Seminarians of the Diocese gathered for a week of renewal, prayer and camaraderie during a retreat prepared just for them in Loyola Jesuit Retreat Center, Morristown.

Click here to see photos from the retreat.

The 2016 gathering, which ran July 25-29, featured conferences, Masses and other prayer experiences, and permitted time for the 17 seminarians to reflect on their chosen vocation as future priests.

Emphasizing the importance of the retreat experiences, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., said it was “intended to be ‘the pause that refreshes’ after a busy summer engaged in various apostolic activities.

“Many seminarians told me that they really enjoyed this brief time away for prayer and fraternal support,” stated Bishop O’Connell. “Anything that encourages holiness in our future priests is a blessing.”

Bishop O’Connell noted that the seminarians heard from “a wonderful Vincentian preacher” – Vincentian Father Michael Shea, who “shared insights [he] gained after 46 years as a priest.”

According to Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, diocesan vicar for clergy and consecrated life, Father Shea, who is currently the associate director of the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, focused on the theme, “The Future Is Now.”

Father Shea encouraged the seminarians to look “at the need to appreciate the ongoing presence of God” in their lives, to aspire to place their trust in God and to conform themselves “in the very image of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in service to others,” explained Msgr. Mullelly.

Each day of the retreat, which ran from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., included Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the celebration of Mass, conferences and opportunities for reflection, Msgr. Mullelly explained. The transitional deacons, who are expected to be ordained priests next year, assisted and preached the homily at each of the Masses while the seminarians alternated schedules giving each a chance be a reader or server.

In addition to Msgr. Mullelly and Father Shea, other priests who took part throughout the week included Father Michael Hall, administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton, and director of the diocesan Office of Worship, and Father Daniel Price, who was ordained June 4 by Bishop O’Connell  in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. Father Price is currently parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, and chaplain of St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel.

Msgr. Mullelly noted that because the men are pursuing studies in four different seminaries – St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa.; St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore; Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., and Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange -- there are only a few occasions throughout the year when they are together as a group. The retreat offers them a “wonderful opportunity” to pray, learn and reflect together and to enjoy each other’s company, he said.

Moreover, said Msgr. Mullelly, the retreat allows them to “focus on what’s important” – their priestly ministry, their faith in God and their commitment to Christ-like service to the Church as future priests.”

“Now the fellows are home for some vacation before heading back to the books in mid-August,” Bishop O’Connell added, then humbly asked the faithful of the Diocese to “Please pray for them and for more generous young men to join their ranks!”