“We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain” (2 Pt. 1:16-19).
This is my prayer for each of you who are reading this article and especially for each of the seminarians for the Diocese of Madison.
How beautiful it is when we hear the voice of God speak to us personally and we respond by following him, like SS. Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration.
I would like to congratulate Rev. Mr. Vince Brewer, Rev. Mr. Garrett Kau, and Rev. Mr. Steve Petrica on their upcoming ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. What an event of great joy for the diocese in this Year of Faith to have three men ordained for the ministry of the word and sacraments.
The trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell is about much more than the man himself. In a painful way, it brings America face to face with abortion, which, as the defense argued, is “bloody” and “real.”
For those who have had abortions, it brings them again in touch with a pain that is never really far away, and it brings them in touch yet again with their need for healing.
He looked very young. I guess he had to be about nine years old. But, to look at him you’d say he was more like six or seven.
He stood in the sacristy dressed in his white cassock, looking more like he was waiting to be led to the gallows rather then serve at Mass.
Seminarian Gabriel Lopez-Betanzos in Rome is pictured with St. Peter’s Basilica in the background. (Contributed photo)
Editor’s note: This is the third of a series of reflections on recent events happening at the Vatican by Diocese of Madison seminarians studying in Rome.
It was a cool, rainy evening in Rome. I stood in St. Peter’s Square with a group of seminarians and student priests from the North American College. Along with thousands of others from all over the world we awaited the smoke from the little chimney above the Sistine Chapel.
Then, without warning, smoke started coming out of the chimney! At first it appeared dark, but then it was clearly not the deep black smoke we had seen earlier. We have a new pope! As the smoke continued to flow from the chimney and the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica began to ring we made our way forward through the crowd. We reached a position centered in front of the now-famous balcony not far from the front of the crowd and waited anxiously to see the new pope.
Editor’s note: This is the second of a series of reflections on recent events happening at the Vatican by Diocese of Madison seminarians studying in Rome.
As a seminarian, it is impossible to escape the curiosity of others. There are always questions about what it is like living in a seminary, what you study, how often do you pray, what do you do for fun, etc.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of reflections on recent events happening at the Vatican by Diocese of Madison seminarians studying in Rome.
As a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison, studying in Rome, the unexpected news of the pope’s resignation has dramatically impacted the life of the seminary and the spiritual life of each seminarian as we pray for His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman pontiff emeritus, and the cardinals as they prepare to enter conclave.
From the moment we heard the announcement, the North American College seminarians were in abuzz talking about the Holy Father’s decision while trying to concentrate on studying and completing final exams which we were in the midst of taking.
As Ash Wednesday approached, I was thinking that this was going to be a Lent like most others. And then came the news on February 11!
We begin this New Year with news of great joy: we have three new seminarians starting school this January.
Two of these men are college sophomores and one is going into pre-theology. With the addition of these three men we now have a total of 35 men in our seminary program. This is truly a cause for great rejoicing and thanksgiving to God for his continued favors to us.
As a youngster I loved Christmas. I thought everyone did. But when I was 15, a frail, old woman in a wheelchair punched a big hole in my naïve assumptions about “the most wonderful time of the year.”
