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"On December 30, 2009, four diocesan priests, two seminarians and five college age men spent a day of skiing at the Snow Shoe Mountain Resort Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Cold and snow showers made for perfect conditions on the slopes. A full day of skiing was joined with the prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, the celebration of the Mass at St. Bernard’s Chapel and talks by priests on discernment and living our baptismal call to follow Christ."
 
Adopt a Seminarian

Parishes, Schools, Organizations Offer Prayers, Care Packages and Support for the Future Priests of West Virginia

By D.F. Kratzer
WEST VIRGINIA—Each year, faithful throughout the diocese “adopt a seminarian,” committing their prayers, encouragement and support to the future priests of West Virginia. Through the diocesan Office of Vocations, parishes, diocesan schools, organizations and individuals sponsor seminarians, sending cards, care packages, financial assistance and other items of gratitude and support.

“We’re connecting our people so they can start standing by these men who are students and, God willing, one day stand by them as priests,” said Father Paul Hudock, director of the diocesan Office of Vocations.

"Seminarians,” he continued, “are normal guys, they are a lot like our own brothers or a lot like our own cousins, our own sons ... they need encouragement.”

Father Chris Turner, vocations promoter and pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Wheeling, said that “it is important for parishes and individuals to support vocations because it gets them thinking and praying for vocations in general.”

Sponsoring seminarians, he continued, is rewarding for the seminarian and those providing support because it “connects the need for vocations with something concrete.”

For those who wish to sponsor a seminarian, first and foremost, Father Hudock said, is to “get together and pray for seminarians, pray for men who are in discernment and for all our young people who are trying to listen to God’s call.”

He and Father Turner said there are a number of other ways individuals, parishes, schools and organizations can support seminarians, including sending pictures, cards, monetary gifts and care packages—which Father Turner said are great to receive during exams—among other items.

Father Turner also encouraged sponsors to “be creative” and consider how they can make an impact on their seminarian and encourage correspondence, developing a relationship.
“Correspondence and interaction while you are in formation,” Father Hudock said, “is helpful because the priesthood is a whole experience of making continual friendships throughout your life, throughout your priestly career. So those friendships can start right there in seminary and they continue on throughout your life of ministry.”

To sponsor a seminarian or for more information, contact Pat Templeton, secretary for the Office of Vocations, at 233-0880, ext. 235, or via e-mail at ptempleton@dwc.org.

 
Coming Events

Evening of Discussion and Prayer: Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, Thursday January 29, 2009. Fr. Paul Hudock will be leading a discussion on “Love, Commitment, and Life.” This evening is open to both men and women and will explore how young adults can discern their vocational call to marriage, religious life, or the priesthood. Discussion at the Chapel of Mary and Joseph will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration will follow from 8:00 to 8:45 p.m.

Evening of Discussion and Prayer: St John University Parish, Morgantown. Wednesday February 4, 2009. Fr. Paul Hudock will be leading a discussion on “Love, Commitment, and Life.” This evening is open to both men and women and will explore how young adults can discern their vocational call to marriage, religious life, or the priesthood. Discussion takes place at Newman Hall and will be part of the “Newman Night” which starts at 8:00 p.m.

Vocation Awareness Weekend: February 6, 7 & 8, 2009, Paul VI Pastoral Center, Wheeling. This weekend is geared to men and women ages 18 and older. This weekend is hosted by members of men’s religious communities such as the Capuchin and Jesuit Orders, members of women religious communities such as the Congregation of St. Joseph and the Sisters of Charity, and Diocesan priests of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

Come and See Weekend: March 6, 7 & 8, 2009, Priestfield Pastoral Center, Kearneysville. This weekend is for men only ages 17 and older and is sponsored by the Franciscans Third Order Regular and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

Ordinations to the Diaconate:
Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Ordination to the Priesthood:
Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

 

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston · 1300 Byron Street, Wheeling, WV 26003 · Phone (304) 233-0880

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