UPDATED: Bishop, seminarians gather for Christmas celebration
December 15, 2023 at 8:44 p.m.
With the Diocese’s seminarians pursuing studies for the priesthood in two different seminaries, opportunities to bring them together for special gatherings helps them to develop fraternal bonds that are meant to deepen and grow after ordination.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bishop's Christmas Celebration with Seminarians
One annual occasion when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and his seminarians get together is at Christmas time. This year, the seminarians joined Bishop O’Connell Dec. 15 in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, for Mass followed by a festive dinner in the rectory.
In his homily, the Bishop incorporated the message of the day’s Gospel (Mk 11:16-19) to the significance of his gathering with the seminarians saying, “Today’s Gospel speaks of dances and dirges, things that cause us to rejoice while other things call us to regret.
“While John the Baptist’s message is repentance from our sins, the Lord Jesus is the source of our joy,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“As seminarians and priests, we hear the whole Gospel message but offer the world the truest joy that only Jesus brings.”
During the Mass, seminarians Nicholas Alescio and Benedict Quiambao marked a milestone in their priestly formation when they participated in the Rite of Admission of Candidacy. Right after the homily, Alescio and Quiambao stood before Bishop O’Connell and officially declared their intentions to pursue formation for the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and ultimately serve as future priests for the Diocese.
By participating in the Rite of Candidacy, both seminarians said they felt reaffirmed in their decision to become priests.
“This is a great confirmation of when I was first drawn toward the idea of priesthood” as a sophomore in Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., said Alescio, a first theology year seminarian in Mount St. Mary Seminary and member of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven. “Now it’s such a great blessing and privilege to be among so many good, holy men who inspire me to strive for holiness in my life.
“… I see the Rite of Candidacy as assurance that the Church and the Diocese support my vocation,” he said.
Quiambao, also in his first theology year in Mount St. Mary, smiled as he thought about the “leap of faith” he took when he left his native Philippines to live and pursue studies for the priesthood in the Trenton Diocese.
“I am lucky and blessed with the support I have received,” said Quiambao, who calls St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, his home parish.
Now to receive the Rite of Candidacy “is an honor and with that comes more responsibilities as I respond to God’s call,” Quiambao said. He noted that while there are seminaries that hold the Rite of Candidacy for their seminarians, he was thrilled to have received the rite in a church that’s located in the Diocese and from “the Bishop himself – my Bishop – Bishop O’Connell.”
Brian Leonard, a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, who is in his second theology year in Mount St. Mary, also expressed words of appreciation for the gift of a priestly vocation and for the opportunity to gather with fellow seminarians at Christmas in the oldest parish in New Jersey.
“It’s great to see my brothers here from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary,” he said.
Leonard also shared that he’s enjoying his own seminary experience, commending the faculty and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn Spanish.
“I’m very blessed,” he said.
Seminarians Nicholas Alescio and Benedict B. Quiambao stand before Bishop O'Connell as they mark a milestone in their priestly formation. Here they participate in the Rite of Candidacy, a formal step in preparation for priesthood. Through the Rite of Candidacy, a seminarian acknowledges he is making the petition of his own free will and the Bishop receives the seminarian on behalf of the Church. Staff photo
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With the Diocese’s seminarians pursuing studies for the priesthood in two different seminaries, opportunities to bring them together for special gatherings helps them to develop fraternal bonds that are meant to deepen and grow after ordination.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bishop's Christmas Celebration with Seminarians
One annual occasion when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and his seminarians get together is at Christmas time. This year, the seminarians joined Bishop O’Connell Dec. 15 in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, for Mass followed by a festive dinner in the rectory.
In his homily, the Bishop incorporated the message of the day’s Gospel (Mk 11:16-19) to the significance of his gathering with the seminarians saying, “Today’s Gospel speaks of dances and dirges, things that cause us to rejoice while other things call us to regret.
“While John the Baptist’s message is repentance from our sins, the Lord Jesus is the source of our joy,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“As seminarians and priests, we hear the whole Gospel message but offer the world the truest joy that only Jesus brings.”
During the Mass, seminarians Nicholas Alescio and Benedict Quiambao marked a milestone in their priestly formation when they participated in the Rite of Admission of Candidacy. Right after the homily, Alescio and Quiambao stood before Bishop O’Connell and officially declared their intentions to pursue formation for the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and ultimately serve as future priests for the Diocese.
By participating in the Rite of Candidacy, both seminarians said they felt reaffirmed in their decision to become priests.
“This is a great confirmation of when I was first drawn toward the idea of priesthood” as a sophomore in Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., said Alescio, a first theology year seminarian in Mount St. Mary Seminary and member of Nativity Parish, Fair Haven. “Now it’s such a great blessing and privilege to be among so many good, holy men who inspire me to strive for holiness in my life.
“… I see the Rite of Candidacy as assurance that the Church and the Diocese support my vocation,” he said.
Quiambao, also in his first theology year in Mount St. Mary, smiled as he thought about the “leap of faith” he took when he left his native Philippines to live and pursue studies for the priesthood in the Trenton Diocese.
“I am lucky and blessed with the support I have received,” said Quiambao, who calls St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, his home parish.
Now to receive the Rite of Candidacy “is an honor and with that comes more responsibilities as I respond to God’s call,” Quiambao said. He noted that while there are seminaries that hold the Rite of Candidacy for their seminarians, he was thrilled to have received the rite in a church that’s located in the Diocese and from “the Bishop himself – my Bishop – Bishop O’Connell.”
Brian Leonard, a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, who is in his second theology year in Mount St. Mary, also expressed words of appreciation for the gift of a priestly vocation and for the opportunity to gather with fellow seminarians at Christmas in the oldest parish in New Jersey.
“It’s great to see my brothers here from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary,” he said.
Leonard also shared that he’s enjoying his own seminary experience, commending the faculty and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn Spanish.
“I’m very blessed,” he said.
Seminarians Nicholas Alescio and Benedict B. Quiambao stand before Bishop O'Connell as they mark a milestone in their priestly formation. Here they participate in the Rite of Candidacy, a formal step in preparation for priesthood. Through the Rite of Candidacy, a seminarian acknowledges he is making the petition of his own free will and the Bishop receives the seminarian on behalf of the Church. Staff photo