminARiAn pRoFilE / p. 10 Elkin Sierra

BAckyARD EvAnGElizATion / p. 12Deacon Lou Turcotte

Go inTo All ThE WoRlD / p. 14 José E. Lopez

FAnninG ThE FlAmE / p. 16Deacon Jack Campbell

pRoclAiminG ThE WoRD / p. 17Zackary Gray

BuilDinG ThE BRiDGE / p. 18Deacon Jack Knight

inTERnATionAl FooD niGhT / p. 20

i Will GivE you ShEphERDS / p. 21Deacon Blake Britton

FRiEnDS oF ThE SEminARy / p. 22

A

nnual Friends of the Seminary Ga

la

p.5

p.17

p. 22

p.10

p. 8

p.10


EDITORIAL

REFLECTIONS FROM THE RECTOR

As the sign reads as you walk into my friend’s cof-fee cottage: “Think Local, Act Local, Be Local.” So too all evangelization is local, it happens with the person right in front of you. That is why this edition of Seeds of Hope is all about our grassroots efforts at becoming missionary disciples in the present moment. You will find this common thread in all of the articles to be (no coincidence) our seminary theme this year: Missionary Disciples for the New Evangelization. This is our baptis-mal calling and so whether it be in the proclamation of the Word, work in our parishes, time spent helping others during the hurricane, mission trips, reaching out to those from other countries and cultures, expanding our minds in study, or even in welcoming guests, everything we do must involve Jesus Christ and His message of healing, peace, and freedom. In other words, grassroots efforts at evangelization matter! We do not need to look too far to realize that the world around us, even in our own homes, needs to have the Good News proclaimed by each of us. Thus, in my September Rector’s Conference to the seminarians, I re-minded them that evangelization begins in the here and now: “So my encouragement to all of us is that we need not be afraid of sharing our faith, sharing the Good News (i.e. evangelizare) with each other in casual conversa-tion, at table, in the classroom, travelling to apostolate, and even at recreation. We need not be afraid of making Christ present in our midst through praying together or praying for and over one another. Now, I don’t mean that we have to talk about Jesus 24/7, but on the other hand,

we need not be afraid, in fact we must exercise our faith in the here and now or we will be lackluster seminarians who instead of falling more and more in love every year with Christ and His Church, could become dim lights just going through the motions of seminary life. I desire so deeply for you to leave the seminary like a bullet leaving a rifle, on fire at 2000 miles per hour, as opposed to sim-ply falling out of the end of the barrel making no impact on the intended target—the holy people of God. Let’s ask each other about the call of God in our lives. Nothing edi-fies more than a good conversion story, vocation witness, or a reflection on the quiet encouragement of the Holy Spirit made manifest in the heart of another. Hence, my recent encouragement to share our stories of God’s pres-ence in the midst of our experiences of Hurricane Irma” (all conferences are available at www.svdp.edu). May the blister between the thumb and forefinger that most of us are experiencing across the southeast from raking up debris after Hurricane Irma be a reminder of how vulnerable life is, and a sign of gratitude which will encourage us to keep reaching out to those less fortunate. The seminary has raised over $50,000 for victims of the storms in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico as a way for us to give back to our communities. How blessed we have been, and how mindful we need to be of those who have not been! We could not be so generous to others if not for your generosity to us. Our mission is sustained because of your goodness. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Monsignor David L. Toups

The Mural of Commission After moving into college seminary, the first thing we did as new arrivals was to celebrate Mass in St. Raphael’s Chapel; upon entry, the very first thing that caught my eye was the mural on the back wall above the sanctuary. The mural was an intriguing sight -- a sketched black-and-white gallimaufry of symbols, anthropomorphic figures, animals, city-like arrangements, mythical creatures, geographical shapes, natural elements, and re-ligious scenes. The only words to be found on this huge mural were these: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15-16). Over the next four years, I went to this chapel daily and saw this mural. Sometimes it served as inspiration for prayer; other times, it was an entertaining distraction. Nevertheless, as I saw it every day, those verses started to become etched into my mind. These words of commission, given by Christ to His followers, charged them to become missionary disciples.

Disciple Means Student The disciples of Christ, before being sent out as missionaries, spent a significant amount of time learning from Christ. The ori-gin of the word “disciple” is derived from the word that means “student.” Disciples, then, are students. Just like the disciples of Christ, those who want to become mis-sionaries must first become students that learn from Christ the Teacher. This is the intellectual formation of a missionary disciple. St. John Paul II describes this learn-ing in Pastores Dabo Vobis as “a fundamental demand of the human intelligence by which one ‘participates in the light of God’s mind.” Hence, missionary disciples can be called missionary students.

Missionary Student What are the characteristics of a missionary stu-dent? Obviously, they must have the qualities of a normal student, such as passion for learning, responsibility, self-discipline, flexibility, the ability to collaborate, and being a respectful listener. Above these, though, there are two noteworthy charac-teristics of the missionary student. First, the missionary student is relational. The quintessential relationship

HeADS OuT OF THe ClOuDS AND OuT OF THe GuTTeRS: Missionary Disciples as Students

JohnArmon S. Antolin(II Theology, Diocese

of St. Augustine)

of a missionary student is with God. He or she must be a person of faith that not only knows about God, but knows God. The intellec-tual formation of a missionary student consists largely in knowing about God, but this has to be rooted in a personal relationship with God that knows Him intimately, allowing that student to be open to grace and God’s companionship. The second characteristic of a missionary student is that he or she is relatable. While holding to the doctrinal, educational, catechet-ical and apologetic aspects of the faith, the missionary student is able to faithfully and authentically preach the Gospel in a relatable way to others through their words and actions. Being both relational and re-latable enables the missionary student to enter the mission field.

Entering the Mission Field Many parishes (includ-ing my home parish) have begun putting signs, banners and plaques at their exits that read: “You are now entering the mission field.” This mission field into which missionary students are called to enter and spread the Gospel is the entire world. Though the task may seem daunting, he or she is called to foster an atmosphere of charity with the explosive vitality of the missionary spirit. In the mission field, mis-sionary students become missionary teachers themselves. These missionaries, with their heads out of the clouds and out of the gutters, are able to teach others to observe as disciples, students and teachers all that Christ taught them.

Armon and his parents visiting New York together.Armon serves beside his bishop, Felipe estévez, at Marywood Retreat Center for the dedication of the altar at

the Shrine of Saints lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod.


Growing up, one of my all-time favorite stories was the Nativity of our Lord. Every year, on the night of Christmas Eve, my family would gather in the living room around a nativity set and my dad would read the story from either Matthew or Luke. Now, as the Christmas season fast approaches, I find myself beginning to reflect on these narratives again. This time, however, having recently experienced the chaos and destruction of Hurricane Irma, I have been given a new perspective of these accounts. Having been raised in southwest Florida, I am no stranger to hur-ricane season. In general, Floridians know what needs to be done in preparation for a storm. Supplies and emergency resources are moved into place early and life carries on as usual. Whenever a storm is pro-jected to come through Florida, most people make the necessary ar-rangements and evacuate or find a safe place to ride out the storm. Everything follows a routine. However, there seemed to be something different with Irma -- a storm that measured large enough to cover the entire state of Texas and carried winds at an excess of 150 mph. This storm was so large that it did not matter where in Florida it would make landfall; the entire state was going to feel its effects. Maybe it was the uncertainty that shrouded the state, or the apocalyptic news coverage, or the fact that Hurricane Irma was one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin -- whatever it was, fear gripped the entirety of Florida.

Faith through the StormMoise Staël Dantes

(II Theology, Diocese of Venice)

When the decision was made to evacuate the seminary, I immedi-ately made my way home to Naples to help my family prepare. Little did I know that Irma would shift its course and follow me there. When this realization had set in, my family and I realized that neither our plan A nor our plan B were options any longer, as they were both in areas under mandatory evacuation. With only a day left before Irma was to make landfall in Florida, my dad and I decided that our best option was to find a shelter further inland to avoid the possible storm surges projected to hit our house. I set out in search of a possible shelter that would be able to house our family, but was constantly turned away because there was no room. I felt like Joseph trying to find a place for Mary to give birth, constantly being turned away because there was no room at any inns. After about four hours of searching and waiting in lines, we came upon a middle school that had just opened its doors at the last minute. My family and I were able to find refuge in the gymnasium with about 200 other people. We were all happy to have found a safe place to stay and wait out the storm. However, when Irma made landfall and the power went out, our place of sanctuary and comfort quickly deteriorated. The Florida heat and humidity took over and the temperature in the room rocketed to over 90 degrees. With the power also went the plumbing. Conditions

in the shelter became extremely unsanitary and there was nothing we could do but wait it out. The situation reminded me of the Holy Family in the stable. It was into conditions like what we were experiencing -- unsure, insecure, and powerless -- that our Lord was born. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Finally, after three days in the gymnasium, we could return to our homes. Amidst the excitement of being able to leave the hot and odor-ous gym, a cloud of anxiety loomed heavy in the air. What were we go-ing to return to? Would we still have a home? Have we lost everything we worked for? I could only imagine if questions like these flooded Joseph’s head as he returned from Egypt with Jesus and Mary. By the grace of God, my family’s home sustained minimal damage and we give thanks to the Lord. At the same time, we are aware of and pray daily for those who weren’t as lucky as us. As we enter the Christmas season, let us all remember those around us who still struggle to cope with great losses. Let us remember the victims of the hurricanes, earth-quakes, fires, shootings, wars, and all other disasters around the world. May the Holy Family pray for us.

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Staël and his family share the joy of Christmas together at their local parish.


Have you ever wondered how the disciples felt when they answered Jesus’ call? I never really thought about it until August 12, 2017, when I walked through the halls of Saint Vincent de Paul for the first time as a semi-narian studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. My journey toward priesthood began a few years ago when I moved to the United States – I am Trinidadian by birth – to serve as missionary for an international Cath-olic youth movement called Life Teen. Missionaries for Life Teen help lead teens closer to Christ through forma-tion and discipleship. This mission enabled me to receive one of God’s greatest blessings: serving as a missionary for three years, two of which were at the Saint John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization on the island of Haiti. I honestly never planned for or knew that I would

one day come to Saint Vincent de Paul – but then again, the disciples also didn’t know that they would be called by our Lord to follow him and be formed by him. I believe that God’s provident plan was truly at work all along, considering the fact that I am now a seminarian in Pre-Theology – a program which has not existed at Saint Vincent de Paul for over fifteen years. As a pre-theologian, this first year of my formation has been characterized as the “discipleship” phase. This means that my life as a seminarian is dedicated not so much towards pastoral ministry or theological studies (yet), but instead towards studying phi-losophy, learning who I am called to be as a disciple, and discovering how to be a spir-itual follower of Christ who is always revealing to us the way to our Heavenly Father. The very first day I arrived, a line from the Gospel reading at Mass struck me. The Gospel that Sunday was the story of Jesus walking on water, in which He tells his disci-

the first stepsples, all huddled in a boat on stormy sea: “Courage! It is I, do not be afraid.” When I heard it, my first thought was, “well there’s the elephant in the room,” as I can promise you that for each one of my six brothers and me, although the joyful day had arrived, we were also afraid of what we were about to enter. You might say we were crazy for fearing to begin seminary after already arriving. We wanted to become priests, didn’t we? The fear was like a kid’s first day of school, except times a thousand. Even Jesus’ disciples were scared – not only when they were called, but many times throughout their mission. In response to both their fears and ours, our Lord says to us: “Courage! Do not be afraid.” Since joining the seminary, I have tried to take Jesus’ words to heart daily and I am beginning to truly see how much courage our Lord Himself has given me. Whether it be in completing my tasks for the house, focusing on my studies, leading music for liturgies (even in a foreign language), forming bonds in a new commu-nity, or participating in sports and events like the Tough Mudder, Jesus is there with me. With Christ Himself as model and teacher, we all strive to live as His faithful disciples, witnessing to the Gospel and helping to bring about the Kingdom. God called tax collectors, fishermen, farmers, and unintellectual average Joes over two thousand years ago to follow him. Today, he has chosen seven men from the Dioceses of Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston to follow him again. Please keep in your prayers Thomas, Luke, Francisco, Sebastian, Arturo, Patrick, myself, and Fr. Nicholas Cachia (our leader), that we may find courage in the Lord’s voice throughout our vocational journeys and truly share in discipleship with those saints whom He called as the first disciples.

Sean Crepin(Pre-Theology, Archdiocese

of Atlanta)

“...although the joyful day had arrived,

we were also afraid of what we were about to enter. You might say we

were crazy for fearing to begin seminary

after already arriving. We wanted to become priests, didn’t we?”

“In response to both their fears

and ours, our Lord says to us: ‘Courage!

Do not be afraid.”

Sean and his pre-theology brothers pose for a post-race picture.

Our seven pre-theologians at St. Vincent de Paul. Top row, left to right: Arturo Merriman, Sebastián Barbosa-Garcia, Patrick lamar. Bottom row, left to right: Sean Crepin, Francisco J. Gamboa-Felix, luke Bowdre, Thomas Drury.

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I began discerning my call to the priesthood on June 17th, 2006 at around 6:00 in the evening. It was the Vigil of Corpus Christi. Yes, I still remember even the day and hour. I have constantly replayed that event in my memory ever since. Here’s the how my story began… My father and I had always been very close. We truly were best friends. Had I gotten married in his lifetime, he would have been the best man. However, on June 8th, 2004, our Lord called my dad home. From that moment until the present day, I continue to be grateful to God for everything I learned from him, as well as every minute we spent together.

Seminarian

Profile Two years later, in 2006, a priest at my parish, Fr. Michael Davis, announced a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was to take place from June 6th through the 15th. My first thought upon hearing these dates was that they encom-passed the anniversary of my father’s passing. I had to go on this pilgrimage! I had to be on holy ground on June 8th. My brother Luis and I signed up for the trip. Upon returning, I attended a Saturday Vigil Mass, af-ter which I greeted Fr. Davis as usual. This time, as I shook his hand, he pulled me in close and uttered three words that would change my life: “Consider the priesthood.” My

first thought was: “No wonder I haven’t gotten married yet!” I rushed home, jumped on Google and began researching what it meant to be called to the priesthood. I needed to know what to expect as well as what I should do in order to discern the call, if that was in fact what I was sensing. A rush of excitement accompanied the possibility of being called to the priesthood. I felt honored that Fr. Davis would consider me worthy of pursuing such a vocation. But was this real or fantasy? Much prayer ensued. I met with Fr. Davis regularly for spiritual direction. He helped guide me in deciphering my thoughts, fears and doubts. This was no easy task for him, because I had many doubts and endless questions. I imagined how much my life would change, should I leave every-thing behind to enter the seminary. A lot was at stake for me. I was not a fresh young high school or college graduate. I already had a career in which I was very happy and I certainly was not looking to change. I was a fire lieutenant and paramedic for Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue. It was an occupation I loved and the reward of saving lives was worth more than any paycheck. I had recently purchased a home located just a block from both my mother and my brother, and also had a wonderful girlfriend at the time. Life was great! The thought of changing all of this was terrifying. There were days in which I imagined myself as a priest celebrat-ing Mass, preaching, elevating the host and chalice, and hearing con-fessions. Those thoughts were as beautiful as they were overwhelm-ing. There were also days when I completely rejected those thoughts, instead embracing the notion of finishing my career and retiring as planned. This went on and on until I consulted with a priest who told me that the only way to know for sure was to enter the seminary. I met with our vocational director and decided to apply. A part of me hoped that I would not be accepted; this way, my conscience would be clear and I could get on with the life I had planned. As it happens, I got accepted, and to my surprise, I was as joyful as could be upon hearing the news! After twenty-one years of service with the fire department, I retired early and am currently in my third year of theological studies, awaiting my diaconate ordination on April 14th, 2018. Doing my best to fulfill God’s will has brought with it a joy that I didn’t know existed. When asked how I’m doing, I simply reply that I couldn’t be happier.

Elkin Sierra (III Theology, Archdiocese of Miami)

elkin and his fellow firefighters, suited for duty.

elkin and his mother during a visit to Rome.

elkin and his father, on the day elkin obtained his pilot’s license.

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Deacon Lou Turcotte(IV Theology, Diocese of St. Petersburg)

a new “Great Commission,” an evangelization of relationship in which the land to which we are sent is none other than the very community that surrounds us on a daily basis: our families, friends, coworkers, classmates, fellow parishioners, and the random strangers who God throws in our path. This year, I invite you all to join me and my seminary brothers as we embark on this evangelical adventure of missionary discipleship. Can we love more deeply? Can we forgive more radically? Listen more compassionately? Pray more fervently? Serve more joyfully? Whether here at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary or in our communities

back home, let us pro-claim the Gospel of Je-sus by our lives and in our relationships. And let us go forth without fear, for as Jesus tells us in the Great Com-mission, we are not alone: “Behold, I am with you always, even until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). And of course, we have the intercession of our fiery-hearted patron-ess of evangelization: St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us!

While studying at the University of Florida, I was introduced to a group known as FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), a well-established national organization devoted to evangelizing Catho-lics on college campuses. The missionaries and student leaders I met during my time at UF played an important role in my journey toward the priesthood (just a few months now!) and instilled in my heart an urge to share the Gospel. When we served as student leaders, we made it our goal to memorize the Gospel of Matthew’s “Great Commission:” “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them all I have taught you.” Back then, the mission territory was clear – a col-lege campus with around 40,000 students – but for your average Christian, Jesus’ call can be frustrat-ing. Most Seeds of Hope readers aren’t heading off to a foreign land to teach the Catechism in various sub-dialects, though if you’re doing exactly that – hey, nice job!

For the rest of us, our evangelical thrust may seem more hum-ble in appearance. When the seminary announced this year’s theme of “missionary discipleship,” I was one of the many perplexed seminar-ians wondering exactly how I was going to live out that theme while cooped up in a suite at 10701 South Military Trail! Eventually, I found my thoughts returning to my time ministering with FOCUS. During that time, our organization had chosen as its patrons the two patron saints of Catholic missions: St. Francis Xavier and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. As a young college guy, Francis Xavier was someone I could get behind. He sailed across the world, guns blazing, showing everyone who was boss – from rough sailors to stuffy royalty. As for St. Thérèse… I tried to like her. I even started to read her Story of a Soul! But I found her to

be more than a little flowery, a bit dra-matic, and (dare I say it) maybe even a touch whiny. The best answer I could find as to why she was patroness of

evangelization is because of the sentiment that “she prayed a lot, and prayer is important.” The answer satisfied me enough to stop

reading her book, but it didn’t nec-

essarily excite me.

Then I entered seminary, and things changed. I began to experience the “tiny” struggles that Thérèse speaks of in her autobiography – obedi-ence to superiors, even when the demands are questionable; joyful ca-maraderie with seminary brothers, even when they are annoying; and a childlike confidence in God, even when the stress and anxiety of life sur-rounds us. Living out the gospel message of humility, charity, and hope, Thérèse proclaimed herself to be a “missionary of love.” She evangelized those closest to her through seemingly small acts of love, and I’ve discov-ered firsthand that this evangelization is just as challenging as anything I did as a missionary with FOCUS – maybe even more so! It is for this reason that I believe Thérèse is the perfect model and patron for the seminary as we continue our year of missionary disci-pleship, and truly for all Catholics as we seek to heed the call of the new evangelization. Francis Xavier could be seen as a prime example of the first wave of Catholic evangelization, going out to countries that had yet to hear of Jesus to bring the Gospel to fresh ears. Now, centu-ries later, our goal and challenge is to reintroduce Christ to those who have already heard of Him: to ears that have grown deaf and hearts that have grown cold. To put it simply, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has already spread far and wide. Now it is time for us to drive it deeper. I could point out all of the various pastoral activities we do as seminarians that embody this missionary zeal: preaching at parishes, visiting those in prison, ministering in hospitals, leading young adult retreats, welcoming guests at our Wednesday community Masses, host-ing events like Family Weekend, Friends of the Seminary, and Joe Pad-dy, being good neighbors to our staff, and much, much more. But there is one principle that all of these activities share, a common thread at the core of both the new evangelization and the “missionary love” of St. Thérèse: relationship. I don’t need to tell you that our world is crying out for depth of relationship. You can see it all around you. Attention spans are shorter, communica-tion is weaker, friend-ship is scarcer. But we are missionaries of love, and our living Gospel – our relation-ship with Jesus Christ and with others – is the answer to the deafness and hardness of heart afflicting our world. We are being called to

Backyard Evangelizationour locAl MIssIoN

Deacons lou, Kyle, and Chris share a great time as commentators for the bi-annual soccer match against St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.

lou’s small group from a previous young adult retreat – each year hundreds of young adults come for a faith-filled day with the seminary community!

SEEDS

Deacon lou (pictured right) and some SVdP seminarians and alumni enjoy a fraternal outing watching their hometown lightning on the rink.

Deacon lou and the rest of the FOCuS Missions team during a trip to build houses for a small Filipino town.

Newly ordained members of Deacon lou’s class traveled up to the Diocese of Savannah to witness the diaconal ordination of their classmate, Chris Hassel.


usually when we hear these words of the lord, our hearts move to remote places. one might think about preaching the word in strange tongues in the midst of people with exotic customs. this is because we understand mission as going to remote places to preach the Gos-pel. In fact, the first image I had of a missionary was of a person who goes to a savanna in Africa or to a remote Pacific island in the name of christ the lord.

AND prOClAiM ThE gOOD NEwS TO All CrEATurES. (Mk 16:15)

Jose E. Lopez(III Theology, Archdiocese of Miami)

gO iNTO All ThE wOrlD

José helps prepare an alfombra (Spanish for “carpet”) for Corpus Christi’s easter procession.

Parishioners gather on either side of the completed alfombra, awaiting the easter procession.

José (pictured right) visiting the parish’s local festival – a wonderful event that brings the community together.

Instead Jesus, the master and model of all christians, carried out the mission entrusted by His Father among His own, in a familiar loca-tion and in a world that was well-known to Him. Being a missionary has to be something deeper, something more sublime -- but what? God gave that answer to me when I was assigned to the parish of corpus christi in Miami. corpus christi is a parish constituted by five mis-sions that has as it center a church which they call the “mother church.” these missions, which are a relatively close distance from one another, were constituted by simple necessity: to bring the Word of God to a peo-ple trapped in difficult conditions in the violent inner city of Miami. Before corpus christi was formed, it is said that neighborhood violence reached such a point that merely walking a few blocks was dangerous. Furthermore, walking was the only way many had to get around, since cars in that time and place were a luxury. Faced with this reality, the pastor of that community, Father José luis Menéndez,

felt called to follow the example of christ, the supreme Pastor of the church. He went out into the local community in search of his lost sheep by founding the missions. He had only one objective: to make sure that the fear of walking around the neighborhood would not be an obstacle for those who wanted to encounter God. this objective was his way of fulfilling the mission of christ -- to go and preach the Gospel of kindness, love and peace where it was most needed: an in-ner city neighborhood of Miami. From this experience I learned that being a missionary should not be understood in geopolitical terms, but rather through the lens of the Parable of the sower. As a sower, the missionary goes to lands that are distant not from himself, but from God; he does this by spreading the word over the soil that is none other than human hearts. It is there, in those hearts far from God, that the missionary accomplishes his work to spread the seeds of the Gospel. In this way we can be missionaries everywhere -- not only in distant countries, but in places as close as our families, friendships and workplaces. this type of missionary has only one danger: to forget from where he or she comes from and to where he or she goes. When this hap-pens, one’s work becomes mere busyness, and one’s preaching the proclamation of an ideology forgetful of mercy. In order to avoid forgetting that we serve the God who is love, the missionary has to remain a disciple. only in remaining close to the Master, who alone is the source and culmination of our mission, can we as missionaries keep the flame of love alive. this flame then prompts us to share with others what makes life truly beautiful: the intimate and personal relationship with the God who has sent us.


PROCLAIMING THE wORD In his poem “As Kingfishers catch Fire,” Gerard Manley Hopkins says that every created thing “deals out that be-ing indoors each one dwells.” His words are here conveying that each creature, by the very act of existing, declares itself to the world. each being, as Hopkins puts it, “selves” and gives this witness: “What I do is me, for this I came.” toward the end of the poem, Hopkins says that each man

“acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is—christ.” When we proclaim what we are in God’s eyes, God looks upon us and sees christ within us. Having recently received the ministry of lector, I cannot help but reflect on what it is that I proclaim. When God’s Word was handed to me, I was given a commission to not just speak the Word at Mass, but to live as one who proclaims that Word. the proclamation of God’s Word is not merely something I do during the liturgy. christ dwells in me—in us all—and when I proclaim His Word, I am (as Hopkins says) “dealing out” that being inside of me. In other words, when I proclaim God’s Word, I witness to the being inside me: God’s being. I view all of this in light of my formation here at seminary. re-ceiving the ministry of lector is part of the grand movement that will one day lead to the priesthood to which I aspire. A priest proclaims the Word at Mass and does so much more. In receiving this ministry, I have taken another step on a journey toward that “so much more” that

The first time you meet the new Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, you realize two things: first, the Holy Father has given us a priest of humility and kindness; second, our bishop’s obvious enthusiasm to do the work God has chosen for him. He is, first and foremost, a priest. His love is serving God and serving the people of God.

Deacon Jack Campbell(IV Theology, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee)

The people of God he now serves are among the fifty parishes and eight mission parishes from Pensacola to Tal-lahassee, numbering seventy-five thou-sand Catholics. His desire is to build upon the strength and unity, not only of his presbyterate, but of all those who work and contribute to our great diocese, ensuring them that their needs, hopes, and concerns have an ear and that we are “one.” Our new bishop is more than a leader; we also have a new friend who is ready to listen, eager to learn, and will-ing to give by visiting and providing for the many parishes, schools, and com-munities that are his new flock. I have great confidence that he will fan the fire of love, devotion, and hard work that the faithful of our diocese are known for. Bishop William Wack (or Bishop Bill, as he prefers to be called) was or-dained and installed as the sixth bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee on August 22, 2017, having been appointed to the posi-tion by His Holiness, Pope Francis, on May 29, 2017. He was born in South Bend, Indiana, the second youngest of ten children. He attended Holy Cross College and subsequently graduated

from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in government and international relations. He entered formation in the college seminary with the Congregation of the Holy Cross at Notre Dame, and after graduating, went to the Holy Cross novitiate in Cascade, Colorado for one year. After he professed first vows, he returned to Notre Dame to pursue a master’s degree in divinity, which he received in May 1993. His previous assignments include serving as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Colorado Springs for over three years and returning to Notre Dame as associate director of vocations for the Congregation of the Holy Cross. In addition, he served as director of the freshman retreat program at Notre Dame and worked in campus ministry. He served as the director of André House, a house of hospitality that serves the homeless and poor of central Phoenix. In June 2009, he moved to Austin to become pastor of St. Ignatius Martyr, where he remained until his ordination as a bishop. His motto is: “Come. Follow me.”

Zackary Gray(I Theology, Diocese of Orlando)

I have been on: the journey toward priesthood. At the same time, I cannot help but be moved by this ministry in and of itself. I will never be able to forget kneeling in front of the bishop as he handed me the book and entrusted me with this ministry. of course, I have read at Mass before, but there is something different about it now: I have received a commission. It carries a weight, a re-sponsibility. It is both an honor and an obligation. My brothers and I would be remiss to forget that the church has entrusted us with this ministry for her service. We are lectors in God’s eyes, and we must “act in God’s eyes what in God’s eyes [we] are.” As I move forward in this journey, my installation as a lector will be forever etched into my memory. As Hopkins might have said, when we are faithful to Him, we are faithful to ourselves, because He is at play in us. I am convinced that when we proclaim God’s Word, we are “dealing Him out” from within us. lectoring is not merely something that I do; it is a part of who I am.

Bishop Wack smiles up into the congregation at the Mass for his episcopal ordination.

Bishop Wack with his seminarians and faculty of Pensacola-Tallahassee at St. Vincent de Paul.

Zack received the ministry of lector this past September from Bishop Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Zack (pictured top-left) and his seminarian brothers from the Diocese of Orlando after being installed as lectors and acolytes.


My name is Jack Knight; some would say that my name sounds very American. However, if one looked past my name, they would see so much more than just an American. They would see a man who loves latino coffee shops and craft breweries. They would see a man that loves to listen to both Motown singles and the greatest salseros (salsa performers) of our time. They would see a man who enjoys eating gastro pub hamburgers and arroz con pollo (rice mixed with chicken) right out of the pot. It was the best of both worlds growing up and I couldn’t see any differences. I grew up in a multicultural house: my father was born in Detroit, Michigan and my mother was born in Puer-to Rico. The melting pot of cultures that exists in our churches today reflects for me what I have felt most of my childhood: the constant mixing of the best of different cultures. I knew that I was American by birth, but always felt somewhat different from some of the kids who were in my classes, since I had a Hispanic mother and multicultural upbringing. If only I knew that being the child of a His-panic American family would become such a gift to the local church, I would have spent more time perfecting my Spanish speaking skills while growing up!

Fast-forward to the present day in my journey with the Lord. I am now a deacon of one of the fastest-growing dioceses in the United States, one which is witnessing an increase of conversions alongside waves of local and international immigrants pour-ing into the metropolitan area of Atlanta. Today, the majority of parishioners found in the Archdiocese of Atlanta are Spanish speakers, comprising a little over half of the population. My hometown has become a home for many different cultures — which is really what it means to be the Catholic Church: a univer-sal home for all people. With this growth in my local Church has come many growing pains that I too had to go through. Questions about bilingual Masses,

youth groups, and faith formation programs have arisen and continue to be a challenge for many. Personally, I had to reconcile that I will never be either “Hispanic enough” or “American enough,” yet the truth that reigns and rings in my heart is that I am Deacon Jack Knight, a multicultural son of the Living God. I believe in God’s providential care that, even while I was in the womb of my mother, He knew a plan far superior to what any of us could have devised. I was to be a bridge between two languages and

Building the Bridge

Deacon Jack Knight(IV Theology, Archdiocese of Atlanta)

cultures so that we might continue to be one people in Christ, while still recognizing the beauty that exists in our differences. Upon starting formation here at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, the only fully bilingual seminary in the nation, it became very clear that I was ex-actly where I needed to be. Sure, in the beginning it was a little difficult alternating from English to Spanish every day for Mass, prayers, and different classes. However, after my first assignment as a deacon this past summer at Divino Niño Catholic Mission in a suburb of Atlanta, I can truly attest to the pastoral need for me to become more fluent with each passing day. Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary is the womb where I am afforded by the gracious gift of the faithful to be formed into a missionary disciple, configured to the person of Jesus Christ. These past three and a half years have provided me with the opportunity to continue to fine-tune my admittedly imperfect Spanish so that I can be a better bridge to people and accompany them on their personal journeys with the Lord. Over the years, my love for the Lord’s people has only deepened. I have come to realize that the priesthood is not my own ministry, but rather the Lord’s ministry that I humbly get to partake in. I want to do everything in my capacity to reach whoever is before me, even if that means I have to learn a new language and culture. I don’t learn new languages because I love to study languages; rather, my drive comes from the love I have for the Lord and the mission of salvation for all people — not just the people I like to serve. Preaching in Spanish requires more work for me, but I’ve found a true desire to put in the effort so that people can understand me. What good would it be if I

was able to preach in Spanish, but no one could understand me in the pews? The Lord taught me this summer to give my best, and to give it with love, for even if my best is not perfect, the love I have for the Lord and His people can cover a multitude of errors. I had the great gift of growing up in a multi-generational house with my abuelo (grandfather), who would always tell me a well-known Puerto Rican saying: “Echa pa’ lante,” which means “go forward.” This sweet, tangible memory became a mantra-like prayer for me. I just envi-sioned him cheering me on along the road of pastoral care while perfect-ing my poor Spanish. The Lord is the one who desires the world to be one; I am filled with a true joy that surpasses happiness, pain or fleeting emotions, because He has invited me to help Him. Even though it is tough sometimes to get outside of myself and grow in my weak linguis-tic skills, I can’t see myself spending my life doing anything else. “Echa pa’ lante hermanos!” Keep moving forward, brothers and sisters!

Deacon Jack processes in for a Mass with Msgr. David Toups at Saint Vincent de Paul Chapel, where he is formed to celebrate the sacraments in both english and Spanish.

Deacon Jack gets ready to walk with a parishioner while working over the summ

er at the Divino Niño Jesus Catholic Mission, Duluth, GA.

Deacon Jack shares his Puerto Rican culture with seminarian Solomon at an International Food Night.

�0 FALL 2017 | St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy SEEDSOFHOPE SEEDSOFHOPE St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy | FALL 2017 �1

21 Lector/Acolyte Install(may change)

The American philosopher William Durant once wrote that “Music and Religion are as intimately related as poetry and love.” Few things could be truer. Throughout the ages, the Christian spirit has been one infused with song and psalmody. From St. Paul’s great hymn to Christ in his letter to the Philippians to Mozart’s heart-wrenching Requiem, Catholics of all generations have sought to glorify God through the gift of song so as to magnify the lord and rejoice in Him who is our sav-ior (lk. 1:46). last April, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary joined this beautiful tradition of musical praise when we recorded our new CD I Will Give You Shepherds. After several months of outstanding dedication and work, the CD has been published and produced, and is now available for purchase in both CD format as well as through iTunes.

Dcn. Blake Britton(IV Theology, Diocese of Orlando)

International Food Night

Composed of ten songs in english, Spanish, and latin, the reper-toire of our CD covers a wide spectrum of sacred music. Whether one wants to experience the timeless splendor of 13th century chant or sing along to one of their favorite contemporary hymns, I Will Give You

Shepherds has something for any admirer of beautiful music to enjoy. Most important of all, this CD is a testimony of gratitude on behalf of

all of the seminarians and faculty of St. Vin-cent de Paul Regional Seminary for the gift of

priestly vocations and the people of God, who make the formation of these vocations possi-

ble. Our prayer is that this CD will prove a source of comfort and inspiration to all who listen to it

so as to bring greater glory to God and enrich the Body of Christ.

I Will Give You Shepherds

�� FALL 2017 | St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy SEEDSOFHOPE SEEDSOFHOPE St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy | FALL 2017 ��

Once again, St. Vincent’s signature fundraiser, Friends of the Seminary was a huge success. On Friday, October 20th, over 350 gathered to celebrate and support the work of the seminary forming men for the future of our Church. We are grateful to Co-Chairs, Kevin and Debbie English and Sam and Diane Foley, from the Diocese of St. Augustine who worked so hard to ensure the success of the event. The evening began in St. Vincent’s Chapel with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski with all of the Bishops of Florida, Savannah, and even Haiti (11 total). Following Mass, the St. Vincent de Paul Award was given to Msgr. Michael Muhr in rec-ognition for the witness of his life as a pastor and spiritual director; a living testimony to the priesthood and our patron St. Vincent de Paul. Mrs. Lorraine Sabatella was also the recipient of the Award in recognition of her historic service to the Diocese of Palm Beach since its inception, and for her love for the priesthood and in particular of our seminary community. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and silent auction before sitting for a formal dinner prepared by our kitchen and served by our seminarians. On behalf of the seminary community and our Co-Chairs, we are so appreciative for all who participated and contributed to the evening’s success. Please continue to keep St. Vincent’s in your prayers, as we keep you and your family in ours.

Annual Friends

of the Seminary

Gala

�� FALL 2017 | St. Vincent de PAuL RegionAL SeminARy SEEDSOFHOPE

St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary10701 S. Military TrailBoynton Beach, Fl 33436

St. Vincent’s Mass Card p r o g r a M

To order a mass card online go to www.svdp.edu(ways to support SVdP) or call Barbara at (561) 732-4424

If you are interested in honoring a friend or loved one with a gift of prayer,

St. Vincent’s Seminary has a Mass card program.

Your intention will be prayed for at one of the daily

Masses at the Seminary.

honoring a friend, loved one,

or one of thefaithful departed.

Can’t stop thinking maybe you are being called to be a priest? Do you feel the lord tugging at your heart to serve the people of God through the ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ?

Diocese of Venicein FloridavocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. Eric [email protected](941) 484-9543

Diocese of OrlandovocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. Jorge [email protected](407) 246-4875

Diocese of St. PetersburgvocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. Carl [email protected](727) 345-3452

The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few!

Archdiocese of AtlantavocAtIoNs dIrector:

Fr. Tim [email protected](404) 920-7460

Archdiocese of MiamivocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. Elvis [email protected](305) 762-1136

Diocese of Palm BeachvocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. Brian [email protected](561) 775-9552

Diocese of Pensacola-TallahasseevocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. John [email protected](850) 435-3552

Diocese of St. AugustinevocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. David [email protected](904) 262-3200, ext. 101

Diocese of SavannahvocAtIoN dIrector:

Fr. Pablo Migone [email protected](912) 201-4113

Documents

for the New Evangelization...Building the Bridge deAcoN JAcK KNIGHt Go into All the World Jose e. loPeZ Faith Through the Storm MoIse stAël dANtes The Lord calls each of us to follow