By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

Jason Parzynski, a seminarian for the Trenton Diocese, took a step closer in his priestly formation when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., admitted him to Candidacy for Holy Orders.

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During a Mass he celebrated for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for the diocesan chancery staff Dec. 9, Bishop O’Connell presided at the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders for Parzynski, who served the diocese as associate director in the Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization and currently as secretary to Bishop O’Connell.

Reflecting on Advent and the feast of the Immaculate Conception which commemorates the Blessed Mother’s having been conceived without sin, Bishop O’Connell in his homily said, “We celebrate in a special way the faith of this humble woman who opened herself entirely to what God called her to be and do in this world.” Bishop O’Connell cited the significance of conducting the rite on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

“This feast has always had special meaning for Jason throughout his life,” said Bishop O’Connell. “The Blessed Virgin Mary is very dear to him and very much loved by him. What we are really celebrating with him today is his decision, prompted by the Holy Spirit of God, to respond to the call to be Jesus in the world through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”

The Rite of Candidacy offers seminary candidates for ordination the opportunity to publicly express their intention to receive ordination as a deacon and later as a priest. Further, the seminarian acknowledges he is making the petition of his own free will. With candidacy, the bishop receives the seminarian on behalf of the Church.

Bishop O’Connell pointed to the joy it was for the Chancery staff to witness the Rite of Candidacy especially since it was through his work at the Chancery as associate director in the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, then last year as Bishop O’Connell’s master of ceremonies, that led Parzynski to return to his formation.

“Jason recognized his vocation in the midst of working with you together for the people of God in the Church of Trenton,” said Bishop O’Connell. “As we pray for him and his fidelity, as he continues to follow the path that God is calling him to, we celebrate that we could be the kind of place where people can see what the Lord is calling them to do.”

A native of Michigan, the 33-yearold Parzynski is the son of Paul Parzynski and Kathleen Parzynski. He has two sisters, Cheryl and Rachel and a brother, James.

While growing up, Parzynski was educated in the public school system in Shelby Township, Mich., and he holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and pre-law from Michigan State University. He attributes his desire to become a priest from having grown up in a devout Catholic household; the interest he developed in religion through participation in his parish religious education program and involvement in the parish as an altar server, and participation in the Newman Center and Scripture study while attending MSU.

Parzynski’s formation for the priesthood has included studies at Mundeleine Seminary in Illinois where he was awarded master of divinity and bachelor sacred theology degrees, the Pontifical North American College in Rome and the year-and-a-half he spent living in a Cistercian Monastery in Texas.

As he continued to discern his vocation, Parzynski gained parish experience working in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orland Park, where he held multiple responsibilities as a pastoral associate, youth minister, information technology and liturgy committees. Introduced to the Trenton Diocese through Father Michael McClane, whom he met in the seminary in Rome, Parzynski took a position as youth minister in St. David the King Parish, West Windsor, and was also hired in the diocesan Chancery as associate director in the Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization. He worked in the two positions for about a year before he was asked to serve in his current role as secretary to Bishop O’Connell.

Parzynski will continue his formation for the priesthood over the next two years. In 2014, he expects to be ordained a transitional deacon for the diocese on May 17 and in the fall he will head to The Catholic University of America, Washington, to pursue a licentiate in sacred theology with a concentration in ecclesiology. He expects to be ordained a priest May 30, 2015.