Top photo caption: The diocesan Office of Vocations hosted a weeklong retreat in June in San Alfonso Retreat House, West End, for seminarians of the Diocese. Here they are pictured with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan episcopal vicar of clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians, at far left. Staff photo
A new academic year of formation, prayer and study is underway for the Diocese of Trenton’s 16 seminarians, including six men who are beginning their journey toward the priesthood this year.
“That’s a good number,” Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life and director of seminarians, said of Deacon Nicholas Alescio, Deacon Benedict Quiambao, Brian Leonard, Kyle Holler, Jake Snyder, David Georgianni, Liam Bergin, Patrick Meehan, William Attardi, Hunter Clark, Matthew Fiorentino, Adrian Hansen, Kyle McBride, Benjamin Gonzalez-Martinez, Ryan Nickerson and Andrew Ulisse.
Currently, the Diocese’s seminarians are enrolled in Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Ambler, Pa., and Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Conn., and they are in varying stages of formation. The six new seminarians, Msgr. Mullelly noted, are in their propaedeutic year, which is a period of preparation before they move on to their first year of college or begin pre-theology studies.
Spiritual Foundation
The propaedeutic year, Msgr. Mullelly said, was established four years ago by the Vatican as a requirement for men entering the seminary and is a time that focuses on spirituality. They take courses in spiritual theology, spend time developing an intentional prayer life and participate in some form of social service. He noted that during the year, the men are limited to using their cell phones and other technology, like computers, just once a week.
Once the propaedeutic year is completed, the men are advised on their next step, Msgr. Mullelly said. Those without college degrees must complete their bachelor’s degrees before beginning their theological studies. Those with college degrees advance to pre-theology studies, which focus on theology, philosophy, Latin and Greek. At the conclusion of the pre-theology the seminarians are eligible to commence their theological studies.
Msgr. Mullelly reflected on the unique backgrounds and work experiences that several of the new seminarians bring to their formation and will serve them well as future priests. One owned a power-washing company; another worked in a pizza establishment; a third is a graduate of Virginia Tech who had worked for a business in Tucson, Ariz., and a fourth had studied at New York University and Georgia Tech.
Having these backgrounds, “is beneficial because in the future they will encounter people of all different walks of life,” he said. “They know what it means to have accomplished responsibilities, and they bring with them a maturity and the knowledge of how to get things done.”
Focus on Vocations
Encouraging men to consider a priestly vocation isn’t easy, Msgr. Mullelly admitted, and for the Diocese to have 16 seminarians is quite an accomplishment. He acknowledged the efforts of Father Christopher Colavito, diocesan vocations director, and his “Trenton Makes Priests” campaign for making it happen.
Father Colavito doesn’t miss an opportunity to get the word out about vocations through visits to parishes, schools and college campus ministry programs, Msgr. Mullelly said.
“I think he’s bringing in some good people. We have a nice group of fellows,” he said. “It’s going to be a good year.”
Meet the Diocese’s Seminarians
Deacon Nicholas Alescio
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Fair Haven, Home Parish: Nativity, Fair Haven
William Attardi
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Ambler, Pa., Hometown: Neptune, Home Parish: St. Benedict, Holmdel
Liam Bergin
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Toms River, Home Parish: St. Justin the Martyr, Toms River
Hunter Clark
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Spring Lake, Home Parish: St. Rose, Belmar
Matthew Fiorentino
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Princeton, Home Parish: St. Paul, Princeton
Benjamin Gonzales-Martinez
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Ambler, Pa., Hometown: Lawrenceville, Home Parish: St. Paul, Princeton
Adrian Hansen
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Ambler, Pa., Hometown: Princeton, Home Parish: St. Paul, Princeton
Kyle Holler
Seminary: Holy Apostles, Cromwell, Conn., Hometown: Burlington Township, Home Parish: St. Hedwig, Trenton
Brian Leonard
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Little Silver, NJ, Home Parish: Oratory Church of St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank
Patrick Meehan
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Ambler, Pa., Hometown: Wall, Home Parish: Holy Innocents, Neptune
Kyle McBride
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Manalapan, Home Parish: St. Thomas More, Manalapan
Ryan Nickerson
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Wall, Home Parish: St. Denis, Manasquan
Deacon Benedict Quiambao
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Bacacay, Albay, Philippines, Home Parish: St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown
Jake Snyder
Seminary: St. Charles Borromeo, Ambler, Pa., Hometown: Mount Laurel, Home Parish: St. John Neumann, Mount Laurel
Andrew Ulisse
Seminary: Mount St. Mary, Emmitsburg, Md., Hometown: Florence, Home Parish: Mary, Mother of the Church, Bordentown