SEMINARIANS OF LEXINGTON

VOCATION DATES AND UPDATES

2010-04-13T13:01:00.009-04:00

Some important dates are upcoming:

MAY

May 14 / Ordination Practice / Cathedral / Time TBA

May 14 / Serra Club "Night Before Celebration" / Cathedral / Time TBA

May 15 / Ordination Breakfast with the Bishop for those to be ordained and their family / Cathedral / 8 AM

May 15 / Priesthood Ordination (Dcns. Michael Flannigan and Carols Martinez / Cathedral / 10:30 AM

May 25-27 / Seminarian Convocation / Cliffview / Check In 11AM-12 PM
"Discernment of Spirits" Fr. Hank Kenney, S.J.

JUNE

June 1 / Summer Assignment Begins

June 5 / Diaconate Ordination (Jeff Estacio) / St. Martha's Prestonsburg / 5 PM

JULY

July 27 / Bishop's Seminarian Cookout / Bishop's Residence / 5 PM

VOCATION UPDATE

Summer Assignments

I will be meeting with the Bishop in the next few weeks to finalize summer assignmnets. When they have been finalized I will let you know.

Culture of Vocations in the Parish

Bishop Gainer has asked each Pastor and Parish Life Director to appoint a "Hands of Mary" Vocation Liaison for the parish. This person will help promote a culture of vocations and to support vocations in each parish. Some of the possible activities that the "Hands of Mary" could do include a Holy Hour for Vocations, Seminarian Support, Vocation Cross Program, Vocation Awareness and Prayer. Parishes have been excited about this and we now have over 20 "Hands of Mary" Vocational Liaisons in place with more to come. I will fill everyone in on the long range goals for promoting a culture of vocations in the diocese at the seminarian convocation.

IChose You

Our I Chose You website is being completely revamped. It will contain resources for our parishes and schools to promote vocations. We get about 30,000 hits per month and we are excited about the update. Again, more about this at the convocation.

Vocation Poster

Our "Chosen" diocesan vocation poster has been getting rave reviews. If you have not received your copy, then let me know and we can mail it to you or you can get one when you are in.

Holy Cards

We are currently planning to turn the "Chosen" vocation poster into a holy card to be used throughout the diocese. We hope to have these before the ordination but this will depend on fundraising. When we get them, we will give you some copies.

Vocation Brochure

We are also in the planning phase for a Diocesan Vocations Brochure. Bring any vocation ideas that you have to the convocation and we can talk about them. We will have a brainstorming session during the convocation.

Vocational Inquiries

We are starting to gather statistics in the vocation office so we can more objectively evaluate what we do to promote vocations. One statstistic that we have is the number of vocational inquiries that we receive each year. Last year (2008-2009), we received 33 inquiries and accepted 3 men for the seminary. This year (2009-2010), we have received 52 inquiries so far. We do not how many men will be accepted for the seminary but we hope to at least reach our average which is 3.15 new seminarians per year. Our goal is quality, not quanity, and I am edified by the quality of the men that are interested. Please keep these discerners in your prayers.

In Christ,
Fr. Steve Roberts

BISHOP'S I CHOSE YOU DINNER

2010-02-05T12:09:00.006-05:00

On Feb. 4th, 19 men who are seriously discerning entering the seminary enjoyed a dinner and Q and A session with Bishop Gainer. Please keep these men in your prayers.

DIOCESE OF LEXINGTON VOCATION POSTER

2010-02-01T15:42:00.002-05:00

SEMINARY VISITS / CHRISTMAS SOCIAL EVENT / BISHOP'S CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR SEMINARIANS AND THEIR PARENTS

2009-12-11T14:41:00.003-05:00

I have completed all of the Fall Semester visits and it was great to see all of you!!!!

The diocese is blessed.

The above picture was taken during my St. Meinrad visit. Their annual Christmas Dinner and Banquet was held during my visit and a good time was had by all!!!

I am planning a get together for all of us, and some of those who are discerning, for Thursday, December 17th. We will meet for supper on that evening. Exact place and time to be announced, but keep the date open!!

As you all know, the Bishop's annual Christmas party for seminarians and their parents will be held on Monday, December 28 at 5 PM at the Bishop's residence. If you haven't already, please RSVP with Greta.

May you have an abundance of blessings during this Advent Season.

Fr. Steve Roberts

DATE CHANGES IN SEMINARY VISITS

2009-11-02T09:35:00.006-05:00

Listed below are the dates of my remaining seminary visits. There are some changes because several things have come up in months of October and November that have made it necessary for me to change the dates of my seminary visits. I hope this has not created problems for anyone.

Mundelein Seminary November 4th - 5th

Simon Brute Seminary November 23rd -24th

St. Meinrad Seminary December 3rd - 4th

Sacred Heart Seminary December 6th- 7th

I will be traveling to Rome November 15th - 21st for my last bioethics exam.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

DEACON RICHARD WATSON AT SOLEMN HIGH MASS

2009-11-02T08:11:00.012-05:00

Deacon Richard Watson has recently completed the training to assist as deacon at a Solemn High Mass. Last Sunday (Oct 25) the Feast of Christ the King in the old calendar, he assisted for the first time as deacon at a Solemn High Mass at St. Stanislaus in Milwaukee. This included chanting the Gospel, the third Confiteor (after the presider's commuion) and the Ite missa est. This was also the patronal feast of the Institute of Christ the King Soverign Priest who are assigned to St. Stanislaus to make available the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.

Other pictures of the Mass on Oct 25 are available at the following link (Click on "News" and then "Solemn High Mass")

http://www.institute-christ-king.org/milwaukee

VOCATIONS OFFICE UDATE / CALL TO PRAYER AND SACRIFICE

2009-10-29T15:00:00.006-04:00

Hope all are doing well!!! You are in my daily prayers.

I am asking for your prayers. The Bishop's Vocation Dinners are upon us. This year the dinners are on November 9 at St. Joseph's in Winchester and November 11 at Sacred Heart in Corbin. (Both at 6PM) Please pray and make some sacrifice for the success of these dinners. As you know, God answers prayers. Any of you who can attend are more than welcome.

We have several men who are in serious discernment on whether God is calling them to enter the seminary. So I am also asking you to pray and make some sacrifice for these men that they will be open to what God wants them to do and then follow through. Again, God answers our prayers, especially the prayers of His seminarians. We are asking Serra Club members and members of our parish vocations committees to do the same. It amazes me the support that people give to vocations. You have so many people praying for you.

St. Joseph's Parish in Winchester just started a new Parish Vocations Committee!!! We met with them last night and they are so supportive of you. Again, many prayers for you and for vocations.

As you know, Bishop Gainer's surgery went well. He is at home resting. Please keep him in your prayers.

I am looking forward to the remainder of my seminary visits and looking forward to seeing you all.

In addition to the Bishop's Dinner for you and your parents, I will try to arrange some social event over the Christmas break where we can all get together and invite some of the men who are discerning to come.

Don't hesitate to call if you need anything.

In Christ,
Fr. Steve Roberts

To Be "God's Gatekeeper": A Reflection on the Sacrament of Penance

2009-09-03T09:58:00.005-04:00

The following is an article by Fr. Danny Fister to be published in the next edition of CrossRoads, one in a series by priests in the diocese for the Year of the Priest.

To Be “Gods Gatekeeper”. A Reflection on the Sacrament of Penance.
By Father Danny Fister, Priest of the Diocese of Lexington

Although the few months following my May 16th ordination to the Priesthood have been marked by many difficult transitions it has been an amazing time in my life. Presiding over the Sacred Mysteries of our faith have made the many challenges of priestly formation seem worth while. Although each of the mysteries demands that the priest act in the person of someone who is more real than himself, the sacrament which I have come to love the most, and which has humbled me most, is that of Penance or “Confession”.

Whether it has been at the hospital on a “death-bed” or in the confessional at the Cathedral I always have the feeling that after I speak the words of absolution the gates of Gods grace are re-opened to my brothers and sisters, some of whom have been away from the sacraments for many years. Often times I will even say “Welcome Home”, much like the Fathers reaction to the return of his prodigal son in the scriptures.

I think that the reason I have such a great affinity for this particular sacrament is because it has always been a very important part of my own spiritual life. The reason I am able to approach sinners with love and mercy is because I too am in need of this same love and mercy. This sacrament has also served as a help in my coming to understand more deeply what the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is all about, as I silently place before the altar my own failures, and those of my brothers and sisters, during the Penitential Rite at the beginning of the celebration.

So often we hear it said that Confirmation is “the Sacrament of Christian Maturity”, but in truth the Sacrament of Penance or “Confession” is the true mark of Christian maturity. It is there in that dark little box that something extraordinary happens. We place our failures before our loving Father knowing that he will give us the strength that we need to carry our crosses with dignity. It is in the Sacrament of Penance that God repairs the armor that he gave us at Baptism so that we might live courageously in a world which pulls us in so many crazy directions. I think I would feel more comfortable saying “God absolves you of your sins”, but the priest is humbled by saying “I” absolve you from your sins, as he is reminded that at that time he acts in the person of Jesus, the Fathers conduit of sanctifying grace.

I am always reminded when celebrating this sacrament of the words of St. John Marie Vianney, and of St. Louis De Montfort. When reflecting upon the priesthood, St. John Vianney wrote, “The Priest is the Love of the Heart of Jesus”. I have to remind myself that I am to be a reflection of the Love of Jesus for the people of God. That I must offer up my own struggles and sufferings for the sanctification of the Body of Christ. I must always remember that the “Heart of Jesus”, which St. John Vianney is talking about was “pierced”, and out flowed his love for the world, his very blood which was meant to wash away our sins.

In a similar way St. Louis De Montfort reflected upon the Blessed Virgin. The Saint believed that in order to understand Mary’s relationship to Jesus we must understand the Moons relationship to the Sun. The Moon has no light coming from itself, it merely reflects the bright rays of the Sun in the midst of the darkness of night. Mary is thus like the Moon, she is not a divine person, all grace which flows through her is a reflection of her Son, Jesus.

I believe that the priest is called to be this same reflection. We are not divine persons. Yet, God has instituted the Priesthood to reflect the grace of his Son; to reflect his mercy in the midst of the worlds darkness. Where there is the darkness of sin the priest serves as the beacon which leads his brothers and sisters to the gate of Heaven.

In the seminary we are taught to understand what the Priesthood is all about theologically, but I am finding that actually living out the Priesthood is something completely different. I hope that I have made it clear in this article that I believe that the priest finds himself once he looses himself within the mysteries that he celebrates. For every priest that journey will look different, but as for me I see myself as being called to become “Gods Gatekeeper” always pointing the people of God not to myself, but to the kingdom of Heaven…Home.

IMPORTANT DATES

2009-09-01T09:14:00.006-04:00

Important Dates for Lexington Seminarians

SEPTEMBER (2009)

Sept 26 Bishop's Chosen Day (St. John Vianney One Man Play) Prestonsburg / 5PM
Sept 28 Bishop's Chosen Day (St. John Vianney One Man Play) Danville / 6 PM
Sept 29 Bishop's Chosen Day (St. John Vianney One Man Play) Christ the King / 7 PM
Sept 30 Bishop's Chosen Day (St. John Vianney One Man Play) Lexington Catholic / 1 PM

OCTOBER (2009)

Oct 22-23 Vocation Director Visit to St. John Vianney

NOVEMBER (2009)

Nov 9 Bishop's Vocation Dinner Winchester / 6 PM
Nov 11 Bishop's Vocation Dinner Corbin / 7 PM
Nov 12-13 Vocation Director Visit to St. Meinrad
Nov 16-17 Vocation Director Visit to Mundelein Seminary
Nov 18-19 Vocation Director Visit to Sacred Heart Seminary
Nov 23-24 Vocation Director Visit to Bishop Brute Seminary

DECEMBER (2009)

Dec 28 Bishop's Christmas Dinner for Seminarians and Parents

MARCH (2010)

Mar 4-5 Bishop's Visit to Sacred Heart Seminary
Mar 9-10 Bishop's Visit to St. John Vianney Seminary
Mar 18 Bishop's Visit to Bishop Brute Seminary

APRIL (2010)

Apr 13-14 Bishop's Visit to Mundelein Seminary
Apr 19-20 Bishop's Visit to St. Meinrad Seminary

MAY (2010)

May 14 Serra Club "Night Before" Ordination Party
May 15 Priesthood Ordination / CTK Cathedral
May 25-27 Seminarian Convocation / Cliffview

JUNE (2010)

June 1 Summer Assignments Begin
June 5 Diaconate Ordination / Prestonsburg, KY

JULY (2010)

July 27 Bishop's Seminarian Summer Cookout

THE WORLD LOOKS TO THE PRIEST . . .

2009-07-31T09:15:00.004-04:00

"The world looks to the priest, because it looks to Jesus! No one can see Christ; but everyone sees the priest, and through him they wish to catch a glimpse of the Lord! Immense is the grandeur of the Lord! Immense is the grandeur and dignity of the priest!"

Pope John Paul II
Rome, Italy, October 13, 1979

SEMINARIANS NEEDED AT YOUTH EVENT IN CORBIN- Wed, August 12

2009-07-30T11:19:00.004-04:00

My brothers,

I'm in need of some help that you can provide!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th, ~6-9 PM.

Here's the story: the parish here at Sacred Heart has a real love for seminarians. Isn't that cool? They REALLY love us! We're in the midst of planning a "Youth Celebration" just as school is starting for middle school and high school around here. The evening includes mass, a pancake supper, and two really *crazy* events - one is either me or the youth coordinator will be turned into a human ice cream sundae (depending on who loses the most weight).

Anyway - during the pancake supper, the parish *really, really* wants to welcome and hear from two or three other seminarians. I know we're not doing Rock-the-Collar this year, so this event could be a 'one-night-only' tour date. Something special is promised to happen if I can get five seminarians here for this event. (I don't know yet if that something special will involve humiliating me or not... chances are, it might. LOL.) Can you let me know by reply email if you're able to attend?

Anyway - PLEASE consider making the trip to Corbin to join in this great event. It will mean a lot to the parish - and a lot to the youth. And, as you know, any time we can share our vocation story we've got an opportunity to nurture the calling God may be placing in lives. We have a place to stay and you're welcome to stay tuesday and/or wednesday evenings. (The rectory here is very comfortable and we have plenty of room.) You'd be welcome to stay over Tuesday and/or Wednesday evening if you like.

OK - I'll quit bugging you. Again - please help me encourage the youth and parish here!

Peace,

Alan

SEMINARIANS WELCOME AT FAMILY HOLY HOUR: Tues, August 18

2009-07-30T11:11:00.006-04:00

Mary Graeler has graciously invited any seminarians that can come to the August Family Holy Hour at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary. Bishop Gainer will lead the Holy Hour.

This is a wonderful event that I have had the opportunity top lead on several occassions. It is a great experience. Priests and seminarians will be serving the children pizza after the event.

If you are around Lexington and have not gone back to the seminary, it may be something you would considering coming to.

You are most welcome.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

UPDATE 4: DEACON RICHARD WATSON IN MEXICO

2009-07-27T20:38:00.004-04:00

lunes 13 de julio

This evening we had a tour of the old Carmelite convent which is now the Center for Culture and the Arts. Fr. Pena's niece, Laura, sings in a professional group and she gave us a tour of the center and then we had the opportunity to sit in on the group's rehearsal.

martes 14 de julio

This evening we had dinner at one of the best restaurants in downtown Morelia with Dr. Fred de Rosset, the director of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)program and a professor at Berea College. Fred was instrumental in setting up the program in Morelia for seminarians. After a delicious dinner, we attended a concert in the Cathedral. The pipe organ in the Cathedral is considered on of the best in the world. We heard the Coro de Carmara del Instituto Superior de Musica Sacra de Morelia. It was an excellent night of music with the chorus singing sacred music accompanied by organ and a brass quintet.

miercoles 15 de julio

Today after class we had mass at the school. Fr. Marcello celebrated mass in Spanish and all the seminarians had a role in the mass. I was deacon of the mass and took those parts in Spanish. This evening we had our final dinner with Fr. Pena and his sister and niece. The headlines in the paper "La Voz" today read: violence escalates. The twelve bodies found dumped outside of Morelia along the roadside were those of Federal Agents. They were killed in retaliation for the arrest of someone important in the drug cartel La Familia. President Calderon's home state is Michoacan and the drug cartel was seeking vengence against the president and his government. We will return to Mexico City on July 24 as a group to be on the safe side. I was scheduled to travel on July 26 alone. I will have a couple of extra days in Mexico City.

jueves 16 de julio

Today is the feast of Nuestra Senora del Carmen (Our Lady of Mount Carmel). After class today we returned to the Dominican convent to pick up our hand made vestments. I picked up the two priest stoles that the nuns had made for me. They are beautiful. Tonight at the Carmelite Church was a huge fiesta with music, food, fireworks, and mass. Arzobispo Alberto celebrated the mass. When he was processing out of the church, he spotted me in the crowd and waved and yelled in English, "How is the deacon?" Many people were enrolled in the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel after mass. I blessed dozens of scapulars.

viernes 17 de julio

Today after class I returned home, packed my bag and headed for the Cathedral. The Leon family met me at the Cathedral at 1:00 PM to take me to there farm in Guanajuato state. The Leon's are from Mexico, but life in Nicholasville. For many years Jose has wanted me to visit his farm in Guanajuato and finally I had the chance. When I arrived at the Cathedral the Leons were there and I was so happy to see them. The line for confession was short for once and so I decided to go to confession in Spanish. I had been practicing the formula in Spanish and felt I was ready. It was a good experience and I even have a joke in Spanish from my confession experience that I am going to use in my homily at St. Leo's on August 2.

This afternoon we arrived in the city of La Piedad (translated...The mercy of Jesus). This is the city closet to the Leon's farm (10 km.) and still in Michoacan state. We visited Maria's parents and they let me use the phone to call my teacher...she worries and I made a phone call to the States. Next we went to the supermarket to buy groceries for the weekend. The Leons like paletas which are like
> popscicles. My favorite is aqua jamaica made from the jamaica flower. That evening after arriving at the farm we visited Jose's family including his 89 year old father Adolfo. The Leon's were concerned about me and farm life...I assured them I would be OK having grown up on a farm in Southern Kentucky.

sabado 18 de julio

Saturday morning we had a big breakfast to prepare for our trek in the mountains. We had eggs, tortillas and frejoles. We planned to climb the mountains on the Leon farm...las mountanas coloradas, but first we had to move some cattle from one pasture to another because they were experiencing a severe drought. We then hiked in the mountains for 4 hours. Maria cut some cactus to cook and picked some leafs of a plant to make a tea (te noritis). At one point we could see three states: Michoacan, Guanajuato, and Jalisco. The views from the mountains were amazing. As soon as we arrived home a huge rain storm came. After such a long drought the rain was most welcome and Jose's father said, "I knew it would rain, you brought the padre to the rancho." Saturday evening we went to La Piedad and visited three churches: Santa Ana,
La Purisima, and El Senor de la Piedad. The pastor at El Senor de la Piedad asked me to assist as deacon at the 8:00 PM mass, fortunately the Gospel was short since I had not practiced it in Spanish. At this mass a quinceanera was celebrated (a celebration for a 15 year old girl).

domingo 19 de julio

This was the only day I was sick during my six weeks in Mexico. I could come to Mexico without experiencing Montezuma revenge. Maria went to the pharmacy and got some medicine. The Leon's drove me back to Morelia since I had classes on Monday. I had a wonderful stay at their farm and it became apparent that Joses's older sister wanted to adopt me...they are expecting me to make a return visit someday. In Morelia, the Leons offered to take some things back to Kentucky for me since they would be traveling home Thursday in their van...they are bringing my 3 kilos (6.6 lbs) of coffee with them so I don't have to pack it for the flight home.

lunes 20 de julio

We began our last week of classes and there were not many activities scheduled for this week outside of class.

martes 21 de julio

Today after class and homework, I went to the cinema and saw La Propuesta (The Proposal) with Sandra Bullock.

miercoles 22 de julio

I enjoyed the movie yesterday so much that after class I saw my second movie in Mexico, Harry Potter y El Mistero del Principe. I was bargain movie day and I think half of the million people in Morelia saw Harry Potter that day. I saw the movie for 35 pesos (about $3.00).

jueves 23 de julio

Today I gave my last homily in class. We would give homilies in class about twice a week. It would take a few hours to write a homily and then just a few minutes to present it, but these exercises will be most helpful in the future as I preach in Spanish. After class we played a New Testament board game (in Spanish of course). Obviously, it is a little harder answering scripture questions in Spanish vs. English. This evening I attended my last mass at the Cathedral in Morelia.

viernes 24 de julio

Today we took the bus that is going to pick up 21 students from Tennessee to Mexico City. Before we left Morelia, one of the families (Ramirez-Torres) gave me a book in Spanish about St. Paul and a box of Ferreo chocolates (yum!). After the four hour bus ride we arrived in Mexico City and settled into the hotel and then had dinner.

sabado 25 de julio

This morning the group from Tennessee was scheduled to go to the Basilica and then the pyrimids. James and I went to the Basilica with them. I was asked to give a history of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Basilica. James and I went to the noon mass at the Basilica and the group went on to the pyrimids. After the Basilica, James and I took the metro (subway) back to the hotel...we had to take four different trains to get from the Basilica to the hotel. Tonight it rained a lot (of course).

domingo 26 de julio

This morning, James and I walked to the Cathedral Metropolitan for morning mass and then returned to the hotel for breakfast and saw the new students off as they headed
for Morelia.

I have confirmed my flight for tomorrow. I have a taxi scheduled and will leave the hotel at 4:00 AM for the airport. I fly to Atlanta and then arrive in Lexington on
Monday at about 5:30 PM.

When you read this newsletter, I will be home. Si Dios quiere (If God wills it).

This has been a tremendous six weeks. I have learned so much about the culture of the Mexican people and Catholicism in Mexico. My language skills have improved greatly. I can actually read the book about St. Paul that I received as a gift and on Aug. 2 we will find out if I can preach in Spanish??!!

Thanks to the Kentucky Institute of International Studies for making this seminarian immersion program possible. Directors: Dr. Fred de Rosset (Berea College) and Dr. David Earnest (Murray State University) and the Director in Morelia: Itzia Gamino and of course our outstanding teacher: Vickie Rodriquez.

Muchas gracias y Dios te bendiga!

Diacono Ricardo

UPDATE 3: DEACON RICHARD WATSON IN MEXICO

2009-07-14T11:18:00.007-04:00

The past two weeks have been busy and very exciting as you will see.

martes, 30 de junio:

Two seminarians from the Archdiocese of Morelia have become our friends: Julio Calderan and Irvin Monje. Today Julio invited us to his house where his mother had prepared a lunch of enchiladas and of course tequilla too. I know I mention tequilla in every update, but after all I'm in Mexico and I can´t drink the water!

jueves, 2 de julio:

This evening we were at mass at the Cathedral and then the seminarians taught an English class at the Center for Culture and Language. These local students are studying to be certified English teachers in Mexico.

viernes, 3 de julio:

Tonight we had our cooking class. We cooked and ate a typical Mexican meal. The menu included: Crema de cilantro (soup), tacos dorados con polla y ensalada (fried tacos with chicken and served with a cream sauce and salad - one of Bethay´s favorites at Dorangos), agua de jamaica (dried jamaica flowers are boiled and strained and then the drink is served chilled) and finally that famous Spanish desert flan (custard). The meal was delicious and I now have all the recipes, but they are in Spanish with Spanish measurements. I made the flan again recently and it turned out great.

fin de semaña (the weekend):

No out of town excursion this weekend because of the National Elections. We are told it can get a little crazy (dangerous) especially in the pueblos - rural areas. When I was at the Cathedral there were lots of police en centro but no problems. I attended mass at the Cathedral and they just happened to have a wedding scheduled for that mass as well. I have now celebrated, particpated in or observed most of the sacraments: baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings, and a wake. If I could only get in an ordination! Sunday night we went to James´ house to watch futbol (soccer). Mexico played Nicaragua and won 2 to 0. Now that I am understanding the rules of futbol a little better, I am becoming a big fan, especially of Mexico.

lunes, 6 de julio:

Today in class Colin and I gave our class presentation on the life of Beato Miguel Pro a Mexico priest and martyr who was executed during the Cristos Wars in 1927 at age 36. He is famous for shouting ¨Viva Cristo Rey¨ (Christ the King lives) before he was executed. For those who do not know Blessed Miguel Pro is honored in a stain glass window in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington. In class we are also practicing (in Spanish of course) saying Mass, preaching, and hearing confessions (our pretend confessions get pretty interesting). By the way...I passed my mid-term exams. Gracias a Dios! Today for lunch Julio (the seminarian from Morelia) invited us to lunch again, this time to a celebration for a relative who just graduated from high school...we get invited to everything!!!

martes, 7 de julio:

A noche sueño en español - Last night for the first time I dreamed in Spanish. You´re probably wondering if I understand the words...of course I did, it was my dream.

miercoles, 8 de julio:

Today I had sushi for lunch at a Japonese restaurant with friends from the internet cafe and with some students that are here now from Murray State and Berea College.

jueves, 9 de julio:

Tonight Fr. Marcello cooked filipino food for us at his house. I made the dessert - flan.

viernes, 10 de julio:

Father Marcello and I live about a mile apart and we were both awakened at 2 AM with what at first sounded like loud fireworks. It turned out that it was drug and gang related and was gunfire and grenades. The police sirens went on for a long time. Another shot-out occured the next evening, but it has been quite since. I don´t mention this to alarm anyone, but it is a reality of the culture. We are all being very careful, especially at night and are safe. Another highlight of the trip occured this morning. We had a meeting with the 35th Archbishop of Morelia, Arzobispo Alberto Suarez Inda. We were permitted to visit the archives where the records for the diocese go back to 1586. We also got to view a Greek New Testament manuscript from the year 240. I had the chance to give the Archbishop a purple (episcopal colors) twine rosary that I had made for him. He seemed to like it and immediately put it around his neck. We were also permitted to see a solid silver baptistry that is in the Cathedral. For lunch, our other seminarian friend Irwin, invited us to his house. His mother prepared tacos dorados.

sabado, 11 de julio:

Today we had an excursion to Santa Clara del Cobre, where copper is mined and they are famous for their copper crafts. It was a great place to buy souvenirs. We then traveled to the town of Patzcuaro which was founded in 1540. They claim to have founded the first university in the Americas. Besides visiting the first Cathedral of Michoacan and the Basilica, we visited a Third Order Franciscan Church. In the church is a miraculous life-sized crucifix. On July 21, 1656 the corpus (body) on the cross miraculously changed positions on the cross in front of many people. The crucifix in enclosed in a glass room above the high altar. It is rare for people to go into this room with the crucifix, but the priest allowed was that incredible opportunity. In the evening, we attended mass at the Cathedral in Morelia.

domingo, 12 de julio:

Today a local priest Fr. Roberto Peña invited us to spend the day at the country club. We justified this by saying we are here to learn the Mexican culture and not everyone in Mexico is poor. We spent most of the day by the pool and in the sauna. Speaking of the sauna...while we were all in the sauna an older Mexican gentleman approached me amidst the steam and was quoting a line from the baptisms I had done a couple of weeks ago. He then asked me the names of the children I had baptized. I said, Maria and Aljeandro. He said I am Aljeandro's abuelo (grandfather). It is incredible that there are a million people in Morelia and Aljeandro's grandfather is in the sauna at the same time. He of course treated me and the other seminarians to a Corona, notice I didn´t say tequilla. We had lunch at Fr. Roberto's house and then returned to James´ house to watch futbol...Mexico vs. Guadalupe. Mexico won 2 to 0.

I return to the US on July 27 and should be able to send one more update before I return home. I continue to have a great time and have learned so much. I will certainly remember the word llevia (rain) since it rains everyday.

Also, I want to invite all of you to my first Spanish Mass where I will preach the homily in Spanish. It will be at St. Leo´s in Versailes on Sunday, August 2 at 6 pm.

Dios te bendiga!

Ricardo

THE MOON AS A SYMBOL OF THE CHURCH

2009-07-10T08:00:00.005-04:00

The following is from an essay entitled "The Church's Credo: Why I Am Still in the Church" by Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, on the moon as a symbol for the Church:

The application of the moon symbolism to the Church by the Fathers proceeded mainly from two points of departure: from the connection between moon and woman (mother) and from the idea that the light of the moon is borrowed light, the light of the sun, without which the moon would be mere darkness; it shines, but its light is not its own light but rather the light of another. It is darkness and brightness at the same time. The moon itself is darkness, but it bestows brightness that comes from another heavenly body whose light it transmits. Precisely therein, however, it represents the Church, which shines even though herself is dark: she is not bright because of her own light, but, rather, she receives light from the true Sun, Christ, so that she, although only earthly stone herself (like the moon, which, after all, is just another earth), nevertheless can give light in the night of our remoteness from God--"the moon tells of the mystery of Christ." . . .

In the age of moon voyages an expansion of the comparison suggests itself, in which the specific features of our situation (including the reality that is the Church) can be made visible through this contrast of physical and symbolic thought. The moon voyager or moon probe discovers that the moon is only stone, desert, sand, mountains, but not light--not in itself, but from another source and to another purpose--and it remains so even in the age of space travel. It is what it itself is not. . . .

And now I ask: Is that not the a very exact image of the Church? Someone who drives over it and extracts samples with a moon probe can discover only desert, sand, and stone, the all-too-human foibles of man and his history with its deserts, its dust, and its heights. That is hers. And yet it is not the essential thing about her. The decisive thing is that she, although only sand and stone herself, is the light that comes from the Lord, from the other . . .

To put it quite concretely, It is the Church that, despite all the human foibles of the people in her, gives us Jesus Christ, and through her can we receive him as a living, authoritative reality that summons me here and now. . . .

And because the Church, and she alone gives us Jesus Christ, causes him to be alive and present in the world, gives birth to him again in every age in the faith and the prayer of the people, she gives mankind a light, a support, and a standard without which humanity would be unimaginable.

MEET OUR NEW SEMINARIAN: JONATHAN HUBER

2009-07-10T07:44:00.002-04:00

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Dear friends in Christ, I, Jonathan Huber, your servant, introduce myself to you. I have asked, and it has been given. I have sought, and I have found. I have knocked, and the door has been opened. As the Diocese of Lexington’s new seminarian, I stand at an open door. Let me tell you about myself, and then let us glorify the Lord together.

I am the second of four sons of happily married parents, and grew up in Lexington, KY and Winchester, KY. I played baseball as a child and football up through high school. I am a convert to the faith, being raised in a range of denominations from the Apostolic Church of America to non-denominational to Baptist. As a child and young man I knew who God was, and learned the great stories of scripture, but my interests were in the world. I attended the University of Kentucky blindly for about a year, unsure of my path in life, and lost interest. On a whim I decided maybe the service was the life for me. And I pursued a military career signing up with the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman. Ironically, the motto for the Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis, Latin meaning “always faithful.”

And about two weeks later I watched, along with the rest of our country, as the Twin Towers were attacked and destroyed, taking thousands of souls with them. Now, in a state of war, and as a marine infantryman, I knew exactly where I was going. I was going to the front lines to wherever the danger was. And though I thought I was strong, my heart dropped. Three tours to Iraq followed within my four years of active service, and I witnessed a pure manifestation of evil most probably could not dream. I am proud of what I did, for the Lord was training me. Of course, I only realize that now. I was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart, which, by the way, is not one we Marines wanted, because that meant you got hurt. My guardian angel was working hard, and the Lord spared me many times, yet I still did not acknowledge him, nor give Him the reverence He was due.

On my final tour, as a seasoned combat vet, I had a young private under my command. A quiet young man, much as myself, who wanted to prove himself. I had a humvee, on which I operated the mounted machinegun, and four team members that I went out with on each patrol. The idea being that we would become one in our reactions and observations. And this young private, God rest his soul, wanted to go on patrol. And, of course, I was afraid to send him out, because he had not seen a firefight yet. He was ready, and prepared, but I didn’t know how he would react under fire. If he froze up, it may mean the lives of my entire team or even more. I preferred to go myself. I wasn’t expecting to make it out this third tour alive, anyhow. Late one evening, we were scheduled for a routine patrol around a government building and the area we had been assigned to control. I was exhausted, and this young private asked me if he could take my place. It had been quiet for a few weeks, and no intelligence was in concerning enemy activity, and I gave in. “Ok. You can go.” I checked his gear and our weapon and sent him on his way.

So I went to check email (we finally got a make-shift computer lab set up so we could contact our families). Later on a friend of mine happened by who had been on radio watch, keeping contact with my unit on patrol, who said “something bad has happened, but I can’t tell you yet.” Now, something bad was always happening, and it didn’t really strike me as odd right off the bat. But our patrols usually lasted around four hours, give or take, and it was now morning. Probably seven hours or so since our patrol had left the compound. Come to find out we sustained a catastrophic kill, meaning an entire vehicle and all its passengers had perished. Of course, that vehicle was the one I called my own. My friends were killed in a huge roadside bombing. And that young private no longer needs to prove himself to anyone.

“Fear came upon me, and shuddering, that terrified me to the bones. Then a spirit passed before me, and the hair of my flesh stood up.” Job 4:14-15. God is so patient, and finally He got my attention. And I began to pray, to pray very hard as we went out on missions. That God might see me home. And of course He did, because I asked Him.

I eventually began to seek God regularly after the end of my service. And again I sought Him and asked Him, and again He showed me and answered me, and He led me to the Catholic Church. I was eventually baptized and came into full communion with the Church. And as I grew in the faith, I continued to ask, and seek, and knock. Now I have arrived at the present, as a seminarian, for God, the Church, and for you.

I know I can never repay God for His mercy, for it is only through His grace I am where I am today. But I tell you this, friends, I will surely try hard to carry out His will. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 16:13. And I gladly lay down my life for God, and for you. Let us pray for one another and bless His holy name.

“I am on a journey from which I shall not return.” Job 16:22

Benedictus Deus,

Jonathan Huber

BISHOP'S CHOSEN DAY - "Vianney" by Leonardo DeFilippis

2009-07-09T12:31:00.008-04:00

The Vocation Office is excited to announce the performance of a one-man play depicting the life of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Priests. This is to both celebrate the Year of the Priest and to promote vocations in the diocese.

I know all of you will be in seminary at this time, but if it is convenient and you would like to come to one of the shows that would be great. So keep these dates in mind.

The dates and times are as follows:

St. Martha in Prestonsburg Sept. 26th at 7:00 PM
Sts. Peter and Paul in Danville Sept. 28th at 6:00 PM
Christ the King in Lexington Sept. 29th at 7:00 PM
Lexington Catholic Sept. 30th at 1:00 PM

As I mentiuoned in earlier postings, we have many men who are in the discernment process, so please pray for them!!!!

In Christ,
Fr. Steve

"O, HOW GREAT IS THE PRIEST"

2009-07-02T10:02:00.005-04:00

"He [The Cure of Ars] spoke of the priesthood as if incapable of fathoming the grandeur of the gift and task entrusted to a human creature: 'O, how great is the priest! . . . If he realised what he is, he would die. . . . God obeys him: he utters a few words and the Lord descends from Heaven at his voice, to be contained in the small host.'"

From Pope Benedict XVI's Letter to Clergy for The Year of the Priest

June 18, 2009

UPDATE: ALAN CARTER AT SACRED HEART PARISH IN CORBIN

2009-07-02T09:14:00.003-04:00

My Cup Runneth Over...

My brothers - I miss you!! I pray for us every day, and pray particularly that your summer experiences are unfolding in ways that further your discernment and formation, and draw you ever closer to the priesthood you're called to in whatever vocation you discover is yours. It is precisely this that I have experienced in every moment since I arrived in Corbin. My words won't be able to convey the fullness of my heart - I'm so full of blessing at this summer assignment that my cup genuinely runs over.

The month of June for me has been a time of building relationships, listening, and trying to show the people of Sacred Heart here in Corbin that I'm happy to be here. And I'm happy to say its working (I think). I was lucky to have visited with Fr. Joe Koury about a month before getting here - and we were able to discuss his vision for my summer there, and I was able to share with him my needs as well. I love and trust Fr. Joe - and have genuinely appreciated his willingness to mentor me, share some of his ministry with me, and allow me to participate fully in the life of the parish.

From the first day I get here (literally just hours after moving in) I've attended parish meetings (parish council, finance council, outreach committee, liturgy committee, vocations committee) - and they've invited me to be not only an observer, but an active participant. Just before arriving, the parish had conducted a survey of how the parish could better meet the needs of the faithful here, and with Fr. Joe's encouragement, July will see an opportunity for me to contribute to those needs.

I'm entering into the life and routine of the priest in some ways, and am discovering a spirituality and a spiritual practice that I'm seeing can feed my hunger for 'depth' without detracting from what needs to be done. I serve Fr. Joe at the altar each day - sometimes two or three times on the weekend as we support the Church in Williamsburg as well. I'm coming to understand in part how serving the Lord at the altar becomes itself an act of love for God and the community that you truly pour all of yourself into, but that comes back to you 'pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing'. Each day, I give myself time for spiritual reading and reflection (often discussed on my blog) - and spend time each day with the Mass texts either for the coming day or the coming Sunday. I've been writing 'little practice reflections' as I do this to cultivate the habit of preparing to nourish the community with the Word of God.

I get to visit many who are sick in the parish - some in nursing homes, some at home with long-term illnesses. This regular (once or twice a week) ministry reminds me that we truly bring Christ to folks who need Him. There's nothing like walking into a room, visiting and praying with someone, offering them Holy Communion according to the Rites of the Church - and watching in amazement as you see before you a person energized by the body of Christ. In those moments I genuinely know that I've done nothing but made myself a vessel - the results of that ministry are plainly more than I could ever accomplish - and its humbling to be a part of that. Several have asked me to schedule to be with them for procedures at the hospital over the rest of the summer - and I can't tell you how humbling that is. Pray that I might bring Christ's peace to them in their moments of health crisis. The chaplain at the local hospital has arranged for me to have a 'clergy id' and invited me to come any time I like to visit brothers and sisters of many denominations in the hospital to pray with them and encourage them - I plan to do each week as well.

Vacation Bible School (last week) was awesome! We had about 80 children - and being in charge of 'game time' with the older teens gave me a chance to get to know them and their siblings and families.

I've also spent about 30 hours this past month preparing for the liturgy this weekend when the Bishop comes to Sacred Heart to celebrate the Jubilee of Fr. Tom Imfeld. I never knew that preparing for a liturgy could take so much time - but I'm learning a TON, and getting to work with Karen in the Worship Office to understand how to pour myself out in honor of the litrugy through which we all come close to Christ. I'm coming to understand that liturgical service is not just at the altar - but that the pastor can really have been giving himself all week to the Sunday sacrifice of the mass, just as a father and husband gives himself all week to his family. That Eucharist will be the absolute high point of this effort - but through God's grace I will be able to join the prayer and preparation that has gone into it as part of the humble gift I bring to be transformed into an acceptable sacrifice at that Mass. WOW! God is so good!

I've rambled on enough, so let me end with how I'll be spending my July. The parish here has been so loving and welcoming that I've been given many opportunities to enter into their spiritual life. With Fr. Joe's support and encouragement, I'm planning to have a VERY full month. In addition to the weekly liturgy schedule and getting to the gym three or four times a week (WATER AEROBICS ROCKS!!!), here's what I'll be up to:

Monday Evenings - Bible Study
I'll be leading a 5 week Bible study on the Gospel John with parishoners.

Tuesday Evenings - Family Gym Night
Sacred Heart has a great gym space - I'll be supervising a two hour 'open gym' with some of the older teens who helped with VBS and parents so that parishoners and folks in the area who want can enjoy the facility in a family-friendly and safe environment.

Wednesday Mornings - Legion of Mary
If you don't know about the Legion of Mary, you gotta' check it out. They've invited me to participate in their meetings, and my goal is to do this at least every other week.

Wednesday Evening 6pm - Summer Adoration Catechesis Series
Every Wednesday during July I'm leading a catechesis before adoration for parishoners who want to learn about the Holy Hour, or who want to deepen their devotion to it. Each week we're covering different topics like the history of eucharistic devotion, the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Lectio Divina, and the Liturgy of the Hours - and how these practices can enhance a holy hour. Adoration will follow each session.

Wednesday Evening 8pm - Coffee & Dessert w/the Seminarian
Primarily for the parish Youth Group, we're getting together to just have some time to discuss. I'm doing some writing this summer on vocations and the mysteries of the rosary, and my hope is that I can get input from the teens on how each of the mysteries of the rosary can speak to young people to inform their vocational discernment.

Thursday Evening - Family Gym Night
Same as above - just also on Thursday evenings.

Sunday Evening - Movie Night
To get their week started off with some good fellowship and fun, the youth coordinator and I will take the youth group (and really any who want to join us) to the movies. Simple but good fun.

There's a busy month ahead - but I'm EXCITED about it. Fr. Joe asked if I was worried about having so much to do given I was on summer break. Heck No!!! This stuff rocks! I could do it forever...

...if that's not something to inform my discernment, I don't know what is.

God bless you all, my brothers. I hope your summers are as full of life and love.

- Alan

UPDATE (2): DEACON WATSON IN MEXICO

2009-07-01T09:27:00.007-04:00

viernes, 26 de junio
We attended a concieto this evening at San Pedro Church in my neighborhood. The group was excellent, similiar to our Lexington Singers. They performed a diverse selection of songs...Gregorian chant, classical songs and then concluded with a few more contemporary pieces. Before the concert I was introduced to el pastor of San Pedro. He told me he needed un diacano to do bautismos en domingo. At first I thought he was kidding, but he wasn´t...so I found myself scheduled for two baptisms on Sunday.

sabado, 27 de junio
Today we had one of our out of town excursions. We first went to the island of Jnitzio. It is in the middle of the second highest lake in the world. We took a boat to the island and then climbed to the top of the Morelos statue which honors a famous priest and patriot of Mexico. About 2,000 people live on the island and make their living from fishing and tourism. Next we went to the pyrimids at Tzinzuntzan, an amazing archealogical site. Next to this site is a town founded by the Franciscans in 1531, same year that Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego. We visited the oldest Franciscan church and convent in Michoacan state. After the excursion, I rested and prepared for domingo which I knew would be very busy.

domingo, 28 de junio
Sunday morning I walked, about 30 minutes, to San Pedro church for the 9:00 AM mass. Fr. Florente, one of my classmates from the Philipines, celebrated the mass and I assisted as deacon. During the mass about 12 ninos receiced primera comunion. After mass, I enjoyed some wonderful Mexican food at the church fiesta celebrating San Pedro. At 11:30 am I celebrated two baptisms. A little nina named Maria and a little nino named Alejandro, from two different familias. It was a wonderful experience. After the evangelio, gospel, I even gave a little homilia in espanol. After the baptisms, Padre Florente and I hurried to the Igelesia de Nuestra Senora de Esperanza to meet our teacher and classe for another first communion mass. After the mass we went to a catered reception where I have to admit I enjoyed a tequila fresca, a cold tequila drink. Last night I had to catch up with piles of tarea, homework. By the way, I had been reading the novel, The Bluegrass Conspiracy...I finished it last night. I have no more English novels, so in my free time, I guess I´ll start reading Spanish magazines.

lunes, 29 de junio
This morning we had class for 4 hours and this afternoon I am heading to el correo, the post office, en centro to mail tarjeta postales, postcards. This evening for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, we will be back at San Pedro church for confirmation. The bishop will be there and el pastor has already asked me to be deacon at the confirmation with the bishop. Today I have been practing the gospel in Spanish.The Dominican sisters are making two priest stoles for me. They do beautiful work. One stole is reversable, purple on one side for confessions and white on the other side. They will embroidery the IHS and a cross on both sides of the stole. The other stole is a white Marian stole with a beautiful Marian symbol and roses embroideried on it. Even with all of the intricate work the stoles are only 450 pesos each, about $40...what a deal.

All is well and I thank God everyday for the blessings I am receiving. Thanks for your prayers and I remember you all in prayer each day.

Dios te bendiga!
Ricardo

UPDATE: DEACON WATSON IN MEXICO

2009-06-30T15:58:00.005-04:00

Brothers:

I arrived in Ciudad de Mexico on martes, 16 junio, and was met by our Spanish instructor and two of the other seminaristas. We waited for two more seminaristas and then transfered to our hotel -Hotel Gillow- in centro. We visited the National Cathedral and then had dinner.Miercoles, 17 junio was an exciting and busy day.

El seminaristas were scheduled for a private mass in a side chapel of the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe in the morning. After visitng the site of the apparition to Juan Diego and the old Basilica we discovered that we would be assisting at mass at the main altar of the Basilica. El seminaristas served at mass as acolytes and I was the diacono of the mass. What an honor! I was seated directly in front of the tilma with the image of Nuestra Senor de Guadalupe. Unbelievable experience, serving at mass and distibuting holy communion in the Basilica.

In the afternoon, we went to the pyrimids outside of Ciudad de Mexico. We climbed several pyrimids, including the third largest pyrimid in the world, the Pyrimid de Sol - pyrimid of the sun. At dinner for the first time I ate cooked catcus and drank an alcoholic beverage made from catcus...also had a little tequila. This certainly helped with the pain in the legs from climbing 360 steps up the Pyrimid of the Sun. After dinner we attended the wake of our tour guides niece who at age 12 had died from chicken poxs. The family are indigenous -indios- and the wake was a mix of Catholicism and native religious practices.

Much rain on this evening. The rainy season has arrived and it has rained everyday that I have been in Mexico.Jueves, 18 junio. We attended mass at 8 AM at the Cathedral Nacionale and then visited the Placio. The Placio is the office of the presidente de Mexico. We checked out of the hotel and then spent the remainder of the morning at the Museum of Anthropology. In the afternoon we departed for Morelia - a four hour drive. As soon as we crossed the border into Michoacan State no more English was allowed. I feared it might be the beginning of a silent retreat, but I was amazed that my espanol was better than I thought when I had to speak it.

Upon arriving in Morelia, we were met by our host familias. I am stay with Antonio and Eugenia Bravo. They have a lovely casa and it is very comfortable. So far the food has been amazing. Eugenia is an excellent cook.Viernes, 19 junio. Today we took a walk tour of centro -downtown- Morelia beginning the the Cathedral. In the afternoon, we went to la escuela for orientation. Classes begin on lunes and we already have tarea -homework. We are required to read the lectionary reading for Monday and be prepared to discuss in espanol...of course. The afternoon was free and I decided to take the bus to centro, but I got on the wrong bus. After about an hour, I decided I would change buses and finally ended up in centro at 5 pm...just in time for mass at the Cathedral. The mass was the Soleminity of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus - the Sacred Heart. God does have a way of beautifully working things out. Last night all of the seminaristas and their familias had a traditional Mexican dinner in a restaurant.Sabado, junio 20. This morning I had desayuno -breakfast- with mi familia. It is surprising that we are having wonderful conversations at our meals together. They speak on English with me...only espanol. After breakfast, I took a weeks worth of laundry to the lavanderia. They will do my laundry and have it ready by lunes. They charge by the pound and also give the seminaristas a descuesto -15% discount. The charge for my weeks laundry was 51 pesos -a little more than $5.00. The autobus into cento is only 5 pesos -50 cents and a taxi one way 30 pesos or $3.00. After taking my laundry to la lavanderia, I took the autobus to cento, this time the correct one, and the driver dropped me at an internet cafe near the Cathedral. That has us up to date.I am going to leave the cafe and head to mass at the Cathedral and then explore cento until Comida, our big meal of the day, which is around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I will return to mi casa por comida today at 3 pm. Cena or dinner is at 8 pm and is much smaller than comida.Must run. I am having the time of my life.

Me gusta -I like- Morelia and being immersed in the culture and the language.Starting lunes I will have classes on lunes - viernes from 8 - 12 with tarea todas dias, homework everyday. I hope to check emails more often as there is an internet cafe cira -close- to school.Adios!

que Dios te bendiga!

diacono Ricardo

POPE PIUS XII ON THE PRIESTHOOD

2009-06-12T17:35:00.001-04:00

MENTI NOSTRAE: ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOLINESS IN PRIESTLY LIFE (13-15)

The first striving of a priestly soul should be towards the closest union with the Divine Redeemer, towards the complete and humble acceptance of the precepts of Christian doctrine, and towards such a diligent application of those precepts at every moment of his life that his faith will illumine his conduct and his conduct will be a reflection of his faith.

Led by the light of this virtue, let him keep his eyes fixed on Christ. Let him follow closely His Teaching, His actions and His example, convincing himself that it is not sufficient for him to accomplish the duties enjoined on the ordinary faithful. He must strive with ever increasing efforts to tend to perfection of life in keeping with the high dignity of the priesthood according to the warning of the Church: "Clerics must live both interiorly and exteriorly a holier life than lay people, and must excel them in giving an example of virtue and good deeds".

The priestly life, since it arises from Christ should always and in everything be directed towards Him. Christ is the Word of God and did not disdain to assume human nature. He lived a life on earth in order to obey the will of the Eternal Father. He spread around Himself the fragrance of the lily. He lived in poverty, and "went about doing good and healing all". Finally, He offered Himself as a victim for the salvation of His brethren. That, beloved sons, is the summary of the wonderful life proposed to you. Strive with all your strength to reproduce it in yourselves and recall His words of exhortation: "For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also should do".

Pope Pius XII

ALLAN FREDERICK'S SUMMER EXPERIENCE AT JESUS OUR SAVIOR IN MOREHEAD

2009-06-12T17:15:00.006-04:00

My summer assignment this year takes me to "Jesus Our Savior Parish" in Morehead, Kentucky.

I have been here since May 13, 2009 and my experience so far has been good. My first priority was to get to know the community and the people that make up this wonderful Parish. Fr. Paul Prabel has been very gracious and opened the parish to me.

Since summer tends to be a very slow time in any parish, my involvement has been participation in daily, weekly worship and miscellaneous social events in the parish. I am also very involved with Fr. Jay Von Handorf in Spainsh ministry. In addition, I am also spending my time helping out in homeless shelters, food pantries and organizing clothe distribution to the poor, visiting various nursing homes and distribution of the Eucharist. On Thursdays I go to New Hope Center in Owingsville which provides free clinical support to people who don't have the means or insurance to pay for health care.

In order to expand my knowledge of Eastern Kentucky and its people, I will be spending some days with Fr. Will Fraenzle in Pikeville, Elkhorn City and Phelps. I believe this summer experience will greatly help me to continue my discernment process and enhance my understand of the ministries which make up this part of the Diocese.

In Christ,

Allan Frederick

MEET OUR NEW SEMINARIAN

2009-06-11T16:15:00.000-04:00

Peace be with you all!

My name is Matthew Dubravcak, and I’ve just been accepted as a seminarian of the Diocese of Lexington. I’ve been asked to write and tell you all a bit about myself, so I’ll give a good try.

I was born in 1988, into a military family in Anchorage, Alaska. My father, Ed, retired from the United States Army in 1996 after serving his country honorably for over 20 years as an officer posted to the Military Police Corps (“MP”). My mother, Karen, is a former Army nurse and presently works at a community bank in Danville. The family didn’t stay in Alaska long. Shortly after my birth, my father received orders to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where we stayed through Operation Desert Storm (a.k.a. the Gulf War). After that it was San Francisco, California and then overseas in Belgium, where my father then retired.

After my father’s retirement, the family moved to Danville, Kentucky. And we’ve lived there ever since. I’m now 21, and happy to be Catholic. And now a bit more about that…

I’m a convert to Catholicism. From what, I don’t know. But the first time I ever experienced a Catholic Mass was on March 3, 2003, which that year was the first Sunday of Lent. I can still remember that moment today. I was halfway through high school then, looking for a parish home, and now was hearing this Vietnamese priest (Fr. Linh Nguyen) chanting the Mass in a nice harmonic voice. I was hooked. RCIA followed, during which time I managed to convert my mother and father as well, and formally entered the Church at the Easter Vigil on April 10, 2004.

Not long afterward, the initial seeds of my vocation took root. I quickly, and rapidly, began discerning whether the priesthood was indeed where God was calling me. I was involved to such an extent that I was seriously considering schools, and actually made visits to Mundelein, St. Meinrad, and to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania. But eventually prayer led me away from the priesthood, and instead to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond after my graduation from Danville High School in 2006. At first, I declared a History-Teaching major, but changed it after one semester to Communication Studies. My sophomore year was spent as a RA in an all-freshman residence hall, an experience all its own. I learned that it really does take an RA to understand what an RA really does! Don’t knock it till you try it!

But its really been the past year (as a junior) that the priestly vocation I discerned coming out of high school began to reconstitute itself in my life again. All along, I’ve been very active in the Campus Newman Center, a ministry of St. Mark Parish in Richmond. I was soon recognized as a student leader, and this past semester I was chosen to be the Liturgy Chair on the Newman Student Council. In that role, it was my responsibility to schedule people for the various ministries during the weekly Newman Center Mass each Sunday. Hikes, retreats, Tuesday Scripture studies, and Wednesday Newman Nights characterize my experiences there. I really did love it that much, and I know I made friends that will last a lifetime for sure. No regrets!

But in January 2009 I took the next step. I applied for candidacy as a seminarian in our wonderful diocese. I was quickly put in touch with SJV and with our wonderful friend Rob Adams. I experienced certain aspects of the SJV day, Morning Prayer, Holy Mass, a spaghetti fundraiser in a nearby town, and of course Buffalo Wild Wings. And, three months later, I’m now a seminarian.

I consider Saints Peter and Paul in Danville to be my parish, and I recently celebrated my 21st birthday in April. And, to satisfy our curious brethren over age 21, my favorite beer is Corona Extra. On the topic of things I enjoy, I like hiking, reading Catholic books, praying the Breviary, and hanging out with friends whenever possible. Another hobby horse of mine is following the American Catholic hierarchy, and believe me I have numerous inroads with a wide variety of Catholic bishops throughout the U.S. I’m a big prayer card collector, and I have a massive collection of them back home. I also enjoy reading up on the Black Hand in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

I hope to meet you all sometime soon, and God Bless you all. May the Blessed Mother intercede for us always!

Quaerite Faciem Domini!

INFORMATION FOR THE SEMINARIAN CONVOCATION

2009-05-04T17:15:00.006-04:00

Just some details concerning the upcoming Seminarian Convocation. This year we will be touring Eastern Kentucky and visiting some of our parishes and look at just a sampling of the many great ministries going on in the diocese. It also gives us a chance to look at the many opportunities and challenges for ministry in our mission diocese, meet some of the wonderful Catholics in Eastern Kentucky and getting their take on what its like being a Catholic in a very Protestant area; and to witness the beauty of the Appallachian mountains.

Fr. John Rausch, a Glenmary priest, who has been doing work in Appalachia for several decades will lead the convocation.

The convocation will begin at the Catholic Center on Tuesday, March 26 at 8:30 AM. After loading the vans, we will have morning prayer, breakfast, and an orientation by Fr. Rausch at 9:00 AM. We hope to leave the Catholic Center for Eastern Kentucky by 10:00 AM.

More detailed schedule will be forthcoming.

The convocation will end on Thursday, May 28. We should arrive at the Catholic Center by 5:00PM.

Dress will be informal.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

POPE BENEDICT XVI AND THE PRIESTHOOD

2009-04-28T08:09:00.005-04:00

This is Pope Benedict XVI's Chrism Mass homily given on April 9, 2009.

I wanted to share this homily with you if you have not already had the opportunity to read it. I found it very beneficial and have received many graces from reflecting on the gift and responsibilities of sharing in Christ's priesthood. It is wonderful material to take to Lectio.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the Upper Room, on the eve of his Passion, the Lord prayed for his disciples gathered about him. At the same time he looked ahead to the community of disciples of all centuries, “those who believe in me through their word” (Jn 17:20). In his prayer for the disciples of all time, he saw us too, and he prayed for us. Let us listen to what he asks for the Twelve and for us gathered here: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, so that they also may be consecrated in truth” (17:17ff.). The Lord asks for our sanctification, our consecration in truth. And he sends us forth to carry on his own mission. But in this prayer there is one word which draws our attention, and appears difficult to understand. Jesus says: “For their sake I consecrate myself”. What does this mean? Is Jesus not himself “the Holy One of God”, as Peter acknowledged at that decisive moment in Capharnaum (cf. Jn 6:69)? How can he now consecrate – sanctify – himself?

To understand this, we need first to clarify what the Bible means by the words “holy” and “sanctify – consecrate”. “Holy” – this word describes above all God’s own nature, his completely unique, divine, way of being, one which is his alone. He alone is the true and authentic Holy One, in the original sense of the word. All other holiness derives from him, is a participation in his way of being. He is purest Light, Truth and untainted Good. To consecrate something or someone means, therefore, to give that thing or person to God as his property, to take it out of the context of what is ours and to insert it in his milieu, so that it no longer belongs to our affairs, but is totally of God. Consecration is thus a taking away from the world and a giving over to the living God. The thing or person no longer belongs to us, or even to itself, but is immersed in God. Such a giving up of something in order to give it over to God, we also call a sacrifice: this thing will no longer be my property, but his property. In the Old Testament, the giving over of a person to God, his “sanctification”, is identified with priestly ordination, and this also defines the essence of the priesthood: it is a transfer of ownership, a being taken out of the world and given to God. We can now see the two directions which belong to the process of sanctification-consecration. It is a departure from the milieux of worldly life – a “being set apart” for God. But for this very reason it is not a segregation. Rather, being given over to God means being charged to represent others. The priest is removed from worldly bonds and given over to God, and precisely in this way, starting with God, he must be available for others, for everyone. When Jesus says: “I consecrate myself”, he makes himself both priest and victim. Bultmann was right to translate the phrase: “I consecrate myself” by “I sacrifice myself”. Do we now see what happens when Jesus says: “I consecrate myself for them”? This is the priestly act by which Jesus – the Man Jesus, who is one with the Son of God – gives himself over to the Father for us. It is the expression of the fact that he is both priest and victim. I consecrate myself – I sacrifice myself: this unfathomable word, which gives us a glimpse deep into the heart of Jesus Christ, should be the object of constantly renewed reflection. It contains the whole mystery of our redemption. It also contains the origins of the priesthood in the Church, of our priesthood.

Only now can we fully understand the prayer which the Lord offered the Father for his disciples – for us. “Sanctify them in the truth”: this is the inclusion of the Apostles in the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the institution of his new priesthood for the community of the faithful of all times. “Sanctify them in truth”: this is the true prayer of consecration for the Apostles. The Lord prays that God himself draw them towards him, into his holiness. He prays that God take them away from themselves to make them his own property, so that, starting from him, they can carry out the priestly ministry for the world. This prayer of Jesus appears twice in slightly different forms. Both times we need to listen very carefully, in order to understand, even dimly the sublime reality that is about to be accomplished. “Sanctify them in the truth”. Jesus adds: “Your word is truth”. The disciples are thus drawn deep within God by being immersed in the word of God. The word of God is, so to speak, the bath which purifies them, the creative power which transforms them into God’s own being. So then, how do things stand in our own lives? Are we truly pervaded by the word of God? Is that word truly the nourishment we live by, even more than bread and the things of this world? Do we really know that word? Do we love it? Are we deeply engaged with this word to the point that it really leaves a mark on our lives and shapes our thinking? Or is it rather the case that our thinking is constantly being shaped by all the things that others say and do? Aren’t prevailing opinions the criterion by which we all too often measure ourselves? Do we not perhaps remain, when all is said and done, mired in the superficiality in which people today are generally caught up? Do we allow ourselves truly to be deeply purified by the word of God? Nietzsche scoffed at humility and obedience as the virtues of slaves, a source of repression. He replaced them with pride and man’s absolute freedom. Of course there exist caricatures of a misguided humility and a mistaken submissiveness, which we do not want to imitate. But there also exists a destructive pride and a presumption which tear every community apart and result in violence. Can we learn from Christ the correct humility which corresponds to the truth of our being, and the obedience which submits to truth, to the will of God? “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth”: this word of inclusion in the priesthood lights up our lives and calls us to become ever anew disciples of that truth which is revealed in the word of God.

We can advance another step in the interpretation of these words. Did not Christ say of himself: “I am the truth” (cf. Jn 14:6)? Is he not himself the living Word of God, to which every other word refers? Sanctify them in the truth – this means, then, in the deepest sense: make them one with me, Christ. Bind them to me. Draw them into me. Indeed, when all is said and done, there is only one priest of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ himself. Consequently, the priesthood of the disciples can only be a participation in the priesthood of Jesus. Our being priests is simply a new and radical way of being united to Christ. In its substance, it has been bestowed on us for ever in the sacrament. But this new seal imprinted upon our being can become for us a condemnation, if our lives do not develop by entering into the truth of the Sacrament. The promises we renew today state in this regard that our will must be directed along this path: “Domino Iesu arctius coniungi et conformari, vobismetipsis abrenuntiantes”. Being united to Christ calls for renunciation. It means not wanting to impose our own way and our own will, not desiring to become someone else, but abandoning ourselves to him, however and wherever he wants to use us. As Saint Paul said: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). In the words “I do”, spoken at our priestly ordination, we made this fundamental renunciation of our desire to be independent, “self-made”. But day by day this great “yes” has to be lived out in the many little “yeses” and small sacrifices. This “yes” made up of tiny steps which together make up the great “yes”, can be lived out without bitterness and self-pity only if Christ is truly the center of our lives. If we enter into true closeness to him. Then indeed we experience, amid sacrifices which can at first be painful, the growing joy of friendship with him, and all the small and sometimes great signs of his love, which he is constantly showing us. “The one who loses himself, finds himself”. When we dare to lose ourselves for the Lord, we come to experience the truth of these words.

To be immersed in the Truth, in Christ – part of this process is prayer, in which we exercise our friendship with him and also come to know him: his way of being, of thinking, of acting. Praying is a journey in personal communion with Christ, setting before him our daily life, our successes and failures, our struggles and our joys – in a word, it is to stand in front of him. But if this is not to become a form of self-contemplation, it is important that we constantly learn to pray by praying with the Church. Celebrating the Eucharist means praying. We celebrate the Eucharist rightly if with our thoughts and our being we enter into the words which the Church sets before us. There we find the prayer of all generations, which accompany us along the way towards the Lord. As priests, in the Eucharistic celebration we are those who by their prayer blaze a trail for the prayer of today’s Christians. If we are inwardly united to the words of prayer, if we let ourselves be guided and transformed by them, then the faithful will also enter into those words. And then all of us will become truly “one body, one spirit” in Christ.

To be immersed in God’s truth and thus in his holiness – for us this also means to acknowledge that the truth makes demands, to stand up, in matters great and small, to the lie which in so many different ways is present in the world; accepting the struggles associated with the truth, because its inmost joy is present within us. Nor, when we talk about being sanctified in the truth, should we forget that in Jesus Christ truth and love are one. Being immersed in him means being immersed in his goodness, in true love. True love does not come cheap, it can also prove quite costly. It resists evil in order to bring men true good. If we become one with Christ, we learn to recognize him precisely in the suffering, in the poor, in the little ones of this world; then we become people who serve, who recognize our brothers and sisters in him, and in them, we encounter him.

“Sanctify them in truth” – this is the first part of what Jesus says. But then he adds: “I consecrate myself, so that they also may be consecrated in truth” – that is, truly consecrated (Jn 17:19). I think that this second part has a special meaning of its own. In the world’s religions there are many different ritual means of “sanctification”, of the consecration of a human person. Yet all these rites can remain something merely formal. Christ asks for his disciples the true sanctification which transforms their being, their very selves; he asks that it not remain a ritual formality, but that it make them truly the “property” of God himself. We could even say that Christ prayed on behalf of us for that sacrament which touches us in the depths of our being. But he also prayed that this interior transformation might be translated day by day in our lives; that in our everyday routine and our concrete daily lives we might be truly pervaded by the light of God.

On the eve of my priestly ordination, fifty-eight years ago, I opened the Sacred Scripture, because I wanted to receive once more a word from the Lord for that day and for my future journey as a priest. My gaze fell on this passage: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth”. Then I realized: the Lord is speaking about me, and he is speaking to me. This very same thing will be accomplished tomorrow in me. When all is said and done, we are not consecrated by rites, even though rites are necessary. The bath in which the Lord immerses us is himself – the Truth in person. Priestly ordination means: being immersed in him, immersed in the Truth. I belong in a new way to him and thus to others, “that his Kingdom may come”. Dear friends, in this hour of the renewal of promises, we want to pray to the Lord to make us men of truth, men of love, men of God. Let us implore him to draw us ever anew into himself, so that we may become truly priests of the New Covenant.

Amen.

"NIGHT BEFORE" CELEBRATION

2009-04-27T12:05:00.004-04:00

The Serra Club hosts a wonderful social event the evening prior to priesthood ordinations. The details for this year's are as follows:

The "Night Before" Celebration

Friday, May 15, 2009

Cathedral of Christ the King
Parish Center (Lower Level)

Causual Dress -Drinks - Lots of Food

RSVP to;
Bob Conochalla
BConochalla@FireHouseSubs.com
859-351-2992

From personal experience, I can say that this is one of my favorite events. It is a great time to sociaize with your fellow seminarian brothers from other seminaries, show support for your brother who is about to be ordained, and meet many of the Serra Club members who are such wonderful supporters of the seminarians and priests in our diocese.

I pray that all is going well for all of you as the school year begins to wind down.
Be assurred of my daily prayers for each of you.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

HAPPY EASTER

2009-04-14T08:46:00.005-04:00

I pray that all of you had and continue to have a blessed Easter!!!

It was great for me to get to meet with some of you during Holy Week. For some, it was the first time that we had the chance to meet.

It is a tradition in our diocese that our priests gather for breakfast with the Bishop on Holy Thursday each year as informal way to celebrate the institution of the priesthood. It is a wonderful time to spend time with my fellow priests and Bishop Gainer. This year, there were about 4o priests in attendance. A good time was had by all.

It is also a great opportunity for our seminarians to come and spend time with the priests of the diocese. This year, Rev. Mr. Danny Fister, Rev. Mr. Michael Flannagan, and Mr. Jeff Estacio were able to attend.

I continue to spend alot of time meeting with men who are in the various stages of the vocational discernment process. The list seems to grow every week. The Lord in His goodness continues to call men to share in His priesthood, to be other Christs.

YOUR PRAYER FOR THESE MEN IN DISCERNMENT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

Be assurred that each of you are in my daily prayers. You were offered up to the Lord during the Holy Sacrafice of the Mass at the Easter Vigil that I concelebrated.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

GOOD FRIDAY

2009-04-10T13:29:00.005-04:00

"the peril of the Church, indeed of humanity, consist in bleaching out the image of Jesus Christ in an attempt to shape a Jesus according to our own standards, so that we do not follow Him in obedient discipleship but rather recreate Him in our own image!"

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

"Introduction" to The Lord by Romano Guardini (Ignatius Press)

This is a wonderful quote for us to take to prayer on this Good Friday as we meditate on the sacrificial Love of Christ as revealed by His Cross, and God's call to us to imitate that same Love, especially if we are called to share in His eternal Priesthood.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN SJV SEMINARIAN

2009-04-03T22:04:00.003-04:00

For those of you who don’t know me very well, my name is Rob Adams. I am nineteen years old and I entered seminary immediately after high school. This is my first year at St. John Vianney College Seminary (SJV). SJV is located in sunny St. Paul, Minnesota. It is a unique seminary in that it is located right in the middle of the campus of the University of St. Thomas. The late Bishop John Roach founded SJV with the idea that the seminary should be a leaven to the university, and the university should be a place for pastoral training of a seminarian.

Our day begins bright and early at 5:30. We have a half hour to get ourselves cleaned up and drink enough coffee to get through 6am Holy Hour. All seminarians have to be in the lobby by 6 for the Angelus. After the Angelus we all rush to get a seat in chapel. SJV has so many seminarians that our chapel is not large enough for everyone to get a seat. To remedy this problem, first year guys (New Men) have to alternate between sitting in the chapel or in folding chairs in the lobby. We always chant Morning Prayer and there are always opportunities for Confession during the remainder of the Holy Hour. Immediately after Holy Hour, we have Mass, and after Mass we all head over to the university’s cafeteria to grab a quick breakfast before our 8:15 classes. In between classes we usually head to the library to study.

In the afternoons we have Evening Prayer at 4:45 in the chapel followed by dinner in the cafeteria. After dinner we usually have about an hour to hang out with the other guys or do whatever else we want to do. From 6:30-8:15 we have mandatory study hours in the seminary. At 8:30 we have either floor meetings, diocesan meetings, or fraternity/company meetings depending on the day. These meetings usually last until at least 9:00, but most guys enjoy hanging out and chatting about their day. SJV doesn’t have a mandatory curfew, but the seminary encourages us to go to bed around 10:00. In consideration of the guys who want to get to bed early, there is mandatory silence in the halls beginning at 9:30 on weeknights and 1:00am on weekends.

MEET OUR NEW SEMINARIAN: JASON HALL

2009-03-30T08:13:00.008-04:00

As I have just been accepted as the newest seminarian for the diocese, Fr. Roberts asked me to write an introductory post for this blog. My name is Jason Hall, and I'm a member of Good Shepherd parish in Frankfort. Some of you I know, others I hope to meet soon, but I am incredibly excited to be joining all of you in the process of ongoing discernment and preparation for ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ!

I was born in Owensboro and spent most of my early years there, with a brief stint in Barren County during my elementary school years. My father is a Free Will Baptist minister, and pastors a FWB church in Owensboro that was founded by my grandfather. Growing up, I was heavily involved in the life of that church and in the FWB denomination. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and summer church camp were part of the regular cycle of each year.

After high school, I attended Campbellsville University, followed by the University of Kentucky School of Law. After graduation and the bar exam, I took a job with the Daviess County Attorney's Office. During this time, I began to study the Catholic Church, basically on a whim. I used to enjoy studying different faiths and Christian traditions when I was a teenager, and always found that to be a great way to grow in knowledge and conviction regarding my own faith. Being back in Owensboro after law school, I thought returning to that practice on my own would be a good way to immerse myself once again in the Word of God, so I started studying Catholicism.

I quickly became quite unsettled. Unlike other faiths I had studied, Catholicism had a richness and depth I had not encountered anywhere else. I saw a belief structure that was like my own Christian faith taken to the next level. The various problems and questions I studied myself through make up a long list, but basically I slowly found all of my misconceptions about the Catholic Church fall away, and I saw my own faith become more and more Catholic. It was only a matter of time before I was faced with a clear decision to either enter or remain outside Christ's Church.

By the grace of God, in 2005 I was offered a job in Frankfort. The move granted me much more freedom to explore my newfound attraction to the Catholic Church, away from the family and religious structure in which I was immersed in Owensboro. To make a long story short, I was received into the Church on February 5, 2006

Almost immediately, I began to feel God's call to deeper involvement in his Church. Over the next couple of years, it became clear God was calling me to enter into serious discernment regarding the priesthood. I began receiving regular spiritual direction, and after exploring a few religious orders, I came to the conclusion that the diocesan priesthood was the path I needed to follow.

There have been so many twists and turns in my journey over the past six or seven years that coming to this point can be nothing less than Divine Providence. Whether or not I will eventually be ordained to the priesthood is known only to God, but I can hardly wait to enter into the next phase of discernment and continuing conversion.

In Jesus and Mary,

Jason Hall

USE ME AS YOU SEE FIT

2009-03-26T09:02:00.002-04:00

"O Christ, You have given Yourself to me, You have entrusted to me Your body and Your blood, You have confided in me the care of those souls which belong to You; I now wish to entrust myself to You; use me as You see fit."

Blessed Columba Marmion, Christ, The Ideal of the Priest, 63

NEW IMPORTANT DATE

2009-03-24T08:11:00.008-04:00

I want to add another very important date to our calendar. As you know, Rev. Mr. Danny Fister will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 16th, 2009. He will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington at 12:30 PM.

The List of Dates Now Includes:

May 16, 2009 / 10:30 AM / Priesthood Ordination of Rev. Mr. Danny Fister

May 17, 2009 / 12:30 PM / Mass of Thanksgiving / Cathedral of Christ the King

May 26,27,28, 2009 / Seminarian Convocation

June 6, 2009 / 4:00PM / Diaconate Ordination of Mr. Carlos Martinez / St. Paul's

July 30, 2009 / 5:00 PM / Seminarian Cookout / Bishop's Residence

December 28, 2009 / 5:00 PM / Parent-Seminarian Dinner / Bishop's Residence

PRIESTHOOD

2009-03-22T15:08:00.003-04:00

"The great mission of the priest is to give Jesus Christ to the world."

Blessed Columba Marmion

Christ, The Ideal of the Priest, 69

SPIRITUAL READING AND PRAYER

2009-03-22T14:25:00.008-04:00

I hope all of you have received Christ, The Ideal of the Priest by Abbot Marmion. As I mentioned in the note, this is one of the best books on the priesthood that I have read. I have spent the last year with this book and continue to draw incredible things from it.

As mentioned in the "Preface", much of the material is from Marmion's days at Louvain where he gave conferences to young priests studying for advanced degrees and seminarians; so his talks, as recorded in this book, are applicable to both priests and seminarians. The Abbot's writings, which appropriately unite dogma and spirituality, have become popular again in the past few years, and when you dive into this book and take what he says to prayer, I am confident you will see why.

Speaking from my own experience, seminary (and the priesthood!) can become very busy with all of the requirements that are asked of you, and that many times under these heavy demands, spiritual reading and prayer may be some of the first things that may be pushed out of busy schedules. It is imperative that you develop, early in the formative process, the discipline of daily spiritual reading and then taking that reading to prayer. This spiritual exercise helps us to grow in holiness and be an authentic witnesses to the priest as "another Christ."

I pray that you will receive many graces from Abbot Marmion's book as you continue on a path to holiness and the priesthood.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

PRAY FOR THOSE DISCERNING GOD'S CALL

2009-03-16T08:06:00.007-04:00

It is wonderful for me to start meeting some of the incredible men who are actively discerning whether their vocation in life is the priesthood. The Holy Spirit is certainly at work in our diocese and in these young men's lives!.

Prayer is a so powerful!

So each day, specifically pray for these young men as they discern God's call.

HUMILITY

2009-03-16T08:01:00.004-04:00

"It was because of pride. You thought you were already capable of everything--all by yourself. But then he left you for a moment and you fell--headlong. Be humble, and his extraordinary aid will not fail you."

Saint Josemaria Escriva, The Way, No. 611.

SOUL FOOD

2009-03-08T14:37:00.005-04:00

"Humility calls upon us to allow our hearts to be wounded by the glory of God, to fall on our knees in loving adoration, and to deliver ourselves to God entirely. We must display that pure response in which our center of gravity is thus transferred from ourselves to God, so that His glory taken in itself, without any reference to His benevolence toward us, becomes for us a source of precious joy: 'My God and my all,' said St. Francis of Assisi."

Dietrich von Hildebrand, In "Humility: Wellspring of Virtue"

OUR BLOG: "SEMINARIANS OF LEXINGTON"

2009-03-06T10:03:00.005-05:00

I want to introduce our blog - "Seminarians of Lexington."

I think it can be a great way for all of us to communicate and support each other. There are many functions that the blog can serve for us. I am in that "computer challenged" generation, so I will need your help, advice, and ideas on how to best to use our blog.

So far I have posts entitled:

-"Important Dates" - lists dates, times, and places of important seminarian functions.

-"New Vocation Director" - gives you a brief introduction to me

-"Soul Food" - great spiritual quotes to take to prayer

Let me know what you think, and the ways that you may be able to contribute to the blog.

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

NEW VOCATION DIRECTOR

2009-03-06T08:20:00.017-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. Bishop Gainer recently appointed me, beginning April 1st, as the new Vocation Director for the diocese. I am humbled and thrilled to serve in such a position. Helping men to discern their vocation, whatever that might be; and participating in the formation process of future priests, are incredible responsibilities - responsibilities that I will take very seriously. One day I will face my Creator and answer to Him for how I have carried out these responsibilities. So please pray for me!

You can be assured of my daily prayers for each of you, and you will be included in my intentions at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Now a few personal notes.

I was born and raised in Kentucky, and God willing, will die here. I am from Cumberland, KY (Harlan County) and was baptized as a Southern Baptist. I went to college at Transylvania University in Lexington, and subsequently attended medical school at the University of Kentucky. After medical school, I completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I was hooked after I delivered my first baby! I practiced OB/GYN in Eastern KY for four years and Central KY for three before attending the seminary.

While practicing medicine in Eastern KY, God called me to the Catholic Church and eventually to the priesthood. While pursuing my medical career, I had pretty much fallen away from any sort of active participation in any ecclesial community. As happens to those who do not have God in their lives, there was a huge void in my soul, a void I could not explain. This was in spite of the success I was experiencing in medicine.

One day I was sitting at my desk, and an inner voice told me to go see a Catholic priest. I immediately jumped up, thanks be to God, and went to talk to the local parish priest at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Paintsville, KY. The rest is history. I came into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1997.

After some time, I felt that God may be calling me to the priesthood. Wisely, the Bishop and the Vocation Director asked me to wait for three years after my conversion experience. During that time, I was introduced to spiritual direction, which was invaluable in helping me discern God's call.

In the fall of 2000, I left my medical practice and entered Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. I have to say that seminary was a great experience for me. It was wonderful to be around so many incredible men - men who wanted, above all, to serve God and His Church. It was also a great gift to have the opportunity to study the faith, and go through the spiritual and human formation process.

During seminary, I felt that God may be calling me to the religious life. I spent a couple of years with a Benedictine abbey near Chicago (Marmion Abbey). It was another gift to have the opportunity to be immersed in Benedictine spirituality, but it became obvious to me that God was calling me to the diocesan priesthood in our diocese.

On May 20th, 2006, Bishop Gainer, ordained me as a priest!!! God has been so good to me! Being a priest is absolutely incredible!!!

After my ordination, I served a wonderful year as Parochial Vicar at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary in Lexington. Bishop Gainer then asked me to go to Rome and pursue a doctoral degree in Bioethics. That too has been an incredible gift and a wonderful experience. God continues to shower me, as He does all of us, with his infinite grace. I have pretty much concluded my course work in Rome (I need one more course and will return to Rome for a week in April and a week in June to complete the course requirements). I still have the doctoral dissertation to finish, so I will be working on that for the next few years. I need your prayers for this too!

As wonderful as it is to live and study in Rome, I am happy to be back home in the diocese.

I will be in residence at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary while I serve as Vocation Director.

I look forward to get to know each of you, and will be excited to hear how God has worked in your life and led you to the seminary!

In Christ,

Fr. Steve Roberts

SOUL FOOD

2009-03-05T09:53:00.002-05:00

"O Christ, You have given Yourself to me, You have entrusted to me Your body and Your blood, You have confided to me the care of those souls which belong to You; I now wish to entrust myself to You; use me as You see fit!"

Blessed Columba Marmion, Christ The Ideal of the Priest, 63.

IMPORTANT DATES

2009-03-05T09:41:00.001-05:00

May 16, 2009 / 10:30 AM / Priesthood Ordination of Rev. Mr. Danny Fister/ Cathedral

May 26,27,28, 2009 / Seminarian Convocation

June 6, 2009 / 4:00 PM / Diaconate Ordination of Mr. Carlos Martinez / St. Paul's

July 30, 2009 / 5:00 PM / Seminarian Cookout / Bishop's Residence

December 28, 2009 / 5:00 PM / Parent-Seminarian Dinner / Bishop's Residence