By MARY STADNYK
Associate Editor
UPDATED Dec. 30, 2024
The annual Christmas gathering for the Diocese’s seminarians was the setting when four men marked a significant milestone in their preparation for priesthood.
The Dec. 21 gathering in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton, began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., with some four priest concelebrants, followed by a holiday dinner. The Diocese’s eight seminarians, on Christmas break from their seminary studies, were able to attend the event, one of only a few opportunities each year for them to strengthen fraternal bonds with their fellow seminarians.
PHOTO GALLERY: Seminarians gather for Mass with Bishop
As part of the Rite of Admission of Candidacy, seminarians Kyle Holler and Brian Leonard stood before Bishop O’Connell and formally declared their intentions to pursue formation for the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and ultimately serve as future priests for the Diocese of Trenton.
For new seminarians George Castiglia and David Georgeanni, it was their first gathering with the Bishop and fellow seminarians. The two are currently serving their propaedeutic year, during which they will focus on deepening their prayer life and discerning God’s call prior to beginning their formal seminary training.
Bishop’s Insight
In his homily, Bishop O’Connell noted that the day’s Readings present a “snapshot of the whole of salvation history.” The Bishop talked about the First Reading and how the prophet Micah explains that the “hope” of the Chosen People of God would be fulfilled in Bethlehem, because the Messiah was a descendant of David.
“The Messiah would be born of a woman chosen by God to redeem God’s chosen people. His Birth would usher in a new era of salvation as the fruit of her womb would, in turn, bear fruit for all humanity. He would shepherd God’s people by his own strength to the ends of the earth,” said Bishop O’Connell.
The Bishop noted that the Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews points to the purpose of all the prophecies central to the season of Advent: Christ the Messiah and Savior came into the world to do the Father’s will.
“That was and remains what his life and ministry is all about: God wills our salvation, that we be one with him,” said Bishop O’Connell. “Christ’s humanity and divinity appeared in our flesh for our sakes; we pray at Mass each day, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity. That is the Incarnation! That is Christmas!”
The Gospel from St. Luke stresses the central importance and role of Mary, a poor, 13-year-old girl living in the small, unknown town of Nazareth, who was “blessed among women,” to become the virgin Mother of God.
“Mary teaches us that no matter who you are, God can use you; he has a purpose for you,” said Bishop O’Connell.
“Trust! Belief! Blessing! These three elements of today’s Gospel and scriptures are the prelude to the believing, becoming and belonging that characterize our life in the Church,” said Bishop O’Connell.
Next Steps
The Rite of Candidacy, which followed the homily, began with Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, diocesan vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life and director of seminarians, calling the names of each of the two seminarians. They each responded “present” and stood as the Bishop welcomed them into the next step in their formation.
For Leonard, who is in his third year in Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., and hails from St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, participating in the Rite of Candidacy “felt like turning over a new leaf.”
“In responding to the Bishop’s call, my time of discernment is over. It is now a matter of trying to be formed into the best candidate that I can be,” Leonard said.
“Personally, I always enjoy hearing the stories that the priests have to tell of when they were seminarians or new priests, because what they have to share is often helpful, if not humorous,” Leonard said.
Holler shared that after four years of seminary, he experienced a range of emotions when receiving Candidacy.
“I have been watching my brothers over the years declare their intention to serve the Church. But declaring it for myself brought great excitement!” said Holler, who studies in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Gwynedd Valley, Pa., and is a member of St. Hedwig Parish, Trenton.
Recalling that he was three years old when he told his parents that he wanted to be a priest, Holler said, “Words cannot describe the joy I felt as I, for the first time, publicly declared my response to the call and intention to serve as a priest of and for the Diocese of Trenton,” Holler said.
Holler asks the faithful of the Diocese to “pray for me and all of my brother seminarians” as well as to “pray for our Bishop, our priests, and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood.”
“Be assured of all our continued prayers for you!” Holler said.
Georgeanni, a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, said he regards the Propaedeutic Year to be a blessing because it gives him “the chance to step back from the world and spend time falling in love with God.”
“The year has a heavy focus on prayer and meditation, which will serve as a firm foundation for the rest of my formation and indeed for my whole spiritual life.” he said.
Referring to the event, he said, “I felt very blessed and honored to be there, and it made me proud to be a Trenton seminarian.”
“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to talk with Bishop O’Connell, and it’s always a delight to spend time with men who have given their lives to God in service of the people in my beloved home Diocese,” Georgeanni said.
Bishop O’Connell poses for a photo with seminarians Brian Leonard and Kyle Holler following the Mass during which they participated in the Rite of Admission of Candidacy in which they declared their intentions to pursue vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese. Joe Moore photos