August 2010 Volume XVII:VIII

  

T his month we introduce you to our seven new seminarians. Below you will find a brief bio for each of them. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin seminary next month. You can

learn more about them on our website: www.spvocation.org.

Dan Angel, St. John Vianney College Seminary (St. Raphael, St. Petersburg) Dan is a native of St. Petersburg and a graduate of Holy Family Catholic School. In 2006, he graduated from Northeast High School as the salutatorian. He attended the University of Central Florida where he was majoring in marine biology. In addition to working with Shamu at Sea World, Dan enjoys reading, swimming, running, and volunteering. He was very active in the Catholic Campus Ministry program at UCF which helped him to discern a call to the priesthood. Realizing he could not outswim God, Dan will transfer into St. John Vianney College Seminary in August. His older brother, Bob, is also a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Andrew Bauer, St. John Vianney College Seminary (Holy Family, St. Petersburg) Andrew was born and raised in St. Petersburg. He comes from a very large and very close family. He has five sisters and five brothers; Andrew is the fifth oldest. Like his siblings Andrew was homeschooled most of his life. This past year he has been enrolled at St. Petersburg College. In his free time, Andrew enjoys reading, writing, and playing sports. Feeling called to serve the larger family of the Church, Andrew will begin St. John Vianney College Seminary in August.

Joshua Hare, St. John Vianney College Seminary (St. Anthony the Abbot, Brooksville) Joshua was born in the Hudson area of Pasco County and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was eleven, his family embraced Catholicism and Joshua was confirmed and received the Eucharist for the first time. After beginning Catholic school in sixth grade, Joshua began to do very well academically and he then went on to Mem-phis Catholic High School. In 2008, Joshua and his mother moved to Brooks-ville and he transferred into Hernando High School where he graduated in June of this year. In high school, Joshua played baseball for two years and was on the ROTC drill team. Joshua also plays golf and enjoys computers. Deeply feeling a

call to something more, Joshua will begin St. John Vianney College Seminary in August.

Continued on next page

Inside this Issue: New Seminarians.….1 Avanti………………...3 Seminarian Perspectives……….4 Event Highlights…..6 Calendar…………….7 Our Seminarians…..7

meet our new seminarians

August 2010 2 Volume XVII:VIII

Maximilian Hart, St. John Vianney College Seminary (Espiritu Santo, Safety Harbor) Max is a native of Pinellas County where he has lived all of his life. He grew up in a close knit family and has two sisters (one older and one younger). Since kindergarten, Max has been home schooled though for the better part of the last year he has been also taking classes at St. Petersburg College. In his free time, Max enjoys reading, writing, and playing chess. He also is an accomplished magi-cian. Realizing that the call to priesthood is no mere sleight of hand, Max will begin St. John Vianney College Seminary in August.

Bradley Reed, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle) Brad is a native of St. Petersburg where he grew up. He attended St. Paul Catholic School until junior high and then began public school. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 2001. Brad has always been active in sports and plays tennis, golf, football, and baseball. He has one older sister and an older half-sister and half-brother. Brad has been considering the priesthood for a number of years and from 2007-2009, he was in formation with the Salesians of Don Bosco in Orange, NJ. He graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Catholic Theology and Philosophy from Seton Hall University in 2009. For the past year, he taught at the School of the Immaculata. Learning to accept God’s will in his life, Brad will begin First Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in August.

William Santhouse, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Tarpon Springs) Bill was born in Mineola, NY and moved to Florida with his family a few years later. He has one younger brother and two younger sisters. His mother passed away in 2007 and his father recently re-married. Bill attended public school in Tarpon Springs/Palm Harbor area and graduated from Palm Harbor University High School in 1999. Bill then went to the University of South Florida as a commu-nications major. Having a desire to do something more with his life, in the fall of 2002, Bill entered St. John Vianney College Seminary for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Bill graduated with a B.A. in Phi-losophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary in 2005 and then began theological studies from at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary that August. The following summer, Bill decided to take some

time off from the seminary as he searched for clarity in his vocation. Over the last few years, he has worked as a drug and alcohol juvenile counselor and more recently as a pharmacy technician. Bill enjoys sports (both playing and watch-ing) as well as spending time with friends. Realizing that God has not stopped calling him to the priesthood, Bill will be returning at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in August.

Tom Wilson, St. John Vianney College Seminary (Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle) Tom is a native of St. Petersburg where he attended Catholic school for all but two years of his life. He has one younger sister. He is a graduate of St. Jude’s School and in 2000 graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School. After high school, he spent one year at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Tom has always had an interest in computers and for a number of years has had his own computer consulting business. In 2006, he was in the pre-novitiate program with the Sale-sians of Don Bosco in Orange, NJ while taking classes at Seton Hall University. Realizing that the running from God does not compute, Tom will transfer into St. John Vianney College Seminary in August.

meet our new seminarians - CONTINUED

August 2010 3 Volume XVII:VIII

If someone would have told me twelve years ago that I would still be serving our diocese as Director of Vo-cations, I would have thought they were crazy! Yet for over a decade now, I have worked almost exclusively in this wonderful ministry of vocation promotion, discern-ment, and formation. It is a ministry that requires a lot and I have done my best to give my all to it, yet, like so many things in the Church, it has given to me far more than I have given to it. As many you are no doubt aware by now, I will be leaving the Office of Vocations at the end of the calendar year. Bishop Lynch felt that now is the time to begin the transition for someone else to take over this work of helping to provide priests and religious for and from our local church. I am very pleased that Fr. John Blum, the pas-tor of St. John Vianney on St. Pete Beach and Fr. Carl Mel-chior, the parochial vicar of St. Catherine of Siena, will be taking over the focused work of vocations ministry in our diocese. Both are excellent priests and I am sure that they will bring their own special and unique gifts to bear. Please pray for them as they begin to take on this responsi-bility in our diocese. Between now and the end of the year, I will be working with them so as to make as smooth a transition as possible. As I have said many times before, I believe that our seminaries do a great job in preparing men for the diocesan priesthood and parish life, yet at the same time do not prepare one at all for vocations ministry. For-tunately there are great organizations like the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD) that offer training, support, and guidance in vocations work. It has been a great grace to serve in NCDVD as well.

As I prepare to leave vocations work as a singular focus, I cannot but have some mixed feelings. I am cer-tainly ready and excited to go back to parish life. I look forward to whatever assignment the bishop gives me in that regard. On the other hand, I will certainly miss work-ing with our seminarians who are men of extraordinary character and potential. The future of the Diocese of St. Petersburg is in good hands indeed! I look forward to not having to rack up so many miles on my car and just being able to attend to the varied needs of God’s people in a par-ticular parish instead of worrying about who might be con-sidering the priesthood in every parish. On the other hand, I will certainly miss the interaction with those who are con-sidering a call to priestly service and the marvelous privi-lege it is to walk with them for some part of the journey. There are so many blessings that I cannot even begin to count and I am grateful to everyone with whom I have had the privilege to work and collaborate over the past dozen years.

Many people have said some very kind things to

me since the announcement of the change coming to the

Vocations Office and I am most grateful for those senti-

ments, but vocations work is much more than just about

one person. It is God who calls. It is Christ that works

within the individual. It is the Holy Spirit that enables and

ennobles the individual to respond. Yes, the Lord does

indeed use imperfect instruments like me in particular mo-

ments and circumstances, but that is merely the priesthood

of Jesus Christ shining through rather than the gifts, or for

that matter limitations, of a single person. This past year

dedicated to priests has been a year of great grace for the

Church, especially for priests. I thank the Lord for the

beautiful gift of His priesthood and will do my best to

bring his message of hope, forgiveness, and love to all

those I encounter in whatever future assignments await

me. Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!

Congratulations Fr. John Blum and Fr. Carl Melchior!

Avanti

Fr. Blum Fr. Melchior

Office of Vocations Email Change Please note that the email address for the Director of Vocations has changed from spvocation@aol.com to spvocation@dosp.org. Please make

sure to change this on your email address list as well as on your parish bulletin and/or webpage if you list it. This new email address will be used by Fr. Len Plazewski until December 31st after which the new Vo-cations Team will take over this email account. The current AOL email account will be discontinued later this month. The Vocations Webpage will remain www.spvocation.org as before.

August 2010 4 Volume XVII:VIII

Elbert Ballado, St. John Vianney College Seminary The Discernment Journey

It has been more than a year since I wrote a reflection for the Cast Your Net journal, previously called the Called to Serve. Regardless, I am writing this in the middle of the lazy summer months. I would like to pause for a moment and reflect on what this past year of formation has been for me.

First off, what a year it was. It was so busy and hectic particularly the fall semester. The seminary celebrated its Golden Anniversary which was an experience of grace for me because to see the alumni get together who were not necessarily priests but are very happy with whatever calling they are in life shows you how God works in mysterious ways – that we are not in control; He is the one calling. It is important I think that people should understand that anyone who goes to the semi-nary is not necessarily going to be a priest. There are many rea-sons why one would enter a seminary. Some have good and honest reasons that truly center on God but others are not so due to weakness, fear etc. To be frank with you, as of this writ-ing, I have my doubts to continue in this journey but that is not to say I am leaving or anything. Every seminarian experiences this and it is normal. It is amazing to reflect on this now because this past year I received tremendous graces that affirmed my vocation. In particular, the one grace that really stands out for me from my third year of formation was my greater love for this life of the priest: the life of sacrifice and pain; of joy, hope and healing all in one package. Despite all the recent scandals that have brought the Church to public embarrassment even to the point where our beloved Pope Benedict XVI called the sex scandals the Church’s “greatest persecution,” I received this grace from the Lord. I can only be grateful to God for this be-cause our priests need all the help they can get for they are not dealing with ordinary things here but the most sacred and di-vine. They are called for the salvation of souls against the pow-ers of Hell and what a daunting task that is! As I was saying, doubts do come and I like to compare this stage of confusion to Jesus’ own experience of trial in the desert. Even the Son of God and Lord of lords was not spared. How trivial, though, it is for me to compare my own trials with his. And this should bring me consolation because God understands what you and I may be going through.

As I conclude, the Lord is indeed in control and we are not. All we have to do is trust in his words and all will take care of itself: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Elbert Ballado was born in San Juan, Philippines. He is the eldest child of Armando and Elisa Ballado. He has two younger brothers. His family lived in Saudi Arabia for six years where he secretly received his first Holy Communion and his Confirmation because of the lack of religious freedom. In 2002, Elbert's family moved to the United States to Temple Terrace. They have lived in Riverview since late 2004. His home parish is St. Stephen. He graduated from King High School and spent one year at USF as an Electrical Engineer-ing major. He enjoys reading, playing violin and chess, sports,

drawing and target shooting. What attracted him to the priesthood is its sacrificial and life-giving nurture through the sacraments, especially the mass, and the priest's special bond or marriage to Christ through the Church. Elbert begins his Senior year at St. John Vianney College Seminary in August.

Jason Priela, St. John Vianney College Seminary The Struggle to Persevere

It all begins with a choice... In every road one almost inevitably faces many turns.

One encounters many challenges and so one never ceases to make choices. But no one person on a journey ever makes it alone. The success and outcome of one’s journey lies in his openness to accept the challenges and in his belief and trust to those who are with him in the journey.

When I joined the U.S. Air Force in 2001 I was very cer-tain that that is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My life was pretty much set, and I was almost very satisfied with the military routine. But God had a different plan. I left the Air Force in 2005 and began the process of discerning to enter semi-nary. Later in 2006 I decided to contact Fr. Len. I started the application process in March of 2007 and entered seminary for-mation in August of the same year. One might ask what prompted me to pursue such an outrageous if not radical change in my life amidst the seeming “success” in my chosen careers. My answer to this is—peace of mind and heart. In those years of financial bliss and with the notion of freedom to do whatever I want, I was searching to find peace. There were many sleepless nights where I found myself tossing and turn-ing, not understanding what seems to be causing such restless-ness. Looking back in my years of formation I have been filled with nothing but joy and peace in knowing that I have re-sponded to “the call.” The situation is totally different from my previous jobs… But there is peace. [But] seminary life is not all “bed of roses,” it is full of obstacles and challenges. Even after several years in formation I will tell you that there are times when I feel like I cannot push forward any longer. The journey can be very exhausting at times. There are many “What Ifs.” But through the years I have learned the importance of prayer in the struggle to persevere. The struggle not over an unworthy cause, but the struggle to realize what God has called me to do. And I believe that God does not call me to do something that will cause me to be un-happy, rather He wants only what is best for me. As I enter another stage in my journey to discerning God’s call this coming school year, I am filled with gratitude to be given the chance to experience the life of men who are open and trusting to give their lives in service to our Lord. I ask my-self, who am I to be loved as such, and to be invited to discern a calling to the priesthood? What can I boast except of my bro-kenness and weakness? I can respond only by His grace that, “Yes, Lord I will do what you ask of me...” It is hard for me to see past through my mistakes and sins, but I believe God’s love for me erases all and gives me the necessary strength to respond faithfully to His call. The struggle to persevere lies in the choice to believe and to surrender everything to Him who calls us.

Jason Priela was born in Zambales, Philippines. He grew up and finished his elementary education in the small rural town of Cas-tillejos, and then enrolled at St. Joseph’s High School in Olongapo City. After high school he attended the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila for one year, and then his family moved to the United States in September 1996. He has one brother and two sisters. His parents both worked in the U.S. Naval Station in Subic Bay prior

to emigrating to the U.S. Jason pursued a career in the pharmaceutical industry and in 2001 he joined the U.S. Air Force in response to the events of 9/11. Jason originally planned to stay in the service for 20 years, but things changed when in 2003 he experienced a deep spiritual poverty that led him to foster a deeper rela-tionship with God and began to learn more about his faith and understand himself. Through the guidance and spiritual direction of the Catholic chaplains he met while in active duty, Jason entertained the idea that God may be calling him to the priest-hood. Jason is entering his senior year in Philosophy.

Seminarian Perspectives

August 2010 5 Volume XVII:VIII

Jackson Reeves, St. John Vianney College Seminary Be All You Can Be

Well time is flying by fast. Two years have already gone by and it seems like I just started the application process. Though my journey has had its challenges, especially this past year, the joys and graces have far surpassed them. One of my struggles was balance. I needed more balance and time man-agement and focus on my studies. This is one of my goals for the coming year to be (not to use the Army Cliche ) all I can be and reach my full potential. I am writing to you from Omaha, Nebraska. I am working at the Institute for Priestly Formation or IPF. It has kept me very busy but I see the fruits of my labor very visibly. My daily responsibilities include buying breakfast for 200 seminarians who are theologians from all over the country. The guys taking the program are here to radically change their lives to that of Christ’s. This program allows for further formation, especially that of the spiritual life as that is its main focus. While I don’t get to sit in on any of their classes due to my daily tasks, I still hear a little bit of what the guys are learning. They have weekly conferences that I can go to, which gives me a deeper insight to what they are receiving. This has given me a taste that has left me hungering for more. I plan, hopefully, to attend the program in the future. Well, just as my journey has flown by, so has this summer I have already been here seven weeks and I have three more to go. Some days have been chaotic but others have been slow and have given me a chance to explore the area and experience the life of the Church in another part of the country. This, at first, took me out of my comfort zone but I quickly adapted. It is also amazing to hear all the different accents and experience the different traditions of my fellow seminarians and people of the “Heartland” of America. Also there are many different priests, religious, and laity who come to make up the faculty and spiritual directors.They too, come from all around the country and the world. This has been a big benefit to me as I am able to receive spiritual direction once a week (not to mention the great homilies.) The program is covered in a “dome of grace” as we have many people praying for IPF’s mission and participants year round. Experiencing the Church in other ways has al-lowed me to step outside of my comfort zone, reminding me that I can’t become to attached to the familiar, especially semi-nary (and home.) For seminary is not my goal or vocation, it is merely a pit stop, so to speak on my journey and walk with God. I look forward to starting another year in formation at St. John Vianney, to dive deeper into philosophy, and fall more in love with Christ.

Jackson Reeves was born in St. Petersburg and is a 5th generation Floridian. He has two brothers, Ryan, his older brother and recent graduate of Ave Maria University and Mack, who is a senior at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. His home parish is Most Holy Name of Jesus in Gulfport. He was homeschooled most of his life. He is an accomplished piano player. His passion is music and in his spare time he likes to play sports and go to the movies. What attracted him to the priesthood was being there at people’s most

critical points in their lives, especially through the sacraments. He is now a Junior at St. John Vianney.

Karl Schmidt, St. John Vianney College Seminary On a Mission

Greetings from Texas! I’m here on vacation with the family enjoying an amazing family reunion. It is not very of-ten that I get to see all my aunts, uncles, and a majority of my cousins from one side of the family since we are all so scat-tered around the United States. These reunions also bring a comforting feeling including going to mass as part of the gath-ering which plays an important roll in unifying the many gen-erations of family in faith.

Throughout my junior year I had been anticipating what this summer would bring, always asking myself how am I going to spend this summer? What always came to mind was that I wanted to have a good pastoral experience. I wanted to branch out a little, take a step out of my comfort zone and gain a step up the ladder of my life. My home parish Nativity was calling my name.

After coming home from seminary, starting on the first day of summer, I went straight to work going to meetings about my many assignments at Nativity. Things were grace-fully happening so fast. Some of the assignments include my involvement and presence with Life Teen, Life Force, Vacation Bible School, and Religious Education. Also, as a part of this summer I am part of an ongoing Life Teen Missionary Intern-ship. This is a small group of young adults with the goal of helping the parish out in many ways. Some of my responsibili-ties include leading a young adult bible study, being a sum-mer core member for Life Teen, and helping to introduce Life Teen and Life Force to those coming into high school and mid-dle school. I also help around the church office. Most impor-tantly we meet for prayer and meditation, go on prayer walks, attend mass, and attend adoration.

One of my major highlights of this summer was Na-tivity’s Mission Trip in La Victoria, Dominican Republic. I’ve been going on these summer trips for the past four years and have gained so much perception of the needs of the poor from those experiences. Through my eyes this trip was one of the best. I saw it as a great benefit to us as a mission retreat and to the Dominicans we met by sharing our love through giving, and showing that there are others who care no matter the lan-guage barrier.

It’s amazing that as this summer rolls along I come closer to my senior year. Time really does fly by fast. Through the many joys and graces received in my journey through for-mation there has never been a regret about this path as I go through it with an open mind and heart with the Holy Spirit always at my side to guide me.

Karl Schmidt was born in San Angelo, Texas. He has two younger sisters. Karl and his family moved to Brandon, Florida in 1994. His home parish is Nativity. He graduated from Nativity Catholic School in 2003 and Durant High School in 2007 as a member of the Durant Honor Court. Karl has been involved in many church and commu-nity activities such as being an active Boy Scout up through the sixth grade, helping with his parish’s Vacation Bible School, and also

being active in the Nativity Life Teen youth group. In his spare time he enjoys playing the guitar, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with his friends and family. His involvement with Life Teen and his help with the community greatly influenced his calling to the priesthood. Karl is a senior at St. John Vian-ney College Seminary in Miami.

Seminarian Perspectives - CONTINUED

August 2010 6 Volume XVII:VIII

Seminarian Canoe Trip

In July 21 of our seminarians went on a Canoe Trip on the Wekiwa River near Apopka. This is always a great time for the returning seminarians to catch up with each other and

to meet the new seminarians.

Serra Club Dinner Each year the Serra Club hosts a dinner for our seminari-

ans. The Serra Club supports vocations through prayer and also financially. They also host the monthly Holy Hour for Vocations at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on the

4th Wednesday of each month.

Bishop’s Bar-b-Que Each summer Bishop Lynch and the seminarians host a

BBQ . This is a casual setting where those discerning a call to the priesthood can talk to the seminarians and hear their

witness of their journey toward a vocation to the priest-hood.

vocation event highlights

August 2010 7 Volume XVII:VIII

Vocation Events

2010/2011

Mark Your

Calendars ! † ANIMAE VIA DISCERNMENT GROUP St. Paul, Tampa Thursday, September 16, 2010 (3rd Thursday of Month) † BUSY STUDENT RETREATS, USF, Tampa Oct. 10-14, 2010 and March 27-31, 2011 † PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY Sunday, October 31, 2010 † VOCATION AWARENESS WEEKEND RETREATS St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami November 12-14, 2010 and March 11-13, 2011 † ADVENT DISCERMENT RETREAT Bethany Center, Youth Center December 20-21, 2010 † NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK January 9-14, 2011 † PARISH VOCATION ENRICHMENT TEAM WORKSHOP, Bethany Center, Lutz January 29, 2011 from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m † FOCUS 11, St. Lawrence, Tampa February 16-17, 2011 † ALTAR SERVER APPRECIATION MASS Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 3:00 pm † WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS Sunday, May 15, 2011 † TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE ORDINATION Sacred Heart—Tampa Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 11:00 am † BISHOPS COOKOUT Thursday, June 2, 2011

Contact Us: Fr. Len Plazewski, Director of Vocations

(email: spvocation@dosp.org) Heidi Varley, Administrative Assistant

(email: hlv@dosp.org) P.O. Box 40200, St. Petersburg, FL 33743

(727) 345-3452 Website: www.spvocation.org

Our Seminarians St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary: Victor Amorose 3rd Theology Curtis Carro 1st Theology Steven “Chuck” Dornquast 1st Theology Jonathan Emery 2nd Theology Brian Fabiszewski 2nd Theology Bradley Reed 1st Theology William Santhouse 2nd Theology Kyle Smith 2nd Theology Anthony Ustick 1st Theology St. John Vianney College Seminary: Robert Angel Pre-Theology II Daniel Angel Junior Year Elbert Ballado Senior Year Andrew Bauer Sophomore Year Ryan Boyle Pre-Theology II Elixavier Castro Junior Year Daniel Darmanin Junior Year Sergio Fernandez Sophomore Year Felipe Gonzalez Senior Year Joshua Hare Freshman Year Maximilian Hart Sophomore Year Christopher McBride Junior Year Alexander Padilla II Junior Year Joseph Plesko Senior Year Jason Priela Senior Year Jackson Reeves Junior Year Karl Schmidt Senior Year Jonathan Stephanz Senior Year Gregory Visca Senior Year W. Thomas Wilson Sophomore Year Blessed John XXIII National Seminary: Timothy Corcoran 3rd Theology Pastoral Year: Viet Nguyen St. Paul, St. Petersburg Justin Paskert Corpus Christi, Temple Terrace

August 2010 8 Volume XVII:VIII

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