CROSS PLAINS — It was a good day to say “hello” and “thank you”.
After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Lumen Christi Society reception was held at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cross Plains on August 4.
The event is designed as an opportunity for the Diocese of Madison — notably Bishop Donald J. Hying and the Office of Stewardship and Development — to thank those who support programs through the Annual Catholic Appeal, especially those connected with vocations discernment.
The guests have a chance to meet the bishop as well as a number of diocesan seminarians before they leave for their next year of studies and formation.
The seminarians have a chance to meet the people supporting and praying for them and to give their thanks as well.
Like many diocesan events held recently, it was also a chance for people from around the 11-county area to see each other for the first time in more than a year.
Saying thank you
“Thank you so much for all you do for the Diocese of Madison,” said Jill McNally, director of Stewardship and Development for the diocese, at the start of the evening’s program.
She turned the microphone over to Fr. Greg Ihm, vocations director, who called upon the seminarians in attendance to introduce themselves.
He also thanked the attendees saying “without you, we could not educate these men.”
One by one, the seminarians said their names, where they were from, and what year of formation they were in along with where they would be studying this year.
Sharing reflections
Seminarian Matthew Pearson gave a small talk on his vocation journey thus far.
Currently a student at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Pearson is scheduled to be ordained to the transitional diaconate in the fall and ordained to the priesthood next summer.
He shared that, along with where his path has led, that “You all have a story also . . . God had intervened in your life also at very specific times to put you in a specific place, and that’s the way you preach the Gospel to other people . . . tell them how God has intervened in your life.”
Bishop Hying concluded the event by saying “it’s a great joy to actually be together”.
He thanked Father Ihm and all of the seminarians for “saying ‘yes’ to Christ, for saying ‘yes’ to the startling possibility that God is calling them to be a priest for the Diocese of Madison.”
He pointed out that there are five new seminarians this year, bringing the total to 19, which was met with applause.
For more information on how to support the Diocese of Madison and its seminarians, go to https://madisondiocese.org/osd